Cast

In alphabetical order

Jeremy Beazlie (Shoigu) is very excited to be working with Arlekin Players. His credits include, Ben in Grand Horizons (Gloucester Stage Company), Katurian in The Pillowman, Jim in The Glass Menagerie (Insomniac Productions), George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life (Rhinoleap Productions), Steve Enloe in The Radiant Abyss (Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company) Lee in True West (Walden Theatre), Ingram Frizer in Murdering Marlowe (Access Theatre). Film/TV credits include WTC View, The Gamekillers (MTV) and Whoopi (NBC). He recently moved to Massachusetts from New York City and is a proud graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts.

Boris Berdnikov (Commander) has been with Arlekin Players Theater since 2012.  He took part in such Arlekin productions as Immigrants 3.0, Memorial Prayer, Cinderella, Insulted – Belarus(sia), The Tail of The Fisherman And the Fish, and others.

Irina Bordian (Wife) is a native of the bright, cheerful city of Odessa on the Black Sea coast in Ukraine. Odessa is famous for its independence and free people, and it is not for nothing that it was called Proto-Franco. The locals there are actors, inventors, charming characters who always rush to help or send you out if you are not a worthy visitor. From childhood, Irina was captivated by acting and the stage. She sought to get on stage in different ways, such as dancing in musical theatre, comedy shows, and a musical ensemble. But only when Irina arrived in the US she was able to fulfill her dream of being an actress. Arlekin Players Theatre became her soul house where she first time stepped on stage as Laura in The Guest. Then she was Katya (waiter) in Immigrants 3.0;  followed by Tzeitel in Memorial Prayers; Nina Zarechnaya in The Seagull and more…

Daniel Boudreau (Prigozhin) is thrilled to be working with Arlekin Players Theatre on this important production. Favorite past roles include Solyony in Three Sisters at Wellesley Repertory Theatre (IRNE nomination, Best Play), and for Praxis Stage, D’Amico in Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train (IRNE Nomination, Best Ensemble), and Joe Keller in All my Sons (Norton Award Nomination, Best Ensemble).  Other favorite recent stage roles include: Oliver in As You Like It (Merely Players), The Porter in Macbeth (It’s a Fiasco), Actor D in Well (Wellesley Rep), Lieutenant Schrank in West Side Story (Fiddlehead Theatre Company), Griffin in Distant Neighbors (Fresh Ink Theatre), Husband in The Fence (Second Act Productions). For three years, Daniel was the artistic director of Boston’s Praxis Stage, for which he directed the US Premiere of Neil Bartlett’s dramatic adaptation of Albert Camus’ The Plague and co-directed the IRNE nominated production of Incident at Vichy. 

Jenya Brodskaia (Mother) is part of the Arlekin resident acting company. She joined Arlekin Studio in 2011, after years of being the director of BOOM Family Theater and being part of the Harvard & Co KVN stand-up group. Jenya has participated as an actor and director in studio showcases. More recently, Jenya performed in Arlekin’s productions of The Stone, МЫ – US, and Witness.

Darya Denisova (Simonyan) is a Boston based actor known for her work with SpeakEasy Stage Company, Actors’ Shakespeare Project and Arlekin Players, and has been recognized by The New York Times (critic’s pick) and leading Boston critics for her roles at Arlekin Players. Recipient: 2020 Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Actress for Arlekin’s The Stone. Select Lead Roles:  Memorial Prayer, Natasha’s Dream, Tales of the Last Wednesday, Dead Man’s Diary, МЫ-US, The Stone, The Seagull and State VS Natasha Banina, The Orchard (all Arlekin Players productions). Select National/ International theatre: United SOLO festival (New York); SOLO Festival (Moscow, Russia); and HighFest Theatre Festival (Yerevan, Armenia) with her award-winning solo performance Natasha’s Dream. She studied acting at the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts in Moscow. She has taught documentary theatre at the Startalk School at Harvard University and the Stanislavsky method at the Igor Golyak acting studio.

Polina Dubovikova (Putin) is an active member of the Arlekin resident acting company. She joined Arlekin Players Theatre in 2018. Since then she performed in numerous productions, including Insulted. Belarus(sia), Witness, A Dictionary of Emotions in Wartime, The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish. 

Taisiia “Taya” Fedorenko (The Girl) is a 17-year-old Ukrainian-born actress and playwright. Taya fled her hometown, Kyiv, in February 2022 and is currently based in Connecticut where she’s about to graduate high school. She’s going to pursue her education and career in acting in New York City as an upcoming freshman at The New School. Taya is one of the members of Laura Cahill’s Young Playwrights Ukraine, a teenage playwriting company, whose play How Do You Feel Fear? was produced in Orionteatern in Stockholm and is soon to be published by Smith & Kraus. She was also a part of the showcase of The Clear Blue Skies: Diaries From Ukraine created by Scott Illingworth and Oleksandra Oliinyk. Taya went through training at Stonestreet Studios as a part of the NYU Tisch Summer Program and at the School of Creative and Performing Arts. She is incredibly grateful and proud to be playing the role of the Girl in The Gaaga.

