Welcome To Master and Margarita.

Part One

Bulgakov's epic story opens in Moscow during the 1930s, where Satan appears at Patriarch's Ponds as Woland. He introduces himself as a professor of Black Magic and is accompanied by a valet Koroviev, a black cat named Behemoth, a hitman named Azazello and a red-headed vampire named Hella. 

The story opens with a confrontation between Berlioz (the head of the writer's union), a young Soviet poet with the pen name of Homeless and Woland, who prophesies that Berlioz will die later that evening. This interaction between Woland and Berlioz is mirrored by the trial of Yeshua by Pontius Pilate. Woland entrances Berlioz in the story that leads up to Yeshua's execution. The Jerusalem plot of the story is later revealed to be the novel written by the Master. Later, when Woland's prophesy turns out to be true, Homeless attempts to capture the devil and his retinue, only to end up in an insane asylum. 

In Moscow, Woland and his retinue put on a show at the Variety Theater.  During this performance, Woland notes the lack of moral progress made in Soviet society, remarking that despite their technological advancements, Muscovites remain people like any other people...

Intermission (15 Min)

Part Two

At the mental institution, Homeless meets a man nicknamed the Master. While trying to publish his novel about Pontius Pilate and Jesus, the Master hits the wall of Soviet censorship and criticism, becomes a victim of unjust persecution, goes mad, and ends up in a mental institution. His beloved woman, Margarita, supports the Master a lot, considering him a genius. She is married to a respectful military engineer, but she exchanges her luxurious life for the Master’s poor corner. After the Master disappears, Margarita turns back to her husband, yet secretly still yearns in despair to find her beloved man. Azazello meets her in this state and suggests reuniting her with her Master, if she could serve as a host of Satan's ball. And, she agrees, becoming a witch in the process. After she concludes their agreement with success, she meets her Master again - and, together, they find a shelter somewhere between heaven and hell. 

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. 

Born in the Soviet Union, in the city of Yessentuki, Valery graduated from State Repin Academy of Art in St. Petersburg. Yershov's art received international recognition when he joined Furmanny Lane in Russia, Europe and the Americas. His works have been shown as part of the international Art Armory Show, auctioned in Sotheby's and Phillips houses, and held in many private collections and museums. In his ironic realism, Yershov utilizes exaggerated figures, rich textures and bright colors. His flamboyant paintings strike and amaze the viewer's imagination, appealing on both analytical and emotional levels while illuminating many aspects of human experience. For more information about Valery's work, please visit http://valery-yershov.herokuapp.com/collections

 Jean-Claude van Itallie (1936 - 2021) was a playwright, performer and theater educator. He is best known for his 1966 anti-Vietnam War play America Hurrah; The Serpent, an ensemble play he wrote with Joseph Chaikin's Open Theatre; his theatrical adaptation of the Tibetan Book of the Dead; and his translations of Anton Chekhov's plays. In 2018, after seeing the staging of Master and Margarita at Theater 86 (then known as Russian Arts Theater and Studio), Mr. Itallie shared these words on his Facebook page:

"Tonight in NYC saw my play of Bulgakov's wonderful novel Master and Margarita, or The Devil Comes To Moscow brilliantly joyously performed by Russian Arts Theater, directed by Alexei Burago. I believe Bulgakov would have been delighted, as I was, by this moving production. In this dark time we oh so need an imaginative human devil like Bulgakov's to come to America..."

Obid is an actor and director of the Youth Theatre of Uzbekistan. He is a pedagogue of acting and stage speech in the School-Studio of Dramatic Arts at the Youth Theatre of Uzbekistan. Obid graduated from the State Institute of Arts in 2010, specializing in directing. As a part of curriculum he staged one-act play of his own version of V. Tendryakov’s The Night After Graduation. In 2014, he staged A. Makayonok’s Maltreated Apostle at the State Academic Russian Drama Theater in Kazakhstan, which successfully went on to become part of the theater’s repertoire. Other directing credits include Grimm Brother’s Snow White and Seven Dwarfs and Genrich for Kleist’s Michael Kolhaas, which was performed at Junges Theater in Heidelberg, Germany, where it was met warmly by spectators and took its place in repertoire of the theater.

This is Michael's debut under Theater 86's new name. Previously, with the Russian Arts Theater, Michael performed in The Gamblers, The Seagull, Three Sisters, Crime and Punishment, Lady with the Lapdog; My Uncle Chekhov and the previous two productions of Master and Margarita.

Deniz Erzaim is a multitalented artist from Turkey, acknowledged for his diverse skills as an actor, singer, and dancer. Upon graduating from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts, his love for the performing arts propelled him into a dynamic career. Driven by a thirst for knowledge, he developed a passion for puppetry, clowning, and physical theater. Following the challenges presented by Covid-19, his path led him to New York, where he now is a proud member of the Broken Box Mime company and Theater 86.

