La MaMa Presents THE KREUTZER SONATA March 8-25

La MaMa has announced that they will present the American premiere of London's Gate Theatre's production of THE KREUTZER SONATA March 8-25.

Adapted by Nancy Harris from Leo Tolstoy’s Novella;
Directed by Natalie Abrahami and Featuring the Original Cast

When it was first published in 1889, Leo Tolstoy’s The Kreutzer Sonata immediately became a cause célèbre and was banned by the Russian authorities for its explicit portrayal of the corrupting power of sexual obsession and jealousy. Tolstoy had been inspired by the Beethoven piece of the same name and hoped one day to see his work performed to the accompaniment of music.

Over a century later, London’s Gate Theatre has realized Tolstoy’s dream, commissioning celebrated young playwright Nancy Harris to adapt Tolstoy’s text for a production that incorporates film, live music and performance. The resulting show, directed by the Gate’s departing co-Artistic Director Natalie Abrahami, made its world premiere at the Gate in 2009, winning vast critical praise and breaking all of the theater’s box office records. Following a return to the Gate, from January 6—February 18 of this year, the production comes to La MaMa’s First Floor Theatre (74A East 4th Street) for its American Premiere, running March 8—25.

Performances of The Kreutzer Sonata will take place March 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24 at 7:30 P.M. and March 11, 17, 18, 24, 25 at 2:30 P.M. Critics are welcome as of the first performance on Thursday, March 8 for an official opening of Sunday, March 11. Tickets are $18 ($13 for seniors and students) and can be purchased by visiting www.lamama.org or www.kreutzersonataplay.com, calling 212.475.7710 or visiting the La MaMa box office at 74A East 4th Street.

In The Kreutzer Sonata, a man boards a train, and in the confined space of the carriage, potent memories are triggered. Soon he is confessing to a terrible crime for which he holds Beethoven’s Kreutzer Sonata responsible.

At La MaMa (and in the limited return engagement at the Gate in January-February), Hilton McRae reprises his role as jealous husband Pozdynyshev. Also returning are original cast members Sophie Scott as Pozdynyshev’s wife and Tobias Beer as supposed lover Trukhachevski.

The show is designed by Chloe Lamford, with lighting by Mark Howland, sound by Carolyn Downing, musical direction by Tom Mills, movement by Kate Flatt, film by Dan Stafford Clark, and projections by Ian William Galloway.

This production is supported by Arts Council England, Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Culture Ireland. Jerwood Young Designers at the Gate is supported by Jerwood Charitable Foundation.

About the Gate Theatre

The Gate Theatre has a distinguished reputation that far exceeds its size. It is London's only producing theatre dedicated to international work. From humble beginnings it has developed a significant renown throughout London, as well as nationally and internationally.

The Gate was founded in 1979 by Lou Stein, over the Prince Albert pub, in Notting Hill Gate. It set about a unique pursuit of the original, of plays and playwrights unknown on British stages, and of artists whose talent deserved to be discovered.

With an average seating capacity of 70, the Gate is small but ambitious. The space has challenged and inspired directors, designers, writers and performers for over 30 years, making it famous for being one of the most flexible and transformable spaces in London. The Gate is a springboard - our aim is to give emerging artists the opportunity to take risks, to excel and to make their mark before going off to blaze trails across the theatrical landscape. Former Artistic Directors of the Gate include Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliott, Broadway), Thea Sharrock (Equus, Broadway), and David Farr (Metamorphosis, BAM), and we have been home to both established and emerging artists including Lez Brotherston, Kathy Burke, Dominic Cooke, Wolfgang Goebbel, Sir Peter Hall, Ed Hogg, Richard Hudson, Paterson Joseph, Sarah Kane, Alex Kingston, Jude Law, Nancy Meckler, Katie Mitchell, Sophie Okonedo, Emma
Rice, Ian Rickson and Rachel Weisz.

About La MaMa

The arts institution La MaMa has a worldwide reputation for producing cutting-edge work in theater, dance, performance art, and music. Founded in 1961 by theater pioneer and legend Ellen Stewart, La MaMa has produced and presented more than 3,000 theatrical productions to date and is a vital part of the fabric of cultural life in New York City and around the world.

La MaMa provides a supportive home for artists and takes risks on unknown work. Artists such as Sam Shepard, Lanford Wilson, Philip Glass, Robert Wilson, Harvey Fierstein, Blue Man Group, David and Amy Sedaris (and others whose names you haven’t heard of yet) began their careers at La MaMa. International artists introduced to America by La MaMa include Tadeusz Kantor, Andrei Serban, Kazuo Ohno and, more recently, the acclaimed Belarus Free Theatre. La MaMa has been honored with more than 30 OBIE Awards, dozens of Drama Desk and Bessie Awards, and, in 2006, Ellen Stewart was recognized with a special TONY Award for Excellence in the Theatre. 

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