Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya" Runs February 23-March 13 at 78th Street Theatre

VOLGA PRODUCTIONS, is pleased to announce its upcoming production of UNCLE VANYA, by ANTON CHEKHOV, translated from the original Russian and directed by ARNOLD SHVETSOV. Performances begin Thursday, February 23rd at 8:00 pm. Opening is Saturday, February 25th at 8:00 pm. Performances continue Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sunday, February 27th @ 2:00 pm and Sundays March 6th and 13th at 3:00 pm through March 13th. There will be one additional performance on Tuesday, March 8th at 8:00 pm All tickets are $15.00, $10.00 with current student ID. TDF accepted. For reservations, please call 212-636-9601. The 78TH STREET THEATRE LAB is located at 236 W. 78th Street, just off Broadway.

"UNCLE VANYA," Chekhov's masterpiece of frustrated longing and wasted lives, tells the story of Professor Serebryakov and his young wife Yelena who have left St. Petersburg and settled on the family's remote country estate. It is here that Sonya, the Profesor's daughter from his first marriage, and her Uncle Vanya have labored for years to support Serebryakov. Their arrival sends the estate into chaos, disrupting the daily routines of country life and sparking passions and triangles of tension as the characters struggle with their frustrated desires and disillusionment. Vanya and his friend Astrov, the local doctor, vie for Yelena's attention, while Sonya and Yelena find themselves irresistibly attracted to Astrov.

Director ARNOLD SHVETSOV is a graduate of Moscow's renowned GITIS institute (State Institute for Theatrical Arts, Moscow) has cast a mix of both American and Russian actors in this production. His work in Russia include Goldoni's "THE QUARRELS IN CHIOGGIA" by at the Zlatoust State Theater and adaptations of the Grimm Brothers tale "FRAU HOLLE" as well as O'Henry's "THE RANSOM OF RED CHIEF," which ran for 15 years at the Moscow Drama Theater, named after Nikolai Gogol in Moscow. Credits in this country include, "TWO POODLES" by S. Zlotnikov at the Abrons Art Center at the Henry Street Settlement and the Stravinsky opera "MAVRA" at Merkin Hall. Shvetsov also helmed a production of "ISADORA AND SERGEI" by S. NAZARENKO that played at the "Wondering Stars," the Russian-American Musical Theatre in New York.

Featured in the cast are PETER VON BERG, ALEKS SHAKLIN, BARBARA HAMMOND, NATIA DUNE, EMILY MITCHELL, RUTH MILLER, H. CLARK KEE, RICHARD STERNE and MICHAEL HUBER.

"UNCLE VANYA" begins performances Thursday, February 23rd at 8:00 pm. Opening is Saturday, February 25th at 8:00 pm. Performances continue Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sunday, February 27th @ 2:00 pm and Sundays March 6th and 13th at 3:00 pm through March 13th. There will be one additional performance on Tuesday, March 8th at 8:00 pm All tickets are $15.00, $10.00 with current student ID. TDF accepted. For reservations, please call 212-636-9601. The 78TH STREET THEATRE LAB is located at 236 W. 78th Street, just off Broadway.