Anne Gottlieb* (Prosecutor) appeared most recently in Arlekin’s productions of Witness and The Seagull. Other favorite productions in the New England area include Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, In the Next Room (or the Vibrator Play), The Little Foxes, Betrayal, Not Enough Air, Broken Glass, The Women, Macbeth, and Antony and Cleopatra.  She is the recipient of several Elliot Norton and IRNE awards for her work as an actor. Her writing includes an adapted screenplay of the novel, The Dean’s Watch with Brian Tuttle and The Wrestling Patient, based on the life of Etty Hillesum, with Kirk Lynn and Katie Pearl which was produced by Speakeasy Stage and Boston Playwrights’ Theatre. Anne works regularly with international organizations and businesses combining practices from theatre, voice work, depth psychology and insight meditation.In conjunction with Broadband Collaborative, Anne is designing social arts/action events with multi-disciplinary artists, musicians and global thought leaders to bring awareness to pressing collective issues around inclusion, belonging and grief.

Dev Luthra (Attorney) trained at East 15 Acting School, London, England and at Shakespeare and Company in Lenox, MA.  Recent credits include Sorin/Seagull at Arlekin; Donna/Organic at New Repertory Theatre; Iago/Othello  EPC production; Antigonus, Old Shepherd, Bottom/ at Bay Colony Shakespeare Company, The Man/Brilliant Adventures and Azdak/Caucasian Chalk Circle (Apollinaire Theatre Company), M. le Comte/N. Bonaparte (Pilgrim Theatre). Dev served as the Artistic Director of And Still We Rise Productions, a theatre company committed to the advocacy of the rights of people impacted by the prison system. Macbeth’s Children, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s play, co-written with Michael Bettencourt, won an AATE New Play award. His play Secret Asian Man focuses on his experience of being raised in two cultures. Of Anglo-Indian parentage, he has lived and worked in the Northeast since 1978

Robert Pemberton* (Kovalchuk) is pleased to be working with Arlekin Players Theatre. Other productions include; Art, Frankie and Johnnie in the Clair de Lune, and Speed the Plow (IRNE award) at theNew Repertory Theatre. Twelfth Night at Commonwealth Shakespeare Theatre, Driving Miss Daisy, Ponies, and Dinner With Friends at Gloucester Stage Company, Antony and Cleopatra and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Elliot Norton Award) at Boston Theater Works, Much Ado About Nothing (Elliot Norton Award) Public Theater, Mercy Seat at the Lyric Stage, and Shel’s Shorts at the Market Theater, among many others. Film credits include By The Sea (nominated for Latin Oscar), Treading Water, Boondock Saints, The Exchange, Gentleman From Boston, The Still Point, The New England Connection, Temps, and Anathema, among many others. Television credits include Brotherhood (Showtime), Another World, Guiding Light, Unsolved Mysteries, and over 400 National and local commercials and industrials.

Michael Sáenz (Kadyrov) is an actor, director, producer, playwright and theater educator. He was last seen as Creon in Antigone with Theatre@First, Pablo Fu(K!ng Escobar in Our Dear Dead Drug Lord with Off the Grid, and Bishop of Ely in Richard III on the Boston Common with Commonwealth Shakespeare Company. His production company, VitalSaenz Productions, creates horror theatrical events as well as theater for a modern audience. He lives in Lowell with his husband and three canine dependents. This is his first production with Arlekin and hopefully not his last.

Garrett Sands (Soldier) is a New York based actor and musician. With a background in classical piano and composition, he began to appear in short films as a teenager. Recent credits include Just Tell No One (Arlekin Players Theatre), Everybody (Boston Conservatory), Mr. Burns: A Post Electric Play (Boston Conservatory), and Gabriel (dir. Enrico Pau). He was accepted into The Link Program as a member of Class 5, where he performed at Theatre Row under the TV/Film track. Training: Boston Conservatory (BFA, Contemporary Theater ‘22).

Julia Shikh (Matvienko) started as a student at Igor Golyak Acting Studio in 2009 and has been with Arlekin Players Theater ever since. She played various roles in multiple shows over the years: Treplev’s Fantasy; Immigrants 3.0; Cinderella; Memorial Prayer; Tales of the Last Wednesday; theater documentary We-Us; the Elliott Norton award-winning A Dead Men’s Diary; The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane; the stage reading One Hour, eighteen Minutes;  the puppet show The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish; and Arlekin’s virtual production of Witness. Theater is Julia’s passion and in day job she is a medical professional.

Misha Tyutyunik (Surkov) joined the Arlekin Players Theatre in 2013, after playing in the American League of KVN and Boom family theater. On the studio stage, he played several memorable roles in sketches and scenes from plays. His first role as part of Arlekin was the Rabbi in Memorial Prayer, followed by Atzel in Tales of the Last Wednesday. and Bombardov in A Dead Man’s Diary.

