Once There Was a Russian 1961

Opened: February 18, 1961

Once There Was a Russian - 1961 - Broadway History , Info & More

Music Box Theatre (Broadway)
239 West 45th St. New York, NY

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BWW Q&A: Alan Inkles On An Evening with Leslie Odom, Jr. at the Staller Center for the Arts
by Joshua Wright - Feb 1, 2024


The Staller Center invites you to be in 'the room where it happens' with Leslie Odom, Jr., on March 9 for An Evening with Leslie Odom, Jr. Renowned across stage, screen, and song, Odom, Jr. is best known for his roles as Aaron Burr in Hamilton and Purlie in Purlie Victorious.

Full Cast Set for PLAYER KINGS Starring Ian McKellen, Toheeb Jimoh & Richard Coyle
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 19, 2024


IAN MCKELLEN, TOHEEB JIMOH & RICHARD COYLE star in Robert Icke's production of PLAYER KINGS, adapted from Shakespeare's Henry IV, Parts 1 & 2.

Review: JUDGEMENT AT NUREMBERG at MET's Warwick Theatre
by Alan Portner - Jan 13, 2024


“Judgement at Nuremberg” at Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre’s (MET) Warwick Theatre is a fictional rendering of the 1947 Judge’s War Crime Trial held at Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany. “Judgement at Nuremberg” is a painful remembrance of an attempt to both punish those accountable for the barbarisms committed in the name of the German state and to be consciously impartial in the administration of an accused’s trial rights. Eighteen million people died at the hands of the Third Reich and its National Socialist (NAZI) leaders. Six and a half million of the dead comprised two-thirds of Europe’s Jewish population. It was a determined and deliberate stated goal of genocide of a people. Post war, many of Europe’s surviving Jews fled places they had lived for millenniums in favor of reestablishing a sovereign state in their ancestral homeland where they could finally feel safe. It is ironic that this play opened in Kansas City on the very day that South Africa brought an accusation of genocide against the descendants of the survivors, today’s Israelis, at the International Court of Justice. The play centers on three main characters. One is Dan Heyward, a retired American District Court Judge called to lead a panel of three non-biased jurists in the trial of three NAZI era judicial officials. The second is a renowned German Judge named Ernst Janning. Janning had once sat in the chair similar to America’s Attorney General during pre-NAZI days. The third character is a youngish defense attorney named Oscar Rolfe, a volunteer defender of the estimable Ernst Janning. Janning initially refuses to recognize the authority of the court. It is two years since the end of the war in Europe. The scope of the evil that was done has become clear. The question facing the court is how far down into the German Bureaucracy must consequences for the German people reach? Usual suspects have already been tried, convicted, jailed, executed, or committed suicide. What is left to adjudicate are those who have allowed the worst to happen and why they allowed it. Were they true believers? Were they people who went along in hopes the system would self-correct? Is there any defense for crimes against humanity? Judge Heyward is our eyes as we attempt to understand how this monstrosity that was the Third Reich could have ever happened. “Judgement at Nuremberg” by Abby Mann is sixty-three years-old, yet it mirrors the Donald Trump era in exquisite detail. The arguments put forward in the staged court and from Judge Heyward’s investigation are heard in today’s legal briefs almost word for word. This makes “Judgement” frightening and important for 2024 audiences to see. When you see this play, you will recognize modern, living associates of the past administration mouthing dialog written before they reached their majority. MET has done an excellent job of casting. Director Karen Paisley has choreographed an exquisite twenty-four scene, two-act play in precise detail using minimal, yet effective set pieces. The few conceits adopted for this production work exceptionally well. Most acting is restrained and understated; except for two or three explosions from wholly appropriate characters when needed. Ms. Paisley has incorporated vintage documentary film from the era and what almost seems like a motion picture score backing up the action. “Judgement” is the third iteration of this story by Abby Mann, born Abraham Goodman, a son of Russian Jewish immigrants to the United States. The story first appeared as a television episode of Playhouse 90 in 1957, a feature film in 1961, and this version, a Broadway play in 2001. The Broadway version of “Judgement” was performed a total of fifty-six times. The expanded filmed version recently became available on “Prime Video.” The leading cast members in the MET production are John Clancy as Judge Dan Heywood, Tim Ahlenius as Ernst Janning, and Michael Dragen as Oscar Rolfe. They are backed up by a fine supporting cast. All the characters in this play are products of the playwright’s imagination. They are inspired by similar, real life people. True, historic situations influenced the plot and the legal arguments. “Judgement at Nuremberg” continues at the Warwick Theatre through January 21. Tickets are available at https://www.warwickkc.org/ or by telephone at (816) 569-3226.

Broadway Buying Guide: December 12, 2022
by Team BWW - Dec 12, 2022


Looking for the best deals on Broadway shows? Welcome to our new weekly guide to the most popular shows listed on BroadwayWorld. Check out which shows are selling this week, December 12, 2022.

