"Anna Karenina"

ACH THEATER Dance performance “ANA KARENINA,” set to music by Alfredas Šnitkė and based on the novel by Leo Tolstoy Director and Choreographer – Anželika Cholina Set Designer – Marijus Jacovskis Costume Designer – Juozas Statkevičius The cast features 16 soloists from Anželika Cholina’s Dance Theater, the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theater, the Vilnius Small State Theater, the Kaunas State Musical Theater, and other national companies, as well as performers from the ACH Youth Troupe. “Anna Karenina” is a legendary production, one of the most spectacular and beloved works by choreographer Anželika Cholina and her ACH Theater. Since its premiere in 2010, “Anna Karenina” has come a long and impressive way, receiving acclaim from audiences not only in Lithuania but also abroad. To date, the production has been performed 127 times, and has been seen by a record-breaking number of spectators—nearly 80,000—a figure that best illustrates the production’s success and the audience’s enduring affection. For audiences, *Anna Karenina* is an opportunity each time to relive the heroine’s grand and fragile love story, one that stirs the emotions of even the most reserved person. Regardless of nationality, age, or beliefs, the production’s most loyal fans return to experience this miracle created on stage by A. Cholina again and again, some even for the fifth or sixth time, because this story universally resonates and leads to reflections important to everyone—about happiness, freedom, and the meaning and meaninglessness of life. That is why we are announcing the long-awaited news to all fans of A. Cholinas and this legendary production! —At your request, after a break of several years, *Anna Karenina* is returning and will undoubtedly be the highlight of the ACH Theater’s newest, 27th season!!! Having heard countless requests to bring this production back to the theater’s repertoire—even if only for a short time—we can confirm that audiences will have a unique opportunity to once again see this masterpiece—which won the “Golden Cross of the Stage” for choreography in 2011 and has already left an indelible mark on the history of dance theater throughout Lithuania. The return of the production is also special because the lead role will once again be performed by Beata Molytė, the ACH Theater’s longtime principal dancer, who has embodied Anna Karenina since the very first premiere performance. Audiences will have the opportunity to admire the timeless and always flawless mastery of movement of this stage star, her expressive and emotional dancing, and her dramatic portrayal of the role—not only in Vilnius and Kaunas, but also in several other Lithuanian cities. Other well-known dance soloists also bring memorable characters to life in the production—Ernestas Barčaitis, Rūta Lataitė, Paulina Čistovaitė, and Stefanija Nosovaitė, as well as stage actors and audience favorites Mantas Vaitiekūnas, Leonardas Pobedonoscevas, and others. In writing the novel *Anna Karenina*, Leo Tolstoy spoke for the first time about a woman’s right to happiness and personal choice, and that a woman should not become a tool for a man’s vanity and satisfaction, which was a major shock in the conservative and patriarchal European society of that time. It is therefore not surprising that the author envisioned such a dramatic ending for the protagonist, who defied society—an ending that has gone down in the history of literature, cinema, and theater, and which continues to inspire creators of various genres around the world to this day. The story of Anna Karenina is still understood everywhere today, nearly 150 years after the novel’s publication; it is universal, it evokes strong emotions, and thanks to choreographer A. Cholina, this story has been reborn in a dance drama that has captivated thousands of viewers. “When I met Beata Molytė, then a ballet soloist at the Klaipėda Music Theater, I realized—this is my Anna,” says A. Cholina, who was inspired to stage this production by her discovery of the soloist for the lead role. The two have been a creative duo for many years; B. Molytė has also danced leading roles in other productions by A. Cholina. The set design was created by set designer Marijus Jacovskis, while the costumes and makeup were designed by Juozas Statkevičius, ensuring that the production offers the audience a particularly high level of aesthetic satisfaction. “When I create, I don’t seek to confine my productions to any particular genre; I’m interested in creating life itself on stage—the full, multi-layered life that L. Tolstoy speaks of in his novel. He weaves so many elements into it that one can get lost—just as one might in the complexity of life itself. I tried to distill what seemed important to me, what exists in the present moment, and what is relevant to today’s audience,” says A. Cholina. www.ach.lt IMPORTANT! – As we continue to actively promote the tradition of cultural patronage in Lithuania, we invite you to contribute to the future of the independent, self-funded ACH Theater and to purchase a special, more expensive than usual PATRON TICKET for all our performances. Thanks to your support, our theater can plan new premieres, maintain a professional troupe of performers, embark on tours throughout Lithuania—even to the country’s more remote regions where professional performing arts are less accessible—and never compromise on the artistic and technical quality of our productions. As we watch the ever-growing sales of these tickets, we are convinced—we are certainly not alone. Thank you to every single current and future supporter of the ACH Theater! Furthermore, in an effort to bring about positive change in society and help shape a new perspective on cultural patronage in our country, two years ago we took the lead in educating young people and nurturing a new generation of cultural patrons. That is why, in the new season, we are continuing this initiative, which is open to all young people aged 15–24, – they can continue to purchase “FUTURE PATRON TICKETS” for all ACH Theater performances and watch the shows from a special section, alongside the theater’s patrons. Young people can purchase these tickets with a 50 percent discount already applied, and upon arrival at the performance, we will ask them to present only an ID proving their age along with the ticket. We have no doubt that by giving young people the opportunity to see our theater’s performances under special conditions, we are helping to nurture a generation of young Lithuanians who care deeply about theater, art, and culture! To purchase 10 or more tickets, please contact: [email protected] Doors open 1 hour before the event Event duration: 2 hours 20 minutes (one intermission) Children are not admitted free of charge. Age restriction: N-14 Discounts: – 15% (1 ticket) for schoolchildren, students, seniors, and people with disabilities (present proof of eligibility at the time of admission) For more information, call +370 682 66383; [email protected] Organizer: Anželika Cholina Dance Theater, Public Institution