Irina Vilenchik (Widow) is a math teacher, an advisor to libraries on Slavic literature, a prop master and an active member of Arlekin Players Theatre troupe of actors, Irina studied at Igor Golyak Acting Studio. She performed in Arlekin Players productions for over 10 years. Her most memorable roles were Lady Horse in Memorial Prayer, Waitress and The Dog in The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and Fairy Godmother in Cinderella.

Ilia Volok (Patrushev) was born in Kiev, Ukraine where he lived for the first half of his life. He is a graduate of Moscow Art Theatre School and a Lifetime Member of The Actors Studio. In Hollywood, Ilia has appeared in close to 180 films and television shows, including two films currently in pre-production: The Palace, directed by Roman Polanski, and Paramount’s Self-Reliance, a film by Jake Johnson. Last October, Ilia received the NOHO Cinefest “Best Actor” award for his portrayal of Dark in the independent feature Balloon Animal. Recent Theater credits include Yaacobi and Leidental at the Odyssey Theatre, The Orchard at the Baryshnikov Art Center opposite Mikhail Baryshnikov and Jessica Hecht, and The Revisionist by Oscar nominee Jesse Eisenberg at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, opposite Tony award winner Deanna Dunagan. Ilia’s one-man show Diary of a Madman won the LA Weekly Theater Award for Best Solo Performance and had two successful back-to-back off-Broadway runs. It has since been presented in Dubai, Paris, Kiev, Zurich and London.

Robert Walsh* (Surovikin) (Off-Broadway: Gloucester Blue (Cherry Lane), Big Maggie (Douglas Fairbanks), company member: Theater of the Open Eye and Riverside Shakespeare. Boston: Ah, Wilderness!Hamlet (Huntington Theatre); Our Town, Mass Appeal, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Merrimack Rep), Sins of the Mother, The Subject Was Roses (Gloucester Stage) ‘ART’ (New Rep), Next Fall (Speakeasy Stage), and Coriolanus, Macbeth, Henry V (Commonwealth Shakespeare), and King Lear, Henry IV, Titus Andronicus, and Hamlet, among others, for the Actors’ Shakespeare Project, (founding member). Regional: Streamers (Arena Stage); Anna Christie (Stage West); Romeo and Juliet (Portland Stage Co.); The Children’s Hour (American Stage Festival). Television: Body of Proof (ABC); One Life to Live; The Guiding Light. Film: Fourth of July, Black Mass, Dead Reckoning, The Spirit of Christmas, State and Main; Amistad; Eight Men Out. For seven years he was the Artistic Director of Gloucester Stage Company and is on the faculty at Brandeis University.

*Appearing through an Agreement between Arlekin Players Theatre and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

The Gaaga
Creative & Production Team

Written by Sasha Denisova
Translated by Polina Dubovikova & Theresa Lang
Directed by Sasha Denisova
Co-Directed by Igor Golyak
Produced by Sara Stackhouse

Environmental Design by Irina Kruzhilina
Lighting Design by Kevin Fulton
Costume Design by David R. Gammons
Music Composed by Jacek Jędrasik & Szymon Orfin
Sound Design by Brendan F. Doyle
Streaming Video Design by Eric Dunlap
Virtual Design & Technical Direction by Igor Golyak
Properties by Irina Vilenchik with Julia Shikh
Hair & Makeup by Anna Furman
Production Stage Manager, Kyra Bowie*
Assistant Stage Manager, Natasha Kushnarova
Production Manager, Sara Stackhouse
Technical Director, Justin Lahue
Scenic Associate, Thijs Beuming
Wardrobe Supervisor, Alla Trachtenberg
Wardrobe Assistant, Natasha Mitlina
Cameras Operator, Denis Denisov
Maestro Interactive Platform Design, ArtCat
A1/Mixer, COMING SOON
Networking Support, Seth Graham
Production Assistant and Additional Choreography, Emma Resek
General Manager, Mark W. Soucy
House Manager, Marianna Golyak

*Appearing through an Agreement between Arlekin Players Theatre and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

Sasha Denisova (playwright, director) graduated from the philological faculty of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Her plays include Dusty Day, Morphology, Mayakovsky Goes for Sugar, Light My Fire (National Theatre Golden Mask Award winner), Important Things of Sforza`s Family, Decalogue, and Alice and the State (Golden Mask Award nominee). She has developed and written many plays, including That’s Yes (Theatre on the Spassky; Kirov), Villages.net (Altai State Regional Shukshin Drama Theater; Barnaul), Plus-Minus Twenty (Ilkhom Theatre; Tashkent), and Kiss! (Prokopyevskiy Drama Theatre). Her short story Candy was published in the journal New World. She has taught stage direction at The Meyerhold Theatre Centre, lectured at the School of the Moscow Art Theatre, and has led the author and documentary theater studio “Studio-OFF”, created in the repertory theatre for the pedagogical work.

