An ocean away
A new play by Andrei Kureichik
Directed by Vladimir Rovinsky and Lisa Channer
October 30 - November 8, 2025
A direct artistic response to the war in Ukraine
FREE HALLOWEEN PERFORMANCE, FRIDAY OCT 31 AT 7:30PM!
AN OCEAN AWAY tells the stories of immigrants from the post-Soviet diaspora living in Minnesota who are watching the war in Ukraine from afar. Based on interviews, news media, and historical documents, Theatre Novi Most collaborated with playwright Andrei Kureichik, a team of actors, dramaturgs, and several Minnesota community members to create this unique new piece.
PERFORMANCE TIMES
Thursday, October 30 at 7:30pm
Friday, October 31 at 7:30pm (FREE HALLOWEEN PERFORMANCE!)
Saturday, November 1 at 7:30pm
Sunday, November 2 at 2pm
Tuesday, November 4 at 7:30pm
Thursday, November 6 at 7:30pm
Friday, November 7 at 7:30pm
Saturday, November 8 at 7:30pm
VENUE INFO
The Center for the Performing Arts
3754 Pleasant Ave #220W, Minneapolis, MN, 55409
Although our address is on Pleasant Ave, please enter at the ADA compliant main entrance off of 38th St.
CFPA's west wing is ADA compliant on all floors, with accessible restrooms on the second. The east wing is accessible on all floors via the west wing’s lift and corridors, with an accessible restroom beside the Sunroom.
Theatre Novi Most is thrilled to be partnering with Andrei Kureichik on this project.
Andrei Kureichik is a Belarusian playwright, director, publicist, and civil activist. He is a 2022 World Fellow in the Jackson School of Global Affairs at Yale University. As a writer and director prior to 2020, Andrei was especially beloved for his comedies and suspense thrillers. Following the contested presidential elections and brutal aftermath in Belarus in August 2020, Andrei gained an international following as a political playwright.
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Forced to flee the country as a member of the Coordination Council working with perceived winner Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s transition team, Andrei leveraged his creative energy to produce the documentary play Insulted. Belarus about the 2020 presidential elections, subsequent protests, and violent crackdown by Alexander Lukashenko’s regime in Belarus. The play has been translated into 29 languages and received 200 readings and performances across the globe. As a member of the Coordination Council of Belarus, he was awarded the 2020 Sakharov Prize by the European Parliament.
Article from MPR: War, exile, resilience: New play centers voices of Minnesota Ukraine community
This work is supported by grants from the MAP Fund, the Elmer L. & Eleanor J. Andersen Foundation, the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, and is funded in part by the Minnesota Humanities Center with money from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund that was created with the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.
Poster design by Sofiia Rovinskaya.
Production Photos by Dan Norman.
Cast
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Barbra Berlovitz
Old School Diaspora Girl/American Friend
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Kayla Dvorak Feld
Interpreter/Singer/Mother in Search of Justice
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Liv Kemp
Teenager in Search of Self-Identification/Stubborn Wife/Costume Designer/Girl
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Tim Thomas*
Doctor/Volunteer/Foreman with One Arm (Oct. 30 - Nov. 7)
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Sam Bardwell*
Guitar Player/Blind Deminer
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David Michaeli
Son of Old Diaspora/IT Student
Creative Team
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Lisa Channer
Co-Director
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Vladimir Rovinsky
Co-Director
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Samantha Fairchild*
Stage Manager
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Dan Dukich
Sound Design
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Kathy Maxwell
Projection Design
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Lily Turner
Costume Design
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Shirley Runkel
Lighting Design, Scenic & Prop Coordination
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Wendy Weckworth
Dramaturgy
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Ani Tonoyan
Production Intern
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Ella Eastman-Kiesow
Production Intern
Learn More & Give Back
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The Protez Foundation
Prominently featured in our play, The Protez Foundation builds prosthetics for Ukrainians who have lost limbs.
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Stand With Ukraine MN
Minnesota’s Ukrainian American community has organized a dedicated initiative: #StandWithUkraineMN
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The Ukrainian Center
Unites and empowers the community through humanitarian aid, community services, and the advancement of Ukrainian history, culture, and heritage.
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Cheremosh Dance Ensemble
As part of the Ukrainian American Youth Association, Cheremosh is dedicated to preserving Ukrainian culture through dance and cultural enrichment activities.
