FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
ArtsEmerson Media Contact: Darren DeLuca<\/b> <\/b> <\/b> <\/b> <\/b><\/p>\n
darren.deluca@gmail.com<\/a> | 603-489-7624<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Cherry Orchard Festival Media Contact: <\/b><\/p>\n Keith Sherman and Associates<\/b><\/p>\n keith@ksa-pr.com<\/a> | 212-764-7900<\/p>\n <\/p>\n HowlRound Media Contact: Shannon Knapp<\/b><\/p>\n shannon@howlround.com<\/a> | 814-715-2769<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ARTSEMERSON AND CHERRY ORCHARD FESTIVAL <\/b><\/p>\n CO-PRESENT ARLEKIN PLAYERS THEATRE\u2019S <\/b><\/p>\n LIVE INTERACTIVE ART EXPERIMENT<\/b><\/p>\n \n STATE VS. NATASHA BANINA<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n INCLUDING A PERFORMANCE IN ENGLISH AND RUSSIAN, PLUS POST-SHOW ARTIST CONVERSATIONS<\/b><\/p>\n AUGUST 20 & 23 AT 8PM<\/p>\n ———<\/p>\n ARTISTIC DIRECTORS <\/b>IGOR GOLYAK (ARLEKIN) AND WANG CHONG (TH\u00c9\u00c2TRE DU R\u00caVE EXP\u00c9RIMENTAL) WILL DIALOGUE ABOUT THE PRESENT & FUTURE OF CREATING ONLINE THEATRE, <\/b><\/p>\n HOSTED BY HOWLROUND THEATRE COMMONS<\/b><\/p>\n AUGUST 19 AT 10AM<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [Boston, MA \u2013 July 28, 2020] \u2013 <\/b>ArtsEmerson and the Cherry Orchard Festival will co-present the Arlekin Players Theatre production State vs. Natasha Banina<\/b>, a live online interactive art experiment directed by Igor Golvak and starring Darya Denisova, winner of the 2020 Elliot Norton Award as Outstanding Actress, Small or Fringe Theater, for her performance in Arlekin\u2019s The Stone<\/i>. <\/b>The partnership will include a virtual theater talk with Igor Golvak and China\u2019s award-winning theatre director Wang Chong on August 19, 2020 at 10:00am, and two live performances with post-show discussions on August 20 (in Russian with English subtitles) and August 23 (in English), both starting at 8:00pm. For more information on how to access these virtual events visit ArtsEmerson.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Performed live by Darya Denisova, State vs. Natasha<\/b> Banina<\/b> unfolds as a Russian teenager tells the story of her life in a small-town orphanage, and how her desire to be free led to a crime of passion. From the inside of a \u201cZoom court room,\u201d she makes unique appeals to the audience\/jury, letting them into her world where she dreams of love, family, and her future. Ultimately, the audience will decide whether she is guilty of manslaughter.<\/p>\n Photos courtesy of Arlekin Players Theatre<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The August 20 & 23 live performances of State vs. Natasha Banina <\/b>cost $25. Reserve tickets here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On Wednesday, August 19 at 10:00am, HowlRound Theatre Commons will host an artist conversation with Igor Golyak and Wang Chong on HowlRound TV<\/a> to discuss State vs. Natasha Banina<\/b> and the state of online theatre. \u201cThe online world is not a mirror of the world,\u201d Chong recently wrote<\/a>, \u201cIt is the world. In this world, theater artists can start from scratch with just their bare hands.\u201d Golyak and Chong will unpack this idea of starting from scratch as well as taking questions from the audience.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This artist conversation is FREE, and registration is encouraged here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cArlekin Players has been producing consistently strong work in Boston and making a unique contribution to the diversity of stories and aesthetics offered in our region, for years,\u201d says ArtsEmerson artistic director David Dower. \u201cIt was a delight to see them make the pivot to the online space with such alacrity, and finally to break through to a national platform. It is a joy to partner with Arlekin and the Cherry Orchard Festival with whom we have worked regularly for over ten years. This is that rare moment where our commitments to international work, to programming in gaps, and to creating access for local artists all come together in the same show. We’re proud to be supporting the momentum Natasha<\/b> has generated and to be able to offer this performance to ArtsEmerson audiences in both languages.