DARKNESS OF LIGHT: CONFESSIONS OF A RUSSIAN TRAVELER

DOL PRODUCTIONS AND PIVOT PRODUCTIONS

Proudly Presents the World Premiere of

“Kaletski is a talented painter working in what I call an avant-garde realist style focusing on the human figure… his take is both fresh and bracing.” - National Review (on Alexander Kaletski’s art)

DARKNESS OF LIGHT:
​CONFESSIONS OF A RUSSIAN TRAVELER

Nikolai Rodnin - a Russian artist and Soviet defector - takes on the world one conquest at a time.

Written and Directed by ALEXANDER KALETSKI and MICHAEL MAILER

Based on the novel “Darkness of Light” by ALEXANDER KALETSKI

LIMITED ENGAGEMENT

MARCH 30 – APRIL 16, 2023 AT THE 36TH STREET THEATRE

OPENING NIGHT IS SATURDAY, APRIL 1 AT 8 P.M.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT DARKNESSOFLIGHT.COM

DOL PRODUCTIONS and PIVOT PRODUCTIONS are pleased to announce the world premiere production of Alexander Kaletski’s DARKNESS OF LIGHT: Confessions of a Russian Traveler, directed by Michael Mailer (The Minute You Wake Up Dead with Morgan Freeman, Heart of Champions with Michael Shannon, Blind with Alec Baldwin and Demi Moore) in his legit debut. DARKNESS OF LIGHT will play a limited engagement at The 36th Street Theatre (312 W 36th St. 4th floor, New York, NY 10018). Performances begin Thursday, March 30, and continue through Sunday, April 16. Opening Night is Saturday, April 1 (8 p.m.). ​ Tickets are $25 and available darknessoflight.com. 

Based on Alexander Kaletski’s semi-autobiographical novel, “Darkness of Light”, the play follows Nikolai Rodnin, a Russian painter and Soviet Defector, chronicling his sexual relationships with women throughout his life. Fighting not to lose his artistic soul, Nikolai travels around the world, while facing the pull to return to Moscow and finish what he started. 

"I’ve always found the tensions between one’s artistic imperatives and the practicalities of making a living compelling,” comments Mailer. ​ “How much do you compromise along the way till you can no longer tolerate your craft? ​ ​ This play explores that dynamic while taking us on a tragic-comedic romp from the Soviet Union to Europe and finally America through the eyes of a Russian artist trying to hold onto the truth of his art while being buffeted from one system to another."

"As an artist my work has always reflected my impressions of life,” reflects Kaletski. “Now, as I get older, I find life, more and more, imitating my art."

The production stars Jonathan Glass as Nikolai Rodnin, Alexander Yuille Elmaleh as Sergei, Sarah DeBaets as Anya, Audrey Claire Wilson as Monique, and Christopher Pasi as Max. 

 The production features scenic design by TJ Jacob. Lighting, projection and sound design by Anneke J. Thompson and Alexis Kitchmire. Stage management by Emily Cohen and Publicity by Katie Rosin/Kampfire PR.

DARKNESS OF LIGHT: CONFESSIONS OF A RUSSIAN TRAVELER plays the following regular schedule through Sunday, April 16: 

Tickets are $25 and available darknessoflight.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the theater a half-hour prior to the performance.

Running Time: 105 minutes (with a fifteen-minute intermission)

Website: darknessoflight.com ​ 

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Media Kit with Photos

BIOGRAPHIES

ALEXANDER KALETSKI (Playwright and Co-Director) studied acting in Moscow from 1965 to 1969 and went on to a highly successful career in stage, television, and film productions. At the same time he held underground concerts of his songs and art shows. In 1975, to escape the danger of arrest and political prosecution, he emigrated to the United States. Arriving to America he gave a nationwide concert tour of his Moscow underground songs, eventually appearing on the Merv Griffin television show. He taught Russian, designed fashion fabrics, illustrated books and held art exhibitions. In 1985 he published his semi-autobiographical novel "Metro" (Viking) which became an international bestseller.

Since 1986 Alexander Kaletski has regularly exhibited his paintings around the world. Anna Zorina Gallery represents Kaletski art in New York City.

MICHAEL MAILER (Director) has been working in independent film as a writer, producer, director since graduating Harvard in 1987. ​ ​ He has produced, written or directed over 25 feature films. ​ ​ His last three directorial endeavors include The Minute You Wake Up Dead, a neo-noir thriller, starring Morgan Freeman, Cole Hauser, and Jaimie Alexander, Heart of Champions, a collegiate sports drama starring Michael Shannon, Alexander Ludwig and Charles Melton, and Blind, a love story, ​ starring: ​ Alec Baldwin and Demi Moore. ​ Darkness of Light is his first foray onto the stage.

CHRISTOPHER PASI (Producer) ​​is an award-winning producer. A graduate of Rutgers University has screened work in festivals around the US and internationally. Throughout his career, he has helped produce narrative shorts and features, commercials, documentaries, music videos, and musicals. Chris was successful in producing a 37-show run of The Eleventh Hour Musical Off-Broadway in 2018-2019. Chris has worked in staff positions for HBO, Netflix, NBC, FOX, and ABC, and worked for multiple production companies in both NY and LA. Christopher recently became a Co-Creative Director of ​ "The Ride”, an immersive tour bus experience where he was a stand-up tour bus guide. He recently finished production on his first feature titled Nobody's Home, which is in distribution deals now.

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Listings Information:

Nikolai Rodnin - a Russian artist and Soviet defector - takes on the world one conquest at a time.