Igor Golyak (co-director, technical design & technical director) is the founder and producing artistic director of Arlekin Players Theatre & Zero Gravity (zero-G) Virtual Theater Lab. He recently directed The Orchard featuring Jessica Hecht and Mikhail Baryshnikov Off-Broadway in New York and in Boston. A global leader in the virtual theater movement, he directed WITNESS, chekhovOS /an experimental game/ and State vs. Natasha Banina during the pandemic, which became international virtual theater sensations, receiving multiple New York Times Critic’s Picks. His work has received numerous Elliot Norton Awards for The Seagull, The Stone, and Dead Man’s Diary, including a Best Director Award, This Week In New York Pandemic Awards (WITNESS and chekhovOS), and Broadway World’s Best Director of a Streamed Production Award (chekhovOS). He directed a critically acclaimed The Merchant of Venice for Actors’ Shakespeare Project, productions at Northeastern University and Boston Conservatory at Berklee, and has taught for HB Studios, Boston Conservatory, Harvard University and abroad. Golyak is from Ukraine and leads Arlekin, a company of immigrants, which has performed all over the world, including festivals in Ukraine, Yerevan, Armenia, New York City, Chicago, Lviv, Monaco, the US, Canada and UK, as well as the Moscow Art Theatre. www.igorgolyakstudio.com

Eric Dunlap (streaming video design) has created video designs for dance and theater, interactive video installations for museums, and live mix video performances for concerts and special events.  A former dancer, choreographer, producer from New York, he currently he lives in Berlin where he pursues his work as a video artist. A thirty year veteran of the performing arts, he spent his formative years as a principal dancer with the Alwin Nikolais / Murray Louis Dance Company, and has danced with various modern dance and opera companies. He was co-founder and Executive Director of Forward Motion Theater from 1995 – 2012. Pursuing a mission to explore movement and technology, the company created works combining physical performance and digital media, produced VJs and audiovisual artists, and curated collaborations in multi-media performance. Since moving to Berlin in 2011, he works as a video designer and technician, and continues to build works combining dance and video. Two of his new video art works have been acquired by the Leo Kuelbs Collection as a part of their “Digital Fairytales” series, and he was recently awarded him a research grant to explore dance and interactivity as a part of Berlin’s Neustart Kultur Fund. Recent video designs include the world premiere of “Die Machine Steht Nicht Still” with Caroline Peters and LEDWALD, produced by the Wiener Festwochen (Vienna), “Sich waffnend gegen eine See von Plagen” produced by the Schaubühne in Berlin, and Arlekin’s The Orchard in Boston.

Irina Kruzhilina (environmental design) is a New York-based theatre artist, scenographer, director, visual dramaturg, and educator, creating work at the intersection of visual art, live performance, and civic engagement. Her creative endeavors range from interdisciplinary downtown theatre to large scale parades, from opera to site responsive installations. Her work has been shown at Times Square, Tokyo Disney, BAM, Prague National Theatre, NY Philharmonic, and Barbican Center. Recent highlights include designing sets and costumes for Dimitry Krymov’s Cherry Orchard at the Wilma in Philadelphia, creating A Dozen Dreams, a large-scale immersive installation developed in partnership with EnGarde arts, and directing the site-specific performance NoPlace in collaboration with the New School of Drama. Irina’s work embraces collaborative artistic exchange among theatre makers from different backgrounds, fostering generous creative and educational environments that value a diversity of approaches and ideas. Irina is the founder of Visual Echo, a New York-based performance organization dedicated to facilitating generative dialogues among people from diverse backgrounds. Irina is a faculty member at the New School of Drama and a Chashama resident.

David R. Gammons (Costume Designer) is a director, designer, visual artist, and theatre educator. He is thrilled to return to Arlekin Players, for whom he has previously designed the scenery for The Stone. David’s theatre directing credits include acclaimed productions for SpeakEasy Stage Company, Actors’ Shakespeare Project, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, Cambridge Chamber Ensemble, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, Central Square Theatre, The New Repertory Theatre, and Gloucester Stage. David’s recent directing projects have been nominated for forty-six Elliot Norton Awards and forty-six Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Awards, including multiple Norton award wins for Outstanding Director (2007, 2017, & 2022), Outstanding Production (2012, 2013, & 2022), and Outstanding Designer (2020). He is currently the Visiting Assistant Professor of Directing at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Virginia, and has previously taught at The Boston Conservatory at Berklee, MIT, Northeastern University, Boston College, Suffolk University, and Concord Academy. He is a graduate of Harvard University and The ART Institute for Advanced Theatre Training. For more information, please visit https://davidrgammons.com/.

Brendan F Doyle (Sound Designer) is a sound designer, engineer, and artisan working primarily in live performance applications: theatrical sound design, live music, and bespoke audio objects. He holds a MSc in Sound Design from the University of Edinburgh, and a BFA in Theatre Design and Technology from Emerson College. His work has been heard in bars, basements, chapels, and concert halls: he also works in theatres, at improvised venues of all sorts, and across the internet. He is a proud member of United Scenic Artists Local USA 829.

