Yale Bulletin and Calendar

December 1, 2006|Volume 35, Number 12|Two-Week Issue

The publicity image for "Black Snow," an adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov's novel about a writer whose dream of achieving theatrical fame instead turns into a nightmare.

Yale Rep's 'Black Snow' takes
satirical look at life in the theater

A young writer's dream rapidly turns into a comic night-,mare when the most illustrious theater in Moscow decides to make a play out of his novel in "Black Snow," the Yale Repertory Theatre's next production.

"Black Snow," which runs Dec. 1-23, is Keith Reddin's adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov's satirical novel about his life in the theater. In the play, Sergei -- whose inflated ambition is to join the ranks of Shakespeare, Molière and Sophocles -- is propelled on a roller coaster ride through a tumultuous world filled with outsized egos, eccentric actors and pompous producers. He fears that his masterpiece may become unrecognizable in the hands of the absurdly autocratic but brilliant artistic director Ivan Vasilievich, played by acclaimed theater artist Alvin Epstein, who will make his first appearance at the Yale Rep in nearly 30 years.

The play is directed by Yale Rep resident director Evan Yionoulis, whose previous productions at the theater include "The People Next Door," "King Stag," "Heaven" and "Galileo." Recent New York credits include Howard Brenton's "Sore Throats" for Theatre for a New Audience and Daisy Foote's "Bhutan" at the Cherry Lane. She is also an adjunct associate professor in the School of Drama's acting department.

Reddin, a graduate of the School of Drama, is the author of the plays "Life and Limb" and "Rum and Coke" (which premiered at the Yale Rep in 1985 as part of Winterfest V), "Highest Standard of Living," "Life During Wartime," "Big Time," "Nebraska," "Brutality of Fact," "The Innocents Crusade," "Almost Blue," "Synergy," "All the Rage," "Can't Let Go" and "Frame 312." He also wrote screenplays for "It's the Rage" and "The Alarmist," based on his plays, as well as the television movie "The Hearts of Justice." Also an actor, he has performed on and off-Broadway and in the films "Lolita," "The Doors," "Reversal of Fortune," "Crossing Delancy" and "Big."

This will be the 33rd production for Epstein at the Yale Rep, of which he is a founding member and former associate director. He has staged over 20 productions and acted in over 150. His acting and directing credits at the Yale Rep include "Dynamite Tonite!," "Happy End," "Don Juan," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "Julius Caesar," "The Importance of Being Earnest" and "Hearbreak House." His Broadway and off-Broadway credits include "King Lear," the American premieres of "Waiting for Godot" and "Endgame," the world premieres of "When the World Was Green" and "Tuesdays with Morrie," as well as "The Madwoman of Chaillot," "The Threepenny Opera," "No Strings" and many others following his 1955 debut with Marcel Marceau. For 20 years he performed "A Kurt Weill Cabaret" with Martha Schlamme on and off-Broadway and on tour in the United States and South America. Epstein is a founding member of the American Repertory Theatre and former artistic director of the Guthrie Theater. He received the Most Promising Actor Award from the New York Drama Critics in 1956, the Obie Award for "Dynamite Tonite!" and the Jason Robards Award for Dedication to Theatre, among other honors.

In the role of Sergei is Adam Stein, who is making his professional New Haven debut in "Black Snow." He first performed on the Yale Rep stage in "Noises Off" as a Yale College senior. Since then, he has appeared in many theaters across the country, including the Old Globe, Steppenwolf, Guthrie, Williamstown, Seattle Rep and the McCarter. In New York, he played a bird for a year in "The Lion King" on Broadway, and he most recently played Parolles in "All's Well That Ends Well" with Theatre for a New Audience. He has written feature stories for GQ, The New York Times Magazine and New York, and occasionally appears as Mr. Peterson in a band call "The Petersons."

Other members of the cast are Amir Arison (Strizh and others), Katie Barrett (Ilchin, Irinia, Aunt and others), Susan Blommaert (Toropetzkaya and others), Matthew Boston (Pillipp Phillippovich and others), Brian Hutchison (Bombardov and others), David Lapkin (Friend and others), Anthony Manna (Likospastov and others), Steve Routman (Gavril and others), School of Drama student Charles Semine (Young Man and others) and Tamilla Woodard (Ludmilla and others).

Members of the creative team include Dustin Eshenroder (scenic design), Rachel Myers (costume design), Stephen Strawbridge (lighting design) and David Budries (sound design).

The Yale Rep is located at 1120 Chapel St (at York). Performances are at 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, with additional 2 p.m. matinees on Saturday, Dec. 9, Dec. 16 and Dec. 23; and a senior matinee Wednesday, Dec. 13. Previews run Dec. 1-6: preview tickets are $30 for weekdays and $40 for weekends. Special events include "Grad Night" on Saturday, Dec. 2, featuring a pre-show discussion at 7 p.m. with members of the creative team and complimentary beer, wine and appetizers for graduate students; opening night on Dec. 7, when guests can join the cast and crew for a celebration following the performance at Thali; "Talk Backs" -- post-show question-and-answer sessions with members of the cast -- following matinee performances on Dec. 9 and 16 and the evening performance on Dec. 14; "Before & After" on Dec. 12, during which students and young professionals mix before the show at BAR at a free pizza party and can get to know the cast and creative team during a question-and-answer session following the 8 p.m. show; and a reception for seniors at 1 p.m. on Dec. 13, featuring a pre-show presentation by members of the creative team and refreshments. The 2 p.m. performance on Dec. 16 is open captioned and audio-described.

Regular tickets to "Black Snow" are $45 for weekdays and matinees and $55 for weekend evenings. Tickets can be purchased online at www.yalerep.org, by phone at (203) 432-1234 or in person at the Yale Rep box office, 1120 Chapel St. Teletype orders can be made by dialing (203) 432-1521.

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