Chekhov's Subversive Politics are in the Spotlight at the 7TH ANNUAL CHEKHOV CELEBRATION

Sam Underwood, Valorie Curry, and The Acting Company Of The Fundamental Theater Project join Columbia University's Harriman Institute's 7th Annual Chekhov Celebration, April 8th, 8pm, Actors Temple Theater, 339 West 47th Street. Tickets are $10 and can be reserved through Show-Score.

"Wear black if you must. But come, commiserate and celebrate," says Margo Jefferson, the Pulitzer-Prize-winning theater critic, who attended the 6th annual Chekhov Celebration and will come again to the 7th.

Produced by Chekhov fanatic Laura Strausfeld, who adapted Chekhov's early, funny stories for the event, the Chekhov Celebration this year is billed as "Chekhov v. Trump" and will focus on Chekhov's subversive politics.

"Chekhov lived under a Tsarist regime," says Strausfeld. "He has a lot of tips for us."

The Chekhov Celebration began in 2010 for Chekhov's 150th birthday. "I looked around for events to attend in New York City and when I found nothing, decided to host one myself," says Strausfeld. "Then, well, I just kept doing it."

Columbia University's Harriman Institute, where Strausfeld is a Visiting Scholar, began sponsoring the event in 2015.

"I always knew the old adage that Chekhov is comedy, but I hadn't realized, until I started doing this event a number of years ago, that Chekhov really wrote comedy-pure comedy," says Underwood, who, rumor has it, will reprise his role as the Violent-Tempered Man for this year's event.

The Russian Music Troupe Bobok will perform Russian protest songs. Poet Alissa Quart has written Chekhov-inspired poetry for the event. And more theatrical and musical guests will be announced in the next two weeks.

The Chekhov Celebration always includes vodka and piroshkis. $10 tickets can be reserved through Show-Score.