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cArlekin’s mission is to tell imaginative stories through innovative forms of theater, and in this moment, that has taken us to a new place with State vs Natasha Banina<\/b>,\u201d says Arlekin\u2019s director Igor Golyak. \u201cIn the face of a global pandemic and national racial unrest, an unprecedented moment of disruption, we were honored to have our production hailed by the New York Times<\/i> as a Critics\u2019 Pick and we suddenly found ourselves performing from the corner of our living room for people from 40 states and over 15 countries. And we are embracing the moment. It is a time to embrace experimentation, dream about what is possible in the cloud, and explore new virtual genres for the theater that are powerful for artists and audiences. We are thrilled to be on the brink of invention in a world that is becoming ever so small, and the human connection between people is ever so needed. We are honored to be presented by ArtsEmerson who do indeed embrace ‘the world on stage’ as we share this innovative performance in both Russian and English for Boston audiences and audiences from around the globe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n EVENT CALENDAR FOR STATE VS. NATASHA BANINA<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wednesday, August 19, 2020 at 10:00am<\/b><\/p>\n Artist conversation with Igor Golvak and Wang Chong hosted by HowlRound on HowlRound TV<\/p>\n ASL interpretation and live captioning will be provided.<\/p>\n Pre-register here<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thursday, August 20, 2020 at 8:00pm<\/b><\/p>\n Live performance in RUSSIAN with English subtitles<\/p>\n Performance will include a post-show conversation.<\/p>\n Tickets may be reserved here<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sunday, August 23, 2020 at 8:00pm<\/b><\/p>\n Live performance in ENGLISH<\/p>\n Performance will include a post-show conversation.<\/p>\n Tickets may be reserved here<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For production stills and other media kit assets, click <\/b>here<\/b><\/a>.<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n CREATIVE TEAM<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Based on Natasha\u2019s Dream<\/i> by Yaroslava Pulinovich<\/p>\n Directed by Igor Golyak<\/p>\n Performed by Darya Denisova<\/p>\n Animation by Anton Iakhontov<\/p>\n Video by Igor Golyak<\/p>\n Music composed by Vadim Khrapatchev<\/p>\n Translated by John Freedman<\/p>\n Produced by Igor Golyak & Sara Stackhouse<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CREATIVE, CAST BIOGRAPHIES<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Igor Golyak<\/b> (Director, Arlekin Founding Artistic Director) received the 2020 Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Director for Arlekin\u2019s The Stone <\/i>and was also nominated in the same year for his direction of Arlekin\u2019s The Seagull<\/i>. He is an Associate Professor at the Boston Conservatory, and has spent over a decade teaching the art of theatre. He is the founder of the Igor Golyak Acting Studio and Artistic Director of Arlekin Players Theatre which has won numerous awards in the United States and internationally. Arlekin Players Theatre is a multicultural, multi-national collaborative that is growing year to year in the number of audience members, company actors, and volunteers. His theatre has been invited to perform on famous stages and at world-renowned festivals all over the world, including Moscow Art Theatre, and festivals in Yerevan, Armenia, New York City, Chicago, Lviv, Ukraine, Monaco, and many others.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Darya Denisova<\/b> (Natasha Banina) received the 2020 Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Actress for her portrayal of Witha in Arlekin\u2019s The Stone, <\/i>which received three Elliot Norton Awards, including Outstanding Production. She has performed as the lead actress in various Arlekin Players\u2019 productions, including Memorial Prayer<\/i> in 2014, Natasha\u2019s Dream<\/i> in 2015, Tales of the Last Wednesday<\/i> in 2016, Dead Man\u2019s Diary<\/i> in 2017, \u041c\u042b-US<\/i> in 2018, The Stone<\/i> in 2019 and The Seagull<\/i> in 2019. She has also traveled to several international theatre festivals to perform with Arlekin Players Theatre, including the United SOLO festival, off Broadway, New York; SOLO Festival in Moscow, Russia; HighFest theatre festival, Yerevan, Armenia with her award-winning solo performance Natasha\u2019s Dream<\/i>. Darya has been recognized by Boston critics and leading reviewers for her roles at Arlekin Players. She studied acting at the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts in Moscow, graduating in 2016. After she received her degree, she moved back to Boston to continue performing in Boston with Arlekin Players Theatre, which she joined in 2013. She has taught documentary theatre at the Startalk School at Harvard University and the Stanislavsky method at the Igor Golyak acting studio.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Arlekin Players Theatre<\/b> was created in Boston in 2009 and has since toured to New York, Chicago, and Hartford, as well as to international festivals in Russia, Armenia, Ukraine, and Monaco. Arlekin takes strong pride in their emphasis on self-identity; they are a company of immigrants performing works that play on the ideas of cross-culture, home, and traditions, challenging the idea of nationality, and finding common themes that unite us all. The company makes its home in Needham, MA. For more information visit arlekinplayers.