Theater As A Sanctuary, Temple and a Home.

A graduate of Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS), Aleksey Burago studied under the world famous theater director Pytor Fomenko. The New York Times has called his work “visually stunning…its simplicity is like a tiny, finely honed blade.” Aleksey has directed many productions to critical acclaim in Europe and America, including Beyond Recognition, a play about Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna, which had a sold-out run at the prestigious Hermitage Theatre in St. Petersburg. His television production of Alexander Pushkin’s Queen of Spades (Moscow TV) was broadcast across the country and received rave reviews. In the early 90’s, Aleksey left Russia and emigrated to New York for a better life. He founded Theater 86, then known as Russian Arts Theater and Studio, hoping to share his love and knowledge of Russian literature and the rich traditions of theater training with American audiences. In the capital of the theater world, Aleksey has directed over sixty productions, among them On the Eve (Obie Nominee), Ah, My Dear Anderson (Time Out NY Critic’s Pick), Gamblers, The Overcoat, Crime and Punishment, Uncle Vanya, Dante’s Inferno, and Mozart and Salieri. His latest production of Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita, Or, The Devil Comes to Moscow enjoyed four sold-out runs and was praised by Charles Isherwood of Wall Street Journal as “maliciously inventive…The performances are ripe, antic, and enjoyably over-the-top, in keeping with the spirit of Bulgakov’s book. It can be described in many ways—satiric, absurdist, fanciful, grotesque, bizarre—but subtle or realistic it definitely, and exuberantly, is not.” Aleksey is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Best Director Award at the Moscow Annual Festival of Classical Plays, Best Director Award at the St. Petersburg Comedy Festival, and the Best Show Award at the International United Solo Festival in NYC. Additionally, Aleksey's creation of Billy Bob Boils the Sea was selected to represent the United States at the 9th International Ordu Youth and Children’s Festival in Turkey. As a teacher, Aleksey has taught around the world, including Theatre Academy and Conservatory in St. Petersburg, GITIS Scandinavia in Denmark, Acting Without Acting Festival in Mexico, Theater Communications Laboratory in Japan, Bilkent University in Turkey, Manhattanville College and HB Studio in New York City. He is currently on faculty at Fordham University where he teaches the works of his favorite writer Anton Chekhov. 

Di Zhu is a critically-acclaimed producer, actress, pianist and the Managing Director at Theater 86. She joined the company in 2015, hoping to share her rich and varied background in the arts to her collaborations at the theater. Since coming on board, Di has produced over thirty productions and helped the theater secure a permanent home on the Upper West Side. Di prides herself on her hands-on approach to indie theater-making, overseeing all aspects of a production from the initial conception to Closing Night. In her earlier days, Di was a scholarship student at the prestigious Eastman School of Music, where she majored in Piano Performance and Literature. The Grand Prize Winner of the Inaugural International New York Piano Competition, Di's piano performances have been featured nationally on PBS, as well as WXXI and WQXR. After moving to New York City, Di completed her studies as a filmmaker at New School University. She gained production experience making films and commercials on sets before returning to her childhood passion: acting. As an actress, Di has appeared in many stage productions, most recently as Margarita in Master and Margarita. Other appearances include Lady With a Lapdog With Jokes And A Happy Ending, Enemies Of The People, Three Sisters, Crime and Punishment, Avenue of Wonder, Swan Song, My Uncle Chekhov, The Bear, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull. Di was invited to join the cast of Love, Laughter and Vodka With Anton Chekhov: Selected Shorts Live at Symphony Space, where she performed Anton Chekhov's Death of a Government Clerk, sharing the stage with many notable actors of stage and film, including Rainn Wilson and Cynthia Nixon. Other New York theater credits include Theatre Three Collaborative's The Beekeeper's Daughter, Extreme Whether, and Another Life. Film and TV credits include Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, The Blindspot, A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood and WeCrashed.