Kevin Fulton (Lighting Designer) is a Boston-based theatre artist and lighting designer from Denver, Colorado. He is thrilled to be working with Arlekin Players Theatre. Recent credits include: The Marriage of Figaro (Boston Conservatory); Let the Right One In (Actor’s Shakespeare Project and Boston University); Mankind, Cosí fan Tutte, COLOSSAL (Boston University); The Silence, The One You Feed, Casting the Vote, Moon Over Dark Street (MIT Theater Arts). He previously was master electrician and taught lighting crafts at MIT. Kevin is currently pursuing an MFA in Lighting Design at Boston University. B.A. Vassar College. Website: Kgfulton.com

Jacek Jędrasik (Co-Composer) is a qualified psychologist by education. Composer and music producer by profession. Co-creator of recognised in Poland, off-line audio-visual projects. He creates music for performances in the most important theatres in Warsaw. His music has been used in theatre performances in France, the USA and Russia. When creating, he draws inspiration from surrealism, electronic psychedelia, ethnic music, classical music and… silence.

Szymon Orfin (Co-Composer) is a composer, sound designer, and director for years associated with theatre and film. Author of soundtracks to many audio dramas and audiovisual installations. Moves in the field of electronic, electroacoustic and experimental music, passionate about rhythm section and low frequencies. Lecturer at main Polish theatre and film universities. On a daily basis he runs a recording and post-production facility in Warsaw.

Sara Stackhouse (producer) is Managing Producer at Arlekin Players Theatre & Zero-Gravity (zero-G) Virtual Theater Lab where she Executive Produced The Orchard Off-Broadway and in Boston, featuring Jessica Hecht and Mikhail Baryshnikov, produced WITNESS, and co-produced chekhovOS /an experimental game/ and the international tour for State vs Natasha Banina.  She is Founder and Creative Director of The Mama Project, a arts-based project for women in townships in South Africa. Sara was Founding Executive Producer of Actors’ Shakespeare Project, producing 48 productions, during which time the company received multiple Elliot Norton, IRNE, and Best of Boston Awards, and an Innovative Theater Company award from American Theater Wing. She was Chair of Theater at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Supervising Producer of INSIDE This Old House on A&E/Time Warner, Executive Producer of Toy Symphony at the MIT Media Lab, and Project Manager for cellist Yo-Yo Ma in her twenties, where she managed collaborations, recordings, and was on the producing team for numerous films, including the award-winning series Yo-Yo Ma: Inspired by Bach. Sara is the recipient of the “Inspiration Award” from Boston’s Social Innovation Forum.

Kyra Bowie (Production Stage Manager) is a multi-hyphenate artist and the co-founder of Transcend Streaming. She is thrilled to be collaborating again with Arlekin and to be a part of THE GAAGA. Select Credits: JUST TELL NO ONE (SM | Lincoln Center) THE ORCHARD with Jessica Hecht & Mikhail Baryshnikov (PSM | Arlekin Players Theatre) HAPPY LIFE (PSM |  Walkerspace), SHOOTING CELEBRITIES (PSM | The Flea), OTHELLO (PSM | New Place Players), CAMP MORNING WOOD (PSM | AsylumNYC), Play On Podcasts (Coordinating Producer). NYU Tisch alum. Proud AEA Member. Filled with never ending gratitude. @KyraBowie www.KyraBowie.com

Justin Lahue (Technical Director) is a Boston based theatre artist and filmmaker. Previous collaborations include work with Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, Speakeasy Stage, Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, Boston Conservatory, Wheelock Family Theatre, Hub Theatre Company, Firehouse Center for the Arts, Seacoast Repertory Theatre, New Hampshire Theatre Project, and Stagewright Films. He is the recipient of a 2022 BroadwayWorld Boston award for best professional scenic design for Straight White Men (Wellfleet), as well as a 2022 Cannes Film Award and regional Emmy nomination in art direction for the feature film Not on This Night. He holds a BA in theatre from Suffolk University, and will be pursuing his MFA in scenic design at Boston University starting this fall. For more information on his work, visit www.justinlahue.com.

The Washington Post Review

Yuliya

September 7, 2023

As bombs fall in Ukraine, a new play puts Vladimir Putin on trial.

Continue Reading The Washington Post Review

The Boston Globe Review

Yuliya

September 7, 2023

Stage Review: In “The Gaaga” Putin and his chronies are held to account, but it’s only a fantasy.

Continue Reading The Boston Globe Review

The Arts Fuse Theater Review

Yuliya

June 9, 2023

Theater Review: “The Gaaga” — A Savagely Funny Dream of Ukrainian Retribution

Continue Reading The Arts Fuse Theater Review

The New England Theatre Geek: Witnessing a War-torn Wonderland: “The Gaaga”

Yuliya

June 9, 2023

The New England Theatre Geek: Witnessing a War-torn Wonderland: “The Gaaga”.

