Leo Tolstoy News

'You know, I hate your plays,' the great Russian dramatist Anton Chekhov once recalled the exalted Leo Tolstoy telling him during a friendly visit. 'Shakespeare was a bad writer, and I consider your plays even worse than his.'

The much-anticipated MOBY DICK (A Musical Reckoning), from the team that brought you NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 in 2015, has finally surfaced at the Loeb Drama Center of the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge. Based on the iconic American novel by Herman Melville, the three-and-a-half-hour-long musical endeavors to theatricalize about 40 of the book's 135 chapters, taking a much larger bite from the source material than the mere 70- page section of Leo Tolstoy's WAR AND PEACE adapted for THE GREAT COMET. Oh, would that Dave Malloy (music, book, lyrics, and orchestrations) and Rachel Chavkin (director, co-developer) had approached this project with such surgical skill, rather than casting the broadest of nets upon the waters.

American Repertory Theater's world premiere production of Moby-Dick set sail tonight at the Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA. See what the critics are saying!

Mint Theater Company Producing Artistic Director Jonathan Bank today announced that Katie Firth (A Day by the Sea, A Picture of Autumn, Susan and God, Far and Wide - Mint Theater, Museum - Keen Company), Anna Lentz (The Diary of Anne Frank - Geva Theatre Center, The Many Deaths of Nathan Stubblefield, The Tens, A Christmas Carol, Gratuitous Nudity and the Undisclosed Costs of Questioning Surveillance Rather Than Bad Broccoli - Actors Theatre of Louisville),

Mint Theater Company Producing Artistic Director Jonathan Bank today announced the first cast member for the World Premiere pairing of Chekhov/Tolstoy: Love Stories, a program of short plays adapted from stories by two of the world's greatest authors, Anton Chekhov and Leo Tolstoy adapted for the stage by Miles Malleson (Conflict, Yours Unfaithfully).

Notch Theatre Company presents the World Premiere Production of Anna Karenina: a riff by Gwen Kingston, opening November 21st at The Flea Theater in New York City. Based on the novel by Leo Tolstoy, Kingston's fresh take on Anna Karenina will be directed by Ashley Teague, Artistic Director of Notch Theatre Company.

Mint Theater Company Producing Artistic Director Jonathan Bank today announced that before Mint presets the World Premiere pairing of Chekhov/Tolstoy: Love Stories, adapted for the stage by Miles Malleson (playwright of the acclaimed Mint productions Conflict and Yours Unfaithfully), Mint will present a staged reading of Malleson's first full-length play Youth, for one night only on Monday October 28th at 7:30pm at Theater Row (410 West 42nd Street between 9th and Dyer Avenues). Matt Dickson directs a cast featuring Kate Abruzzese, Donald Corren, Margaret Daly, Christian DeMarais, Andrew Fallaize, Michael Frederic, Alex Mandell, Brenda Meaney, Ned Noyes, and Tommy Schrider.

Mint Theater Company Producing Artistic Director Jonathan Bank today announced the World Premiere pairing of Chekhov/Tolstoy: Love Stories, adapted for the stage by Miles Malleson (Conflict, Yours Unfaithfully), directed by Jonathan Bank & Jane Shaw. Performances will begin January 23rd and continue through March 14th only at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Opening Night is set for February 10th. Cast will be announced shortly.

The Australian Ballet today announced a 2020 season that showcases ballet's enduring power to enchant and transform. In his 20th and final year as artistic director, David McAllister has programmed Australian and world premieres alongside the works that have left an indelible mark on modern ballet. It's a year of milestones and new beginnings that celebrates the dynamism of the company and the art form, with productions that will delight, enthral and inspire.

Leo Tolstoy's classic “Anna Karenina” will be adapted by Jenny Lee in her novel “Anna K” as well as in the upcoming HBO Max series of the same name.

Something really special is happening in Nyack. Last year, the over gentrification of an East Village block resulted in relocation of long-time resident company the Phoenix Theatre Ensemble. After 15 seasons, the renowned, ground-breaking company found itself homeless. To its profound credit, it has managed to continue to produce in spite of its new 'vagabond' status in the city. However, the company's leadership was another story.

Actors Co-op extends its daring fresh take on Leo Tolstoy's ANNA KARENINA by Helen Edmundson, directed by Heather Chesley, due to popular demand and sold out houses. This imaginatively staged, swift- paced ANNA KARENINA is an upside-down telling of Leo Tolstoy's classic tale. A story wrapped in temptation, passion and moral conflict, this eight-person dramatic event is an examination of love, adultery and marriage.

Actors Co-op adds two matinees of this daring fresh take on Leo Tolstoy's ANNA KARENINA by Helen Edmundson, directed by Heather Chesley, due to popular demand and sold out houses. This imaginatively staged, swift- paced ANNA KARENINA is an upside-down telling of Leo Tolstoy's classic tale. A story wrapped in temptation, passion and moral conflict, this eight-person dramatic event is an examination of love, adultery and marriage.

As the centerpiece of its 2018-19 season, The Joffrey Ballet proudly announces the world premiere of Yuri Possokhov's historic reimagining of Leo Tolstoy's classic novel, Anna Karenina, considered the greatest literature ever written. This majestic full-length work is presented in a first-time collaboration between The Joffrey Ballet and the renowned Australian Ballet to be performed in Chicago at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, in ten performances only, February 13-24, 2019.

Quintessence Theatre Group, a professional classic theatre company located in Philadelphia's Mt. Airy neighborhood, takes on Shakespeare's greatest tragedy this spring. KING LEAR, a searing drama about the dangers of absolute power, comes to Quintessence from March 19, 2019 through April 20, 2019. Opening night is Saturday, March 23 at 7:30PM.

Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, adapted for the stage by Helen Edmundson, is a staggeringly ambitious project for any theatre. First of all, it is a period piece taking place in a foreign country, in this case Russia and belongs in the realm of literary classics, requiring or better suited to classically trained actors. Currently onstage at Actors Co-op's Crossley Theatre. Anna is directed intelligently by Heather Chesley and boasts a fine cast, but somehow lacks the stature that it deserves.

Actors Co-op presents ANNA KARENINA by Helen Edmundson, adapted from the novel by Leo Tolstoy, directed by Heather Chesley, produced by Kay Bess. Helen Edmudson's ANNA KARENINA is an upside-down telling of Leo Tolstoy's classic tale. A story wrapped in temptation, passion and moral conflict, this eight-person dramatic event is a fast-paced examination of love, adultery and marriage. ANNA KARENINA will run February 8 - March 17. Todays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm. Sunday Matinees at 2:30 pm. Saturday Matinees February 16 and February 23 at 2:30 pm. The play is recommended for ages 13 and older.

Actors Co-op presents ANNA KARENINA by Helen Edmundson, adapted from the novel by Leo Tolstoy, directed by Heather Chesley, produced by Kay Bess. Helen Edmudson's ANNA KARENINA is an upside-down telling of Leo Tolstoy's classic tale. A story wrapped in temptation, passion and moral conflict, this eight-person dramatic event is a fast-paced examination of love, adultery and marriage. ANNA KARENINA will run February 8 - March 17. Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm. Sunday Matinees at 2:30 pm. Saturday Matinees February 16 and February 23 at 2:30 pm. The play is recommended for ages 13 and older.