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ArtsEmerson<\/b> is Boston\u2019s leading presenter of contemporary world theatre. Our mission is to bring people together to experience powerful performances that delight, provoke, and inspire, celebrating both our differences and common humanity. Founded in 2010 by Robert J. Orchard \u2014 the year the U.S. Census confirmed there was no single cultural majority in Boston \u2014 we committed to building a cultural institution that reflects the diversity of our city. Our imaginative season of globe-spanning performances, film, and dialogue invites each of us to be part of a Boston that is more creative, equitable, and connected. ArtsEmerson is led by Artistic Director, David Dower and Executive Director, David Howse. For more information visit ArtsEmerson.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cherry Orchard Festival <\/b>(www.CherryOrchardFestival.org<\/a>), a registered 501c) (3) arts organization, is a leading independent international arts organization with a solid reputation for presenting musical performances, theatrical productions, multi-disciplinary performing and visual arts attractions by a stunning array of global artists to audiences in the US. Founded by executive producer, Maria Shclover <\/b>and artistic director, Irina Shabshis<\/b> in 2012, the festival is now embarking on its 8th season and has presented over 60 unique world class events, concerts, and theatrical performances to over 150,000 audience members. The mission of the Cherry Orchard Festival is to introduce and promote global cultural activity and exchange of ideas, aiming to enlighten and engage audiences through educational programs and events. For more information about the festival, please visit cherryorchardfestival.org<\/a>. Sponsorship opportunities for the Cherry Orchard Festival are also available. For more information please email: info@cherryorchardfestival.org<\/a> or call 1.800.349.0021<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n HowlRound Theatre Commons<\/b>, located in the Office of the Arts at Emerson College, is a free and open platform to amplify progressive and disruptive ideas about theatre. Using a commons-based approach, HowlRound invites open participation from theatremakers worldwide around shared values and envisions a theatre field where resources and power are shared equitably in all directions, contributing to a more just and sustainable world.<\/p>\n For more information visit howlround.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Emerson College <\/b><\/p>\n ArtsEmerson and HowlRound Theatre Commons both operate from within the Emerson College Office of the Arts. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, opposite the historic Boston Common and in the heart of the city\u2019s Theatre District, Emerson College educates individuals who will solve problems and change the world through engaged leadership in communication and the arts, a mission informed by liberal learning. The College has 3,780 undergraduates and 670 graduate students from across the United States and 50 countries. Supported by state-of-the-art facilities and a renowned faculty, students participate in more than 90 student organizations and performance groups. Emerson is known for its experiential learning programs in Los Angeles, Washington, DC, the Netherlands, London, China, and the Czech Republic as well as its new Global Portals, with the first program launching this fall in Paris. The College has an active network of 39,000 alumni who hold leadership positions in communication and the arts. For more information, visit Emerson.edu<\/a>. For media inquiries specific to Emerson College, please contact Michelle Gaseau (E: Michelle_Gaseau@emerson.edu<\/a>, O: 617-824-3547, C: 617-429-2624).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n # # #<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ArtsEmerson Media Contact: Darren DeLuca darren.deluca@gmail.com | 603-489-7624 The Cherry Orchard Festival Media Contact: Keith Sherman and Associates keith@ksa-pr.com | 212-764-7900 HowlRound Media Contact: Shannon Knapp shannon@howlround.com | 814-715-2769 ARTSEMERSON AND CHERRY ORCHARD FESTIVAL CO-PRESENT ARLEKIN PLAYERS THEATRE\u2019S LIVE INTERACTIVE ART EXPERIMENT STATE VS. NATASHA […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":8930,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8948","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press-release"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/nashboston.com\/arlekinplayers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/1-nat.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Mark Soucy","author_link":"https:\/\/nashboston.com\/arlekinplayers\/author\/markarlekinplayers-com\/"},"yoast_head":"\n