Continue Reading The New England Theatre Geek: Witnessing a War-torn Wonderland: “The Gaaga”

The Gaaga – Press Release

Yuliya

June 9, 2023

Press Release. Arlekin Players, an award-winning, artist-driven theater company helmed by Ukrainian-born artistic director Igor Golyak, today announces its next production THE GAAGA.

Continue Reading The Gaaga – Press Release

WBUR: The Trial of Vladimir Putin, as imagined in stirring Ukrainian play in Cambridge

Yuliya

June 7, 2023

WBUR Local Coverage review.

Continue Reading WBUR: The Trial of Vladimir Putin, as imagined in stirring Ukrainian play in Cambridge

Press Release

The Gaaga Final Press Release

A Letter from Sasha Denisova

Dear Friends,

I am a Ukrainian director, playwright, and writer that has worked in Russia for many years. I graduated from the School of Theater Leader (Moscow Art Theater School and the Meyerhold Center). I studied dramaturgy with the British at the Royal Court Theatre, created more than 25 performances on Moscow stages, and brought performances to theaters in Germany (Schaubühne), Poland (TR Warsaw), and Mexico (Babel Theatre).

In the first days of the war, I fled from Moscow, where I staged a political play Hermione at the Theater of Nations and the police came for me. Russia bombed Kyiv and my mother, Olga Denisova, who was born under the bombing of Kyiv on July 7, 1941. She refuses to leave and awaits victory in her home. I am in Poland, where there are more than 3 million Ukrainian refugees. In the refugee centers I have collected many stories of the war, including recorded documentary monologues of Ukrainian women. Based on these stories, I wrote and staged Six Ribs of Anger about the injuries of women from Mariupol, Bucha, Kharkov, Bakhmut and Chernigov. A premiere took place at Theater Commune of Warsaw on June 27, 2022 with a cast of all Ukrainians actors. Since the beginning of the war, I have staged two more plays about the war — Gaaga (The Hague) at the Polish Theater in Poznan, and “My Mom and the Full-scale Invasion” in Barcelona. Now the plays are being prepared for productions in Philadelphia and Washington, in Bulgaria and France. Today the task of an artist from Ukraine is to speak to the world about the war in Ukraine, to remind the whole world that this cruel war goes on, that Europe and America must not forget that today Ukraine pays the price of its citizens’ lives for the freedom of the whole world.

During these months, I thought about what would give hope to me and those who fled the war and who are awaiting victory. A trial of Putin and his government was the biggest expectation. A new “The Hague” – The Gaaga.

Igor Golyak reached out to me during this period to discuss a project in America related to the war. Since both he and I were born in Kyiv and it is especially important for me to make a significant project in America about this war, I immediately agreed. It is very interesting for me to work with this troupe, which includes actors of different schools and languages, and it is very inspiring to work with the technologies in which Igor’s latest performances are made.

In the play “The Hague,” Putin and his gang are already sitting in a Hague prison awaiting punishment. They discuss the fact that they are given GMO sausages in the prison canteen and how to avoid trial. They begin to betray each other and to think on whom to blame. KGBist Patrushev is still raving about Ukrainian war geese spraying viruses. Oligarch Kovalchuk quotes Pushkin. Simonyan denies that she called for dropping the atomic bomb. Kadyrov cries, remembering his Ferrari. Matvienko drinks quietly. Shoigu dreams of returning to the taiga and fishing. This is a black comedy where war criminals look pathetic and ridiculous. They are condemned to trial and the worst punishment by a Ukrainian girl whose house was bombed. In her childhood fantasy, formidable tyrants, thieves and bribe-takers become characters from the looking-glass. The trial begins — documents from Bucha, Irpen and Mariupol are presented. There will be no mercy, each of them is doomed to his personal hell.

Satisfaction, hope for a fair trial and retribution are the main message of the play.

Sasha Denisova, Playwright

“I have long been influenced by Sasha’s brilliant productions, her explosion of ideas, their scope and spectacle, and the way her plays turn tragedy into comedy, exposing our humanity. When we talked about her idea for The Gaaga, we immediately commissioned her to write it and invited her to come to Boston and create it with the Arlekin company. We can’t wait to share it with you. Please donate what you can to make this project possible. As we begin the season of lights, with your help, we hope to bring some light into the darkness through projects like this one.” – Igor Golyak, Artistic Director

ARLEKIN is producing the US Premiere of THE GAAGA (The Hague), a new phantasmagoria written & directed by Ukrainian Sasha Denisova.

This extraordinary project, a futuristic trial of Putin, has 18 actors including Ukrainian refugee artists, Arlekin company members, and celebrated guest artists, is both live in-person and virtual, and is presented in an abandoned restaurant in Harvard Square, converted into a bomb shelter. The costs are high, the project is important, and the moment is now!

We need to raise $40,000 in 6 weeks to produce THE GAAGA. A group of donors has come together to create THE GAAGA MATCH CHALLENGE!

