Written by: Nikolai Gogol
Nikolai Gogol (1809-1852) was a Ukrainian-born Russian dramatist and novelist.
Considered by his contemporaries one of the preeminent figures of the natural school of Russian literary realism. His early works, such as Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka, were influenced by his Ukrainian upbringing, Ukrainian culture and folklore. His later writing satirised political corruption in the Russian Empire (The Government Inspector, Dead Souls), leading to his eventual exile. The novel Taras Bulba (1835) and the play Marriage (1842), along with the short stories "Diary of a Madman", "The Tale of How Ivan Ivanovich Quarreled with Ivan Nikiforovich", "The Portrait" and "The Carriage", round out the tally of his best-known works.
Starring: Ilia Volok
Ilia Volok was born in Kiev Ukraine where he lived for the first half of his life. His life took an unexpected turn when after being a professional rowing athlete in the Soviet-Union team, he left his native Kiev (Ukraine) to audition for the prestigious Moscow Art Theatre School. He was accepted to study under the direction of Alexander Kalyagin. Upon graduation, he was invited to work in several top theatre companies, including the Moscow Art Theatre but once again, he changed the direction of his life and came to America to pursue his dream of being a working Hollywood actor. Aside from being a graduate of Moscow Art Theatre School and a Lifetime Member of The Actors Studio.In Hollywood, to this date, Ilia has appeared in over 170 films and television shows.
The most recent-The Palace-feature film directed by Roman Polanski and Self-Reliance- Paramount pictures film by Jake Johnson(both currently in post production). This October Ilia won Best Actor at the NOHO Cinefest portraying Dark in the independent feature Balloon Animal. Currently in New York Ilia is filming the new HBO Miniseries Full Circle directed by Steven Soderbergh
Select Films:
Gemini Man opposite Will Smith, directed by Ang Lee. Air Force One, Oliver Stone's U-Turn, Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones 4, David Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Soloist, Water for Elephants, Mission Impossible-Ghost Protocol, Abduction, GI JOE 2, The Immigrant(Opposite Yakim Phoenix&Marion Cotillard) Pawn Sacrifice and Hunter Killer (Opposite Gerard Butler and Gary Oldman).
Recent television includes recurring role on HBO's Minx, CBS’ MAGNUM PI, FX’s OH JEROME NO, CBS’ MACGYVER, Marvel/Netflix’s THE PUNISHER, "Swedish Dicks", "Counterpart","Stitchers", "Criminal Minds", "Baskets" "Shameless", "The Americans", "NCIS" & "NCIS New Orleans", "Hawaii 5.0", "Two Broke Girls", "Clipped", as well as recurring roles on the Michael Bay series "The Last Ship" and "Scandal".
Select Theater:
The Orchard at the Baryshnikov Art Center, The Revisionist at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing arts, co-starring oposit Tony award winner Deanna Dunagan,written by The Oscar nominee Jesse Eisenberg
Ilia's one-man show Diary of a Madman won the LA Weekly Theater Award for Best Solo Performance. In New York Diary of a Madman had two successful back to back Off Broadway runs- 60 performances in total. Later it was presented as a special engagement at the Junction Theater in Dubai,UAE, Theatre de la Huchette in Paris France, Suzirya Theater and Stage 6 in Kiev and Odessa Independent Theater in Ukraine. In London England Diary of a Madman- was performed at the Brunel and Sands Studio performance spaces and in Zurich Switzerland- at the Kaufleuten performance space, totaling 110 shows.
Ilia Volok was born in Kiev Ukraine where he lived for the first half of his life. His life took an unexpected turn when after being a professional rowing athlete in the Soviet-Union team, he left his native Kiev (Ukraine) to audition for the prestigious Moscow Art Theatre School. He was accepted to study under the direction of Alexander Kalyagin. Upon graduation, he was invited to work in several top theatre companies, including the Moscow Art Theatre but once again, he changed the direction of his life and came to America to pursue his dream of being a working Hollywood actor. Aside from being a graduate of Moscow Art Theatre School and a Lifetime Member of The Actors Studio.In Hollywood, to this date, Ilia has appeared in over 170 films and television shows.