La MaMa Announces 61st Season Featuring 40 Productions From 8 Nations
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 24, 2022


La MaMa ETC’s 61st season will feature world-premieres by John Kelly, Erik Ehn, Elizabeth Swados, Witness Relocation/Dan Safer, Bobbie Jene Smith and Ping Chong, along with the live, in-person stage debut of Split Britches’s 2021 digital production LAST GASP and the first-ever revival of Maria Irene Fornes’ EVELYN BROWN.

Interview: Getting to Know Barry Pearl on his Third Time Directing 13 THE MUSICAL
by Shari Barrett - Aug 11, 2022


Panic! Productions, along with Born To Perform Studios and BarCinBoo Productions, Inc. have announced that Barry Pearl will once again direct their late summer teen musical 13, this time at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center. This will be Pearl's third time working with Panic! Productions and also his third time directing the musical on the West Coast. I decided to speak with Barry about his connection to the teen musical and what inspired him to direct it for the third time, as well as how it may differ from his previous incarnations.

Highlighting Iconic Set Designers from Broadway Past
by Team BWW - Oct 16, 2021


Who are some of Broadway's greatest set designers? Which scenic designers have won the most Tony Awards? Read more about some of the greatest behind the scenes employees of Broadway and study up on ten iconic set designers from Broadway history.

Whitney White, Kelli Sae and More Are Heading to Joe's Pub
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 26, 2020


Joe's Pub bids farewell to February and welcomes March with the third in a five-part concert series exploring Shakespeare's women, black female ambition, and music, Whitney White: Think, And Die; Joe's Pub Working Group 2020 member Salty Brine continues their dazzling exploration of pop music with Living Record Collection - THESE ARE THE CONTENTS OF MY HEAD: The Annie Lennox Show

IVANKA 2020, Salty Brine and More Head to Joe's Pub This Week
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 19, 2020


Joe's Pub ends this week on a more chill note with Gary Lucas; Justin Vivian Bond's new show inspired by a Marianne Faithfull song; charismatic performer Susan Werner; country stars Bobby Pinson and RaeLynn as part of the Bob DiPiero Songwriters Series; and swinging, electrifying music, featuring Bernard Purdie along with entertaining stories retold by David Haney. Next week, the volume cranks up with Ryan Raftery's latest hilarious satire IVANKA 2020; the annual celebration of the intersection art and mental health Love is EleMental; Joe's Pub Working Group 2020 member Salty Brine continues their dazzling exploration of pop music with Living Record Collection - THESE ARE THE CONTENTS OF MY HEAD: The Annie Lennox Show; the third in a five-part concert series exploring Shakespeare's women, black female ambition, and music, Whitney White: Think, And Die; the Joe's Pub performance of the tour of MICHA Música In Transit; a concert from multi-award-winning platinum-selling musician Sarah Harmer with opener Chris Pureka; the fascinating coming of age story of a young woman growing up in New York City with Kelli Sae: Disco, Dicks And Dykes!; and BlackIssuesISSUES, an event that is as much a serenade and celebration of Blackness as it is an indictment of a system and society that is so toxic, it renders Blackness a burden.

URBAN STAGES WINTER RHYTHMS 2019 Begins on December 11
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 9, 2019


Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director and Tom Toce , Musical Director) announces the line-up for this year's award-winning series, WINTER RHYTHMS 2019, which will begin Wednesday, December 11 featuring some of New York's best musical performances through Saturday, December 21, 2019 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th St., East of 8th Ave.)

Urban Stages Presents 11th Annual Award-Winning Series WINTER RHYTHMS 2019
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 25, 2019


New York: Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director and Tom Toce , Musical Director) announces the line-up for this year's award-winning series, WINTER RHYTHMS 2019, which will begin Wednesday, December 11 featuring some of New York's best musical performances through Saturday, December 21, 2019 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th St., East of 8th Ave.)

IFC Center Announces Lineup for 2019 Split Screens Festival
by Kaitlin Milligan - May 9, 2019


IFC Center today announced an impressive and wide-ranging lineup for the third annual Split Screens Festival (www.splitscreensfestival.com) taking place Wednesday, May 29 through Monday, June 3, 2019, at the IFC Center in New York City. The festival consists of special events offering a variety of looks at history, identity and the mystery of existence itself, including panels on series that explore dystopian realities and alternate timelines, and screenings that transport us into any number of time periods and places, be it a late-1800s South Dakota town or the height of 1980s ballroom culture in New York City.

Berlin Boys Choir and German Soloist Benjamin Appl Join The Bach Choir For End Of WWI Centenary Concert
by BWW News Desk - Oct 3, 2018


The internationally famous Bach Choir will be joined by the Staats- und Domchor Berlin and German soloist Benjamin Appl to commemorate the end of WW1 with a performance of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem at Westminster Cathedral today, October 3rd.

War Reporter Christina Lamb & Actors Aisling Loftus & Alex Jennings Join The Bach Choir For A Concert Celebrating End Of WWI - Britten's War Requiem
by Stephi Wild - Sep 12, 2018


An historic performance of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem by The Bach Choir on October 3rd at Westminster Cathedral will be supported by a cast of three celebrities speaking and reading about the horrors of war. The Requiem was Britten's musical plea for peace. He chose The Bach Choir to perform on the first recording of the work almost 60 years ago and now once more they will be performing the work.

