Song of Songs (New York) at IATI Theater

Song of Songs is a new theatrical work based on one of the most enigmatic and poetic texts of the Hebrew Bible. Composed by Yelena Yesilevskaya, drawing directly from the original verses, Song of Songs explores love, longing, and the interplay between the sacred and the sensual. The production strips away layers of interpretation to return to the raw text itself, allowing the ancient words to speak in their full lyrical intensity. At once intimate and universal, this staging invites audiences into a space where desire and devotion, body and spirit, merge into timeless poetry brought to life on stage.

This project is not only a theatrical production, but also a cultural conversation: an exploration of heritage, spirituality, and the enduring relevance of biblical poetry in our modern lives. Performed in three languages (English, Russian, and Hebrew), featuring traditional liturgical chanting heard in synagogues around the world on the Jewish holiday of Passover, Song of Songs offers glimpses of eternal spring, hope, and renewal in the vast emotional landscape of loss and grieving.

Written by Yelena Yesilevskaya, in loving memory of Emil Marcus

Directed by Lev Shekhtman

Produced by Art Against Humanity Inc.

Starring: Inna Yesilevskaya and Zhenya Lebedev

Voiceover actors (in order of appearance): Yelena Shmulenson, Alex Notkin, Marina Gordon, David Peterman, and Rabbi Sam Levine

Creative Team

Set Concept & Design: Lev Shekhtman

Stage & Costume Design: Natalia Danilova

Music: Fedor Zhuravlev

Light: Andrew Abramov

Choreography: Andrew Ivanov

Sound: Denis Zabiyaka

Poster Design: Liza Irshai

Tech Support - Sound: Nathaniel Freud

Tech Support - Light: Polina Belkina

Set Construction: Yuri Astakhov

Translation: Yelena Shmulenson (English) and Marina Gordon (Hebrew)

For more information, reach out to our PR team at 929-404-3893