Every dollar will be matched up to $20,000, dollar for dollar. We ask you to join us. #StandWithUkraine #Gaaga #ContemporaryTheatre #Generosity

THANK YOU FROM ARLEKIN PLAYERS!

Arrival Time: The lobby opens 30 minutes before the show and we encourage you to come early to leave notes of support on our Ukraine Message Wall, to use the restrooms, and to avoid any late seating issues. Latecomers may need to wait in the lobby for an appropriate break in the action on stage before entering at the discretion of the House Manager, in order to respect the audience and the actors.

Run time: Approximately 2.5 hours with 1 intermission

Parking: Harvard Square Garage | Validation at The Gaaga for $10 Parking. The box office can give you the validation when you arrive. You can also use www.spothero.com to find other discounted parking close by.

Gaaga Location: At the Beat Brew Hall, 13 Brattle Street, Cambridge, Downstairs. (Below The Gap). For wheelchair access, see Accessibility section below. For Directions, See below.

Tickets: All tickets are E-tickets. Please check the email confirmation from your original order date and print and bring your e-ticket for speedy entry.

Where to eat: Grafton Street Pub & Grill is The Gaaga‘s Restaurant Partner and Includes Free Parking!

Accessibility: If you are coming in a wheelchair or need to use the elevator, please note that you will use a different entrance. Arrive at 13 Brattle Street in Cambridge and go to the left between the Beat Brew Hall and The Gap entrance. There is a lift elevator there. Press the button and hold it till the elevator arrives and the door opens. Follow the instructions inside the elevator to go down one flight to the Beat Brew Hall, where The Gaaga takes place. If you are attending in a wheelchair, please contact me at mark@arlekinplayers.com and please share your date and time of attendance. Seating can easily accommodate our wheelchair patrons, especially if we know in advance – thank you!

Our Restaurant Partner

Eat pre- or post-show at Grafton Street Pub & Grill and enjoy FREE PARKING!

Parking is directly upstairs at Harvard Square Parking Garage, 20 Eliot St.

Grafton Street will validate parking with parking ticket receipt at the restaurant

Gaaga Patron $10 Parking

Park at Harvard Square Parking Garage, 20 Eliot St. for $10 PARKING!

Arlekin will validate parking with parking ticket receipt at the theater

Travel

The Gaaga is located in Harvard Square. We recommend checking the Harvard Square website to learn about any upcoming events that may limit traffic in the area.

DIRECTIONS

From the North or South: take I-93 and exit towards Leverett Circle/Cambridge/Storrow Dr. Continue onto Storrow Dr., which becomes Soldiers Field Rd. Follow directions from Soldiers Field Road.

From the West: take I-90/Massachusetts Turnpike and exit towards Allston-Brighton/Cambridge. Follow signs for Cambridge, and continue onto Soldiers Field Rd. Follow directions from Soldiers Field Road.

From Soldier’s Field Rd.: Exit Soldiers Field Rd. toward Harvard Square, turn right onto JFK St., and cross the river and Memorial Dr. Follow JFK St. and then turn a sharp left onto Brattle. Take a right to stay on Brattle and continue a quarter of a mile.

Take the exit toward Harvard Sq/Cambridge
Turn left onto N Harvard St
Continue onto John F. Kennedy St
Turn left onto Brattle St
Public Transportation
Subway: Red line to Harvard Square. Use the Brattle Street exit and walk to 13 Brattle.

Bus: The #1, 66, 68, 69, 71, 72, 73, 72/75, 74, 75, 77, 78, 86, and 96 buses stop in Harvard Square, a short walk to 13 Brattle Street.

ADDITIONAL PARKING

In addition to metered street parking, there are a number of parking lots and garages within walking distance to 13 Brattle Street..

Harvard Square Parking Garage
20 Eliot St, Cambridge
(617) 354-4168

Propark Boston’s Holyoke Garage
1350 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge
(617) 742-8025

University Place Garage
45 University Rd, Cambridge
(617) 491-0801

FAQ — GENERAL

What is The Gaaga about?

Developed through first-person interviews with refugees and officials, and inspired by world events, The Gaaga is a darkly funny, haunting and fantastical trip through the consequences of war. Set in a bomb shelter, a Ukrainian girl dreams Vladimir Putin and his cronies into a trial for crimes of war.

How long is the performance?

The Gaaga runs 2 hours and 30 minutes, with one intermission.

What’s the difference between the in-person and virtual experiences? 

The Gaaga in-person is a full production of the play. The Gaaga – Virtual is a web-browser based interactive virtual experience that combines live video broadcast from the theatre with other interactive content exclusively available to online viewers. The two experiences complement each other but are unique, with the online experience.

Is it worthwhile to watch both versions? 

Yes! Each version contains scenes and other special content not seen in the other, to create two unique experiences. If you want to see everything The Gaaga has to offer, we recommend seeing both if possible! 

Does the entire cast appear live in person?

Yes! Both the in-person production and virtual production feature the full cast live onstage.

