Night Just Before the Forest by Bernard-Marie Koltès translated by Timothy Johns at Hellenic Cultural Center (Newton Stage)

USA/CANADA TOUR

The majority of the proceeds will benefit Newtown Stage, a new theater at the Hellenic Cultural Center.

Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhHbXULuu5k

Lazaros Theodorakopoulos stars in the tour-de-force solo play,

NIGHT JUST BEFORE THE FOREST

by the acclaimed French playwright

Bernard-Marie Koltès,

translated by Timothy Johns,

directed by Bill Bowers.

(60 minutes / Warning: some profanity)

DECEMBER 7 @ 5PM

DECEMBER 8 @ 3PM

@ HELLENIC CULTURAL CENTER NYC (Newtown Stage)

25-02 Newtown Ave, Astoria, NY 11102, United States

NIGHT JUST BEFORE THE FOREST : “In this stream-of-consciousness monologue, a man scours his easily distracted mind to find a path through his life.” - Cleveland Scene

“Lazaros Theodorakopoulos creates an entire world through the text and through his command of physical theater and the use of props, drawing the audience along on this journey at a frenetic pace.”  - The National Herald

“The whole production is squeezed into a suitcase that holds all the lights, costumes and props.”  - HellasNews

Tickets ($25, Pay-what-you-can) 

https://www.thelazaros.com/tickets

Media

https://www.thenationalherald.com/greek-actor-tours-u-s-and-canada-with-powerful-solo-performance/

2024 USA/CANADA TOUR

April 5,6,12,13 at Mabou Mines Studio in NYC

April 27, 28 at Oregon Fringe Festival in OREGON

July 24-27 at Borderlight Theater Festival in OHIO

August 1 at Stella Adler Studio in NYC

August 8-11 at Guelph Fringe Festival in CANADA

August 12-18 at St Lou Fringe Festival in MISSOURI

September 6 at Philadelphia Fringe Festival in PENNSYLVANIA

September 27-29 at Charm City Fringe Festival in MARYLAND

December 7,8 at the Hellenic Cultural Center in NYC 
 

NIGHT JUST BEFORE THE FOREST (written in 1977) was Koltès’ first widely acclaimed play. He is considered to be heir to Samuel Beckett, Jean Cocteau and Jean Genet and his plays have been translated into more than 36 languages. Koltès died of complications from AIDS in 1989.

Originally from Greece, Theodorakopoulos has been an actor in NYC and Greece for twelve years and began collaborating on this production with Bill Bowers in 2021. Both studied acting at the legendary William Esper Studio.

In the US, Timothy Johns' translation (1982) was first read by Gilbert Price on June 13, 1983 at Ubu Repertory Theater in New York and first performed by Kevin V. Smith (directed by E Barnick) in 2012 at Viaduct Theater in Chicago.

Theodorakopoulos produced and starred in the 2022 New York premiere of Koltes’ play (in another English translation) at the Archdiocesan Hellenic Cultural Center. The 2024 tour, which began in New York on April 5, is Theodorakopoulos' second run of "La Nuit juste avant les forêts" by Bernard-Marie Koltès, translated by Timothy Johns and includes Bernard-Marie Koltès premiere in Oregon, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Maryland.

Learn more at www.thelazaros.com

photographed by Robert Crowe at St. Louis Fringe Festival 2024 at High Low

Video: Sideris Nanoudis

Music: Muse Perdue by Apostolos Papapostolou feat Eliza Gerontakis 

Produced by the Hellenic Cultural Center NYC, Eclipses Group Theater NY & Lazaros Theodorakopoulos