The most recent-The Palace-feature film directed by Roman Polanski and Self-Reliance- Paramount pictures film by Jake Johnson(both currently in post production). This October Ilia won Best Actor at the NOHO Cinefest portraying Dark in the independent feature Balloon Animal. Currently in New York Ilia is filming the new HBO Miniseries Full Circle directed by Steven Soderbergh
Select Films:
Gemini Man opposite Will Smith, directed by Ang Lee. Air Force One, Oliver Stone's U-Turn, Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones 4, David Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Soloist, Water for Elephants, Mission Impossible-Ghost Protocol, Abduction, GI JOE 2, The Immigrant(Opposite Yakim Phoenix&Marion Cotillard) Pawn Sacrifice and Hunter Killer (Opposite Gerard Butler and Gary Oldman).
Recent television includes recurring role on HBO's Minx, CBS’ MAGNUM PI, FX’s OH JEROME NO, CBS’ MACGYVER, Marvel/Netflix’s THE PUNISHER, "Swedish Dicks", "Counterpart","Stitchers", "Criminal Minds", "Baskets" "Shameless", "The Americans", "NCIS" & "NCIS New Orleans", "Hawaii 5.0", "Two Broke Girls", "Clipped", as well as recurring roles on the Michael Bay series "The Last Ship" and "Scandal".
Select Theater:
The Orchard at the Baryshnikov Art Center, The Revisionist at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing arts, co-starring oposit Tony award winner Deanna Dunagan,written by The Oscar nominee Jesse Eisenberg
Ilia's one-man show Diary of a Madman won the LA Weekly Theater Award for Best Solo Performance. In New York Diary of a Madman had two successful back to back Off Broadway runs- 60 performances in total. Later it was presented as a special engagement at the Junction Theater in Dubai,UAE, Theatre de la Huchette in Paris France, Suzirya Theater and Stage 6 in Kiev and Odessa Independent Theater in Ukraine. In London England Diary of a Madman- was performed at the Brunel and Sands Studio performance spaces and in Zurich Switzerland- at the Kaufleuten performance space, totaling 110 shows.
Directed by: Eugene Lazarev
Eugene Lazarev graduated from the Moscow Art Theatre School in 1959. Russian actor and director, Eugene's career spans 50 years on Russian and international stages and screens. His directorial credits include 'Hamlet', 'A Streetcar named Desire', 'The Seagull', 'Uncle Vanya', 'The Lion in Winter', and many others.
He was a well-respected professor at the Moscow Art Theatre School and the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts, and was awarded the title of People's Artist of Russia. From 2003 to 2016, he had been teaching at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in Los Angeles and the USC School of cinematic Arts. Lazarev has received numerous awards and state decorations for his visionary work.
He was a well-respected professor at the Moscow Art Theatre School and the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts, and was awarded the title of People's Artist of Russia. From 2003 to 2016, he had been teaching at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in Los Angeles and the USC School of cinematic Arts. Lazarev has received numerous awards and state decorations for his visionary work.
Adapted for the stage by Eugene Lazarev and Ilia Volok
Text editing David Laird Scott
Stage Manager Fanny Volok
Lighting Design Michelle Stann
Sound Design David Marling
Costume Design Knarik Balayan
Web Design Fanny Volok
Print Design Rochelle Perry, Fanny Volok
Photography and Videography Fanny Volok, Rochelle Perry, Thomas Zoeschg
Text editing David Laird Scott
Stage Manager Fanny Volok
Lighting Design Michelle Stann
Sound Design David Marling
Costume Design Knarik Balayan
Web Design Fanny Volok
Print Design Rochelle Perry, Fanny Volok
Photography and Videography Fanny Volok, Rochelle Perry, Thomas Zoeschg