Sarah is a graduate of NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art) and worked extensively in Australian theater, television and radio. Stage credits include Desdemona in Othello for the Elizabethan Theatre Trust, Stella in A Streetcar named Desire for the Melbourne Theatre Company, Masha in The Seagull for the South Australian Theatre Company, a national tour with Barry Humphries’ Life and Death of Sandy Stone, and various contemporary Australian works at Malthouse Theatre, Kickhouse Theatre and La Mama. Her time living in Russia immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union and discovering Russian theater, art and culture was a life changing experience. She now lives in New York and is realizing a long-cherished dream to study acting from this tradition, under the tutelage of Aleksey Burago at Theater 86. Previous appearances at Theater 86 include Animal Farm, Diary of a Madman, Viy and Dante's Inferno.

Ariel Polanco is thrilled to return to Theater 86. His work as an artist has taken him beyond New York City, and has performed domestically in North Carolina and Texas, as well as internationally, in Italy, Turkey, and Japan. Ariel was last seen performing in NYC and Provincetown in Tennessee Williams’ Battle of Angels. Select stage credits with Theater 86 include: Dante's Inferno, The Rise and Fall of Macondo, Enemies of the People, The Master and Margarita, Lady with a Lap Dog with Jokes and a Happy Ending, Three Sisters, and Avenue of Wonder. He would like to extend his gratitude to Aleksey Burago, Di Zhu and his fellow cast mates and theater crew.

Tom’s journey into The Master and Margarita started in 2007 when Aleksey Burago directed his first theatrical adaptation of the novel in NYC, at the HB Playwrights Foundation. Playing Yeshua Ha-Nostri was a very special gift, as well as the beginning of a long and most fulfilling collaboration with the director and friend Burago. In the following productions of the novel, both sold-out runs in 2017 and 2018, now under The Russian Arts Theater and Studio (Theater 86), getting to play the role of the Master opposite Di Zhu in the role of Margarita, was another invaluable experience. Now in 2024, playing Woland, is for Tom no less than a dream come true. Other credits at Theater 86 include Dante’s Inferno (Dante Alighieri), Diary of a Madman (Poprishchin), Viy (Homa Brut), The Seagull (Trigorin), etc. More on his stage, voice and screen work at www.tomschubert.com

Mark is ecstatic to return once again to the stage for the 4th time with his Theater 86 family! Mark was last seen here as Virgil in the production of Inferno and had been seen previously as pig-tator Napoleon in Animal Farm. In his over 40 years on stage, Mark has played everything from Count Dracula to Jesus. He continues to be thankful for the love and support of his wife Teresa and his son Michael!

Natasha Skutka is proud to be making her debut at Theatre 86! She previously worked with Stag&Lion Theatre in Loves Labour’s Lost, The Beaux’s Stratagem, and Peter Pan. Other notable works include the title role in The Minotaur (Theater for the New City), and Dark Game (Bristol, UK) a feature film available on Apple TV!

Born in St Petersburg, Elena studied ballet as a child and appeared in small parts in movies. She left for Israel in early 1970s, where she studied acting in Tell Aviv University with Nola Chilton and served in The Army Theater. After performing in Federico García Lorca and Thornton Wilder plays, Elena performed in Pantomime Celebration Show alongside Shaike Ofir and Yoram Boker. After brief work in film and children's theater, Elena decided to go to study acting further in New York and decided to stay. 

Di Zhu is a Chinese-American actress and classical pianist. Di’s work in the theater has taken her to stages throughout New York City, as well as London, Scotland, Turkey and Japan. Select stage appearances include Selected Shorts Live at Symphony Space (with Rainn Wilson and Cynthia Nixon), Dante’s Inferno, Mozart and Salieri, Viy, The Waiter & The Slut, The Overcoat, Lambs For Slaughter, The Rise and Fall of Macondo, Enemies Of The People, Three Sisters, Crime and Punishment, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull.  Di’s film and TV credits include Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (opposite Tina Fey and Margot Robbie), The Blindspot, Katy Keene, A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood (opposite Tom Hanks) and WeCrashed (opposite Jared Leto). Di wishes to thank her incredible cast mates, Aleksey Burago, and the many supporters of Theater 86 who inspire her to keep going! www.whoisdi.com

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It takes a village to build a show. It takes an even bigger village when it comes to creating indie theater! We are super grateful to everyone who made this project a reality. Thank you to the staff and volunteers at The Center at West Park, West Park Presbyterian Church, Materials For The Arts as well as Vladimir Andreyeev, Neno Belsoi, Michael Gorbovitski, Barry Lederman, Marina Kovalyov, Elena Mindlina, Yanina Panchishina, Robyne Parrish, Julie Skarratt, Robert Stein, Margaret Segal, Betül Yürük and Tracey Toth!