FAQ — VIRTUAL PERFORMANCE

How will I access the virtual performance?

After purchasing a ticket to the online performance, patrons will receive a confirmation email. On the day of your purchased performance an email arrive with a direct link and detailed instructions on how to experience the show. All of the information you need to access the show will be contained there. Remember, the online experience happens simultaneously with the in-person performance, so make sure to be on time so you don’t miss anything.

How early can I log on to the performance page? 

When you arrive on the performance page, you will be directed to enter the password you received in your email. Your password will become active and grant you access to the site 20 minutes prior to each performance. Remember, all performance times are in ET.

What kind of device can I watch on? 

The digital performance is only available using a laptop or desktop computer. It will not function correctly on a mobile device like a phone, tablet, or iPad.

What are the technical requirements for the digital production?

The performance is most compatible with the Google Chrome, Firefox, or Safari web browsers. We strongly recommend your computer be connected to a wifi or ethernet network with internet speeds of at least 20 megabytes per second. You can visit https://www.speedtest.net/ to perform a quick test. If your computer does not meet these guidelines, you may experience issues with the performance. Please contact the box office for support so we can provide assistance. 

Do I need any special equipment? 

If your laptop or desktop computer has one, the digital experience will request access to your webcam during the onboarding to the show. This camera is used for interactive elements that will enhance the performance and connect you with other audience members. Also please ensure that you have speakers or headphones connected to your computer and that they are unmuted. 

Do I have to watch the virtual performance at a certain time? 

Yes! Your ticket grants you access to the performance only at the specific date and time listed. It streams live in real-time, so please make sure to log on early to ensure that you don’t miss anything! 

Can I pause or rewind the virtual performance? 

No. 

Is closed captioning available?

Yes! Closed captioning can be enabled using Google Chrome’s Live Caption feature. Click here for instructions on how to enable this.

How can I ensure the best possible viewing experience?

1.    Watch on a desktop or laptop computer.

2.    Use one of the web browsers listed above.

3.    Make sure your computer has good speakers or headphones connected and is unmuted.

4.    Close out of all other tabs, apps, and programs before the show. 

5.    Connect a webcam or use the webcam inside of your monitor.

6.    Log on early to make sure everything is working properly before showtime.

TROUBLESHOOTING — VIRTUAL PERFORMANCE

I see a page that looks like child’s bedroom and is asking for a password. What do I do?

You’re in the right place! This is the front page of the digital experience. Please enter the password you received in your email with instructions on accessing the show. Remember, you will only be able to enter your password and move past this page beginning at 20 minutes prior to the show start time.

When you get to the video player page, you will see a collection of looping instructions on how to prepare for the experience. Please follow the instructions carefully so you are ready to go! You will be guided with instructions throughout this portion of the show.

I’m being asked to create an account with my email and a new password, do I need to create an account? 

Yes, prior to entering the password to enter the performance page, you should click the icon In the top right of your screen, and you will be presented with a register/login option. Please create an account, as this will be used for the chat feature during the performance to speak with other users and request support. Once you have created an account with an email and password, you can enter the site by entering the password and clicking «SUBMIT».

Once I am on the performance page, I’m being asked in a panel on the right for my name and to click join what do I do?

This will give you access to several features of the experience. One you enter your name and click “join” you will have the ability to activate your webcam by clicking on the camera with the red line going through it. Your computer may have a pop-up window appear, asking you for permission to allow the site to access your webcam. Please click “allow.” We strongly encourage activating your webcam for the performance, as it will be used for several interactive moments between you and other audience members. You are not required to activate your camera if you choose not to. You can simply not enter your name in the webcam panel on the right and it will not be activated. 

My video player is glitchy / freezing / not appearing on the performance page.

Most of the time, errors or glitches can be fixed by simply refreshing your browser window. If that doesn’t fix the issue, please double check that you have a stable internet connection of at least 20 megabytes per second and are using a desktop or laptop computer. If you continue having issues, please reach out to the box office to request support.

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The video / audio / interactive is slow/not synced. 

Ensure that you have a stable internet connection of at least 20 megabytes per second. You can visit https://www.speedtest.net/ to perform a quick test. If your internet connection is insufficient, you may encounter lag or other errors during the experience. If you’re not able to get a stable connection please reach out to the box office so that we can assist you. 

The performance has started and I cannot hear anything.  

On your bottom of the video window, you should see a microphone with a red line through it. You need to unmute the sound by clicking on this microphone until the red line disappears. Your computer may have a pop-up box appear – if so, please allow the site to use your microphone.

What if I have technical issues when trying to watch the performance? 

If you experience difficulties, please reach out to the box office for support at 617-942-0022, or email us at boxoffice@arlekinplayers.com and one of our staff will help with troubleshooting. If you are on the site and able to access the chat window, you can also reach out to us there and we can assist you. Please try to log on early so that we will have time to help you with any unexpected issues in advance of showtime! 

The Gaaga Playbill

Gaaga.Playbill.FINAL