Anna Karenina:
a riff
Russians in track suits play melodicas to an original, folk-punk score in this fresh adaptation of Anna Karenina. Set in 1880s Russia and dripping with Eastern European ennui, our comedic reimagining of this classic tale moves at the speed of a runaway train as it examines the consequences of female rebellion and its echoes today.
“One of the best new musical scores I’ve heard all year [...] I found myself floored [...] The subtly with which this beauty hits you between the waves of wit and hilarity cannot be praised enough.”
Play History
In spring of 2018 (through a Notch sponsored artist retreat at Saukenuk Ranch in Mineral Wells, Texas) Notch, playwright Gwen Kingston, and a team of nine artists and musicians workshopped a first draft of Anna Karenina. In fall of 2018 a second draft of the play was performed at White Heron Theatre on Nantucket. In summer of 2019 we presented a staged reading of the play as part of HB Studio's Others & Us reading series in honor of Uta Hagen. A full production ran for four weeks at The Flea Theater in New York City November and December, 2019.
Natalie Rine, Associate New York Critic, reviews
Anna Karenina: a riff
"Notch’s production electrifies as a rollicking, fresh investigation of Tolstoy’s classic novel, bursting with a folk-rock score that pokes and prods at the consequences of female rebellion, bringing bold new questions into an arresting, quasi-contemporary conversation on the role of women in families, communities, and countries. [...] Paired with Ashley Teague’s inventive direction, this small but strong production is a declaration of Notch Theatre Company’s visceral, scintillating point of view that is a force to be reckoned with as even the best of current day Broadway’s appeal to address modern themes pales in comparison"
"One of the best new musical scores I’ve heard all year"
"The subtly with which this beauty hits you between the waves of wit and hilarity cannot be praised enough."
"I would without doubt drudge through the snow
of Siberia to see this
musical again."
NYC credits
Quinn Franzen as Stiva, Sam Khazai as Vronsky, Gwen Kingston as Anna, Louis Reyes McWilliams as Karenin, Marina Morrissey as Dolly, Aleca Piper as Varenka, Michael Vitaly Sazanov as Levin, Portland Thomas as Kitty, and Erikka Walsh as Boris.
Music Composition: Christie Baugher, Yan Li, Teresa Lotz, and Will Turner
Music Direction: Yan Li
Scenic and Costume Design: Susanne Houstle
Lighting Design: Megan Lang
Producer: Annie Middleton
Creative Producer: Marina Morrissey
Stage Manager: Jenny Kennedy
Assistant Stage Manager: Julia Perez
Artwork: Rachel Birnbaum
Casting: Eisenberg/Beans Casting
Photo Credit: Jon Burklund