Berlin Boys Choir and German Soloist Benjamin Appl Join The Bach Choir For End Of WWI Centenary Concert
by Stephi Wild - Aug 24, 2018


The internationally famous Bach Choir will be joined by the Staats- und Domchor Berlin and German soloist Benjamin Appl to commemorate the end of WW1 with a performance of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem at Westminster Cathedral on Wednesday, October 3rd.

BWW Review: STOP THE WORLD . I WANT TO GET OFF at Parkteatern
by Annette Stolt - Jun 30, 2018


One of the best Theater experience in Stockholm each summer is the Open Air Theaters. The coucil founded 'Stadsteatern' moves out to various parks as 'Parkteatern' during the summer months and have a variety of plays, music events, children plays and each one on musical. This year it is Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley's 'Stop the World - I Want To Get Off'.

5th Avenue's KISS ME, KATE Begins Next Week
by Julie Musbach - Mar 28, 2018


Rehearsals are in full swing for The 5th Avenue Theatre's production of Kiss Me, Kate, which begins performances next Friday, April 6.

Czech Marionettes to Bring THE LIFE & TIMES OF LEE HARVEY OSWALD to La MaMa
by BWW News Desk - Oct 4, 2017


In the era of alternative truth, it is timely to revisit three 1960s national traumas which are shrouded in dense cobwebs of multiple conspiracy theories: the assassinations of President Kennedy, Robert Kennedy and Rev. Martin Luther King. To elucidate them with puppet theater wisdom, Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre revisits these tragedies in 'The Life and Times of Lee Harvey Oswald,' conceived, written and directed by Vit Horejs.

60 MINUTES Reporter Morley Safer Passes Away Just One Week After Retirement
by Caryn Robbins - May 19, 2016


Legendary newsman Morley Safer has passed away at the age of 84, just one week after announcing his retirement from CBS's long-running news show 60 MINUTES. 

BWW 2015 NY Cabaret Awards: 'Editor's Choice' Honors Go To Karen Mason, Mark Nadler, Steve Ross, Alex Rybeck, Jim Caruso, Sean Harkness and Ian Herman
by Stephen Hanks - Jan 20, 2016


After BroadwayWorld launched its New York Cabaret Awards in 2012, the cabaret section's editors realized that the selected categories and the popular vote nature of the election didn't adequately recognize some great performances and shows for that particular year. So in 2013, BWW added "Editor's Choice Awards" to the mix to not only reward special performances but also to acknowledge people who have helped grow cabaret and foster the spirit of the art form. This year, BWW New York Cabaret Editor Stephen Hanks and his reviewing staff-including Alix Cohen, David Clarke, Billie Roe, Rembert Block, and John Hoglund-selected seven stars of cabaret for this special honor. Now that the Awards for 2015 performances and shows are official, we wanted to tell you a bit about this year's "Editor's Choice Award" winners and offer them a chance to thank the New York cabaret community. Congratulations to all these worthy Award recipients.

Blue Raincoat Returns to the Traverse with FIRST COSMONAUT, Now thru June 7
by BWW News Desk - Jun 5, 2014


Blue Raincoat Theatre Company return to the Traverse in June with their new play, First Cosmonaut, marking the Irish company's fifth consecutive year performing at the Edinburgh venue.

BWW Interview: Theodora Skipitares' Strings-Attached Version of THE CHAIRS
by Naomi Serviss - May 27, 2014


Visually arresting puppets make this production of the absurdist classic a memorable one.

Blue Raincoat to Return to the Traverse with FIRST COSMONAUT, June 5-7
by BWW News Desk - May 1, 2014


Blue Raincoat Theatre Company return to the Traverse in June with their new play, First Cosmonaut, marking the Irish company's fifth consecutive year performing at the Edinburgh venue.

Lincoln Center Announces OUT OF DOORS 2014 Summer Festival Lineup; Runs 7/20-8/10
by Diana Heisroth - Apr 30, 2014


The schedule for this summer's Lincoln Center Out of Doors festival, which runs from July 20 to August 10, was announced today by Bill Bragin, Lincoln Center's Director of Public Programming. Nearly 100 free performances will take place across the plazas of Lincoln Center during three weeks. A special Memorial Concert for Pete and Toshi Seeger on July 20 will be followed by the official opening concert on July 23 with Larry Harlow's Hommy: A Latin Opera, the landmark work's first performance in 40 years. Complete festival details and a chronological listing of events follow.

Christopher Plummer to Star in New Thriller REMEMBER
by Caryn Robbins - Apr 30, 2014


Variety reports that theater veteran Christopher Plummer has joined the cast of Atom Egoyan's upcoming thriller REMEMBER.

Once There Was a Russian FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What productions of Once There Was a Russian have there been?
Once There Was a Russian has had 1 productions including Broadway which opened in 1961.

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