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• Chicago Symphony Orchestra
• The Rest is Noise
• National Theatre Live: All's Well That Ends Well
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• National Theatre Live: The Habit of Art

Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya

Maly Drama Theater of
St. Petersburg

Lev Dodin, artistic director
Thursday, March 25, 8 pm
Friday, March 26, 8 pm
Saturday, March 27, 8 pm
Sunday, March 28, 2 pm
Power Center

PLEASE NOTE: These performances will begin promptly at the announced curtain time. The late seating break will be 40 minutes into the first act. Please make every effort to be on time for these performances.

The legendary Maly Drama Theater of St. Petersburg, which Peter Brook has described as “the finest ensemble theater in Europe,” was created in 1944 and has become one of the great theaters of the world under artistic director Lev Dodin. Dodin has led the company since 1983 and directs this definitive interpretation of Anton Chekhov’s classic play. With costumes inspired by the very first production of Uncle Vanya by the Moscow Arts Theatre in 1899, the Maly Drama Theater of St. Petersburg captures the very essence of Chekhov, born 150 years ago in 1860.

Chekhov’s tragicomic masterpiece of dashed dreams, thwarted love, and eternal longing begins as Professor Serebryakov and his young wife, Elena, arrive at the family’s remote country estate that has been looked after by Sonya (the Professor’s daughter from his first marriage) and her Uncle Vanya, the Professor’s brother-in-law. Vanya has sacrificed his life managing the estate for the Professor, whom he once revered, but is now filled with regret for lost time, a pain made worse by the arousing presence of Elena. An acutely observed study of humanity, Uncle Vanya remains a classic of Russian theater, a play of tragic and tangled love combining comic scenes of the everyday with a scathing attack on the idle provincial life of the upper classes. Performed in Russian with projected English translations.

Please note that the runtime for this performance is 3 hours and 10 minutes.

Who is Anton Chekhov?

Monday, Mar 22,
7-8:30 pm
Ann Arbor District Library Downtown, Multipurpose Room, 343 South Fifth Ave, Ann Arbor

Led by Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures, Michael Makin and Residential College Drama Lecturer Katherine Mendeloff, Who Is Anton Chekhov? will center on Chekhov’s role in Russian literature and society and as transformer and innovator of Russian drama. U-M acting students will perform several scenes from Uncle Vanya featuring costume, live music and other scenic elements, setting the stage for a lively discussion of Chekhov’s classic play and the challenges set forth for actors and directors in mounting this production. This event is presented in conjunction with the University Musical Society production of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya by the Maly Drama Theater of St. Petersburg at the Power Center March 25-28.

The UMS Who is … Series seeks to explore the artists that served as the creative impetus behind this season’s programs. In an attempt to break down the barriers between performer and audience, the UMS Education Dept. will collaborate with a host of experts to engage audience members through an interactive discussion, ultimately demystifying these great artists and their work.

A collaboration with the Ann Arbor District Library, U-M Center for Russian and East European Studies, and the U-M Department of Slavic Languages

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• Oakland County Patrons: Let UMS you a ride to Saturday performance!

The UMS Presentation of the Maly Drama Theater is sponsored by The Maxine and Stuart Frankel Foundation. The Saturday performance is supported by The Medical Community Endowment Fund. The Sunday performance is supported by Participants of the 2002 Shakespeare Birthday Celebration Trip.