New Wave Theatre Festival
December 9-14, 2025
John Cullum Theatre
9 shows, 1 Week!
Tue Dec 9th – BAUDELAIRE’S PASSION, 7pm
Wed Dec 10th – HORSES OUTSIDE THE WINDOW, 7pm
Thu Dec 11th – EDITH PIAF, 7pm
Fri Dec 12th – CHARACTERS FROM A WOMAN’S HANDBAG, 7pm
Fri Dec 12th – ROCK’N’ROLL AT SUNSET, 8:30pm
SAT Dec 13th – MAGIC SUIT, 12pm
SAT Dec 13th – THE ORCHESTRA, 4pm
SAT Dec 13th – THE WOMAN IN WHITE, 7pm
Sun Dec 14th – EQUUS, 7pm
Tue Dec 9th – BAUDELAIRE’S PASSION, 7pm
We live in the World and the place where distinctiveness should be celebrated and where people should be motivated to express their opinion. The life of Charles Baudelaire helps to establish oneself in today’s complex world. His life is viewed as analysis of his achievements and failures, overcoming conflicts related to family, mother, stepfather, Baudelaire and his time, Baudelaire and the social entity, Baudelaire and love, Baudelaire and religion – all vitally important issues that are having a deep resonance in everybody’s daily thoughts. The play “Baudelaire’s Passion”. Should promote serious dimensions of thought process and handling real life situations.
Wed Dec 10th – HORSES OUTSIDE THE WINDOW, 7pm
“The Horses Behind the Window” is the most talked-about premiere of the season by TRAKT, the Theater of Russian-speaking Actors, based on the play by French dramatist M. Vişniec. It is an extraordinary theatrical event in the truest sense of the word — a perfect unity of directorial vision, artistic expression, and the actors’ sincere and masterful performances.
This timeless story about women and men, about love and the desire to be happy—against all odds—touches something deeply human.
The play’s genre is tragic farce: it makes you laugh where you feel like crying, and find hope where everything seems lost, in a world where sorrow and humor are inseparable.Featuring Honored Artists Svetlana Kifa and Elena Uspenskaya, as well as Lana Shipitsyna, Andrey Kuznetsov, Arnold Shvetsov, Grigory Korostyshevsky, and Vadim Kroll.
The play is performed in Russian with English subtitles.
Thu Dec 11th – EDIT PIAF, 7pm
An outstanding play directed by Edward Jefarsky is based on life of famous French singer Edit Piaf. The performance full of her life drama, music and everything that paved the path for her Unique talent.
Fri Dec 12th – CHARACTERS FROM A WOMAN’S HANDBAG, 7pm
A woman’s handbag contains more than just things! It’s companions, interlocutors, witnesses to all the joys and sorrows of its owner. They can tell you much more about their owner than even her closest friend… or neighbors.
Fri Dec 12th – ROCK’N’ROLL AT SUNSET, 8:30pm
“Rock and Roll at Sunset” – playwright Mikhail Heifets wrote a funny and slightly sad play about the relationship between a man and a woman. This is an eternal conflict and eternal attraction.
The heroes of the performance – already middle-aged people – met in a dance studio. They are very different, but at the same time they have something in common – they are lonely. Despite the fact that each of their meetings turns into a mutual “taming of the shrew,” the heroes do not lose hope of dancing together rock and roll, which for them is a kind of symbol of avoiding loneliness.
SAT Dec 13th – MAGIC SUIT, 12pm
“You need to play for children the same way you play for adults, only much better, more subtle, more cultured and more perfect.” K.S. Stanislavsky
An absolutely innovative work of the last season of the TALENTLAND Сhildren’s theater (at the ESSENCE Theatre), captivating viewers aged from 0 to 99. Eight young students amaze the sophisticated theater audience with their level of professionalism, penetration into the most complex musical material – Richard Strauss, Maurice Ravel, Edvard Grieg, Camille Saint-Saëns -, harmonious elegance. Before our eyes, a completely new genre is being born – immersion in the musical element, as in a stream of consciousness, and the emotional movement and gesture that emerges as the only possible response. This cannot be compared with anything – neither with the Isadora Duncan Theatre, nor with the Pina Bausch Theatre. This must be seen and felt. Undoubtedly, one of the most intimate events of our festival!
SAT Dec 13th – THE ORCHESTRA, 4pm
“The Orchestra” A play by Jean Anouilh, the great French dramatist of the 20th century. Stunning in its truth, wrapped in “absurdist” circumstances, the playwright gives us a true celebration of theatre.
On stage: actresses from the ESSENCE Acting Studio and one male actor, a well-known theatre and film performer.
This is not just a play — it is an act of daring, maturity, and love for the theatre.
SAT Dec 13th – THE WOMAN IN WHITE, 7pm
A poetic production directed by Alexander Shcherbin, based on Sergey Yesenin’s most poignant poem Anna Snegina, written in 1924.
When the familiar world collapses and destinies break, when the thunder of civil war grows closer—who dares to sing of tenderness and dream of love? They dared—to sing, to love, to hope. To meet among lilacs and part on ashes.
The premiere took place in New York in 2024, marking the 100th anniversary of Anna Snegina. The performance also features excerpts from other works by Yesenin, along with live renditions of songs and romances set to his poetry.
Sun Dec 14th – EQUUS, 7pm
“Equus” by Peter Shaffer is a legendary drama that has captivated audiences worldwide and is recognized as one of the greatest plays of the 20th century.
How can one describe the play in just two lines?
A story of a child who found God at the age of six…
A story of a young man who lost God within himself…
A story of a man who saw himself as God…
A story of Equus…
A story of a human being who foresaw the divine vastness of the infinite human Soul.