Anna Karenina

A dashing lover.

A sparkling son.

An impossible choice.

As a wave of profound upheaval sweeps through Russian society, it is a time of impossible choices. Anna is torn between raising her cherished son and languishing in a lifeless marriage, or sacrificing everything to follow her lover Alexei into disgrace. Konstantin struggles to reconcile his existential torment with his enduring passion for Kitty. Innocents will suffer, hearts will be broken, and families will be torn apart as two couples learn that living truthfully is no simple thing. A world premiere meditation on the complexities of love based on the 1877 novel by Leo Tolstoy.

A world premiere based on the novel by Leo Tolstoy, adapted by Jessica Wright Buha.

Genre: drama

Length: Full-length, two acts, 150 minutes

Cast: 11 actors

Set: Flexible set

For licensing info, contact Jess here.

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ANNA: But the first time you went into battle—hearing the noise of the cannons. They're supposed to be very loud.

VRONSKY: They are.

ANNA: Did it frighten you?

VRONSKY: Yes.

ANNA: Did you run?

VRONSKY: No.

PRESS

  • “★★★ Lifeline pulls it off… The show’s great strength is the world-premiere adaptation, by Jessica Wright Buha… It’s an impressive feat — and it makes this production an ideal introduction to Tolstoy, indeed to romantic Russian realism, for a young person, long a strength at Lifeline.”

    Chicago Tribune

  • “Creatively designed and beautifully acted, Buha’s adaptation offers an accessible and intriguing pathway into Leo Tolstoy’s classic.”

    Picture this Post

  • “Jessica Wright Buha’s new, streamlined adaptation captures the heart of the novel without the benefit of a large, opulent production. Furthered by compelling direction from Amanda Link and a young, vital cast, this Anna Karenina is as tragic as it is romantic.”

    Theater Mania

Productions
Premiered February 2018, Lifeline Theatre, Chicago, IL

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