Welcome To Three Musketeers.

Part One: The Queen's Diamonds

In a time when honor is worn like a blade, young D’Artagnan leaves Gascony and arrives in Paris, hot-blooded and penniless, dreaming of glory in the King’s Musketeers. Within hours, he offends—then befriends—three of France’s finest: the moody Athos, flamboyant Porthos, and pious Aramis. The four quickly bond over duels, wine, and a shared disdain for Cardinal Richelieu’s scheming guards. But beneath the swagger and swordplay, a storm brews in the French court. Queen Anne is accused of treason, and her secret—an affair of the heart with England’s Duke of Buckingham—may cost her everything. When she entrusts her confidante Constance with a desperate mission to recover the diamond studs she gifted the Duke, the Musketeers rally to defend her honor.

Disguises, spies, and ambushes follow as the four set out for London. Yet one by one, the Musketeers are waylaid in battles with enemies sent to stop them. D’Artagnan presses on alone, determined to fulfill the mission—while a shadowy assassin known as Milady watches from the wings...

Intermission (15 Min)

PART TWO: The Cardinal’s Shadow

D’Artagnan reaches London and recovers the Queen’s diamonds from the Duke of Buckingham, foiling Cardinal Richelieu’s plot to expose her. His return secures the Queen’s honor—but the danger is far from over.

Back in Paris, the political chess match intensifies. The Cardinal’s agent, the beautiful and merciless Milady de Winter, begins her campaign of revenge. She seduces, poisons, and lies her way through court and countryside, leaving ruin in her wake. Her next target: Constance Bonacieux, the Queen’s loyal attendant—and the woman D’Artagnan loves.

As the Musketeers try to protect Constance, old ghosts resurface. Athos reveals a haunting truth: Milady is his former wife, once thought dead. Her crimes multiply, and justice must be served. In a secret tribunal far from the court’s reach, the Musketeers confront Milady one last time.

Meanwhile, France teeters on the brink of war. The Musketeers ride to defend their king, even as they defy his orders. Swords clash, hearts break, and alliances shift—but friendship holds firm. In the end, D’Artagnan earns his place among the Musketeers not through bloodline or title, but through loyalty, bravery, and love. 

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

Born in 1802, Alexandre Dumas was the son of a Revolutionary general of Haitian descent. Though raised in poverty, he rose to become one of France’s most celebrated writers. His vast body of work—The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo, and hundreds of novels and plays—reflected his lifelong fascination with justice, loyalty, and courage. Dumas was proud of his heritage and outspoken against racial prejudice. In 2002, he was interred in the Panthéon alongside France’s national heroes.

"I do not cling to life. But while I live, I want to live freely.”

-Alexandre Dumas, Mes Mémoires

Obid Abdurakhmanov (D’Artagnan) was an actor and director with the Youth Theatre of Uzbekistan, where he also served as a pedagogue of acting and stage speech at the theater’s School-Studio of Dramatic Arts. He graduated in 2010 from the State Institute of Arts with a degree in directing. As part of his training, he staged a one-act adaptation of V. Tendryakov’s The Night After Graduation. In 2014, he directed A. Makayonok’s Maltreated Apostle at the State Academic Russian Drama Theater in Kazakhstan, where it was added to the theater’s repertory.

His directing credits also include Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Grimm Brothers) and Genrich for Kleist’s Michael Kohlhaas, which premiered at Junges Theater in Heidelberg, Germany, and was warmly received by audiences, becoming part of that theater’s repertoire. Obid is delighted to be part of  Theater 86's premiere in The Three Musketeers, having joined the cast after first volunteering to lead a swordfighting workshop.

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, Master and Margarita 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: The Snow Queen, 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 was last seen in The Master and Margarita where he gave a critically-acclaimed performance of Woland. 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 6th time with his Theater 86 family! Mark was last seen here as the Master in the production of Master and Margarita and had been seen previously as pig-tator Napoleon in Animal Farm and Virgil in Inferno. 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 return at Theatre 86! She previously worked with Stag&Lion Theatre in Loves Labour’s Lost, The Beaux’s Stratagem, and Peter Pan. She was last seen in Essence Theatre's production of Khostolmer. 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!

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), Master and Margarita, 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, Boris Brownstein, Michel Chahade, Victoria Furman, Michael Gorbovitski, Lenore Harris, Derya Karatas, Martina Karra, Marina Kovalyov, Alexander Langadakis, Madeline Naylor, Elena Mindlina, Yanina Panchishina, Danijela Popovic, Julie Skarratt, Nadia and Oleg Smirnov, Robert Stein, Margaret Segal, Tracey Toth, and Andrey Tsers!