2019

Moscow Nights Presents: 24 Hours In The Life Of Pontius Pilate

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An original theatrical production based on Mikhail A. Bulgakov’s novel “The Master and Margarita”. Director Natasha Ramer adapted chapters involving Pontius Pilate remaining faithful to Bulgakov’s work.

This new script addresses Pilate’s life and relationship over a 24 hour period that begins with the confrontation with Jesus and depicts his fate in the hours following that event.

Bulgakov’s text presents a completely different rendition of the meeting between Pilate and Jesus from that recorded in the New Testament. His story builds an atmosphere for the audience, building anticipation that they will learn what really happened between Jesus and Pilate during this dramatic time.

In essence, Bulgakov writes his own “Gospel” with Natasha Ramer succeeding in capturing from the novel stunning revelations and timeless drama beginning by giving form to one of the most mysterious characters from the source material named “Evil Spirit” who arrives with his entourage of “students” onto Planet Earth, showing them people he watches over throughout the centuries.

They cross centuries of time into the past to arrive at the dawn of the very moment this saga begins. Spontaneously –and quite unpredictably– the conversation turns to Jesus and their questions about people’s belief in Jesus. They even call into question if Jesus even existed…

This production follows the success of our 28th of March, 2018, staged reading.

Starring

Casey Groves*

Ray Vrazel*

Jeffery Gunshol

Diana E.H. Shortes

Joe S. Burch

Chris Lane

Ken Pauley

Randy Maggiore*

Kevin Macku

Roscoe Reddix, Jr.

Kathy Randels

Michael Scott

Daven-Angelo Montalbano

Sterling Miller

* Appearances Courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association

About the Production

Our Director, Natasha Ramer, adapted extracted chapters involving Pontius Pilate for the theater stage. Faithful to Bulgakov’s chapters, the new script addresses Pilate’s life and relationship over a 24 hour period that begins with theconfrontation with Jesus (in the novel referred to as “HA-NOTSRI”) and depicts his fate in the hours following thatevent.

Bulgakov text presents a completely different rendition of the meeting between Pilate and Jesus from that recorded in theNew Testament. The text of the novel created the uncanny sensation that the audience is about to learn what really happened during this dramatic time.

More than fifty years ago, while still a student in the Theatrical Institute of Moscow (also known as GITIS), she read the Bulgakov novel, “The Master and Margarita”, and its impact on her was stunning ~ like a volcanic explosion into her consciousness! The penetrating chapters of the novel exploded, alternatively mystical and satirical ~ and she could not immediately comprehend and internalize the entire symphony of words.

After so many years she decided that she will stage the vivid chapters that “the Master” in the novel writes about Pontius Pilate.  In essence, Bulgakov writes his own “Gospel”.  She decided to transform this amazing set of chapters into a theater play.

She begins with creating a script. As a part of her writing, she went to Israel and visited the sites that the original saga unfolded in. While there, she invited Lithuanian-Israeli Composer V. Ganelin to write an original audio score for the play. Upon her return to New Orleans, she invited the best local professional theater actors to discuss the script, to read through the dialogue, and carefully built her cast.

On the 28th of March, 2018, Moscow Nights presented a staged reating of the script.  (for more, please see 24 Hours in the Life of Pontius Pilate – Staged Reading.

We performed at the Jefferson Parish Eastbank Regional Public Library inMetairie, Louisiana, to a full house audience. We received numerous very positive audience reviews and felt the excitementof our audience as the staged reading unfolded.  Our next step will be the staging of a full-fledged theatrical play stagingalong with the original music score along with specialized choreographical movements, lighting, full stage sets and attire appropriate to those times.

Our original cast, with a few exceptions, is returning to re-enact their roles from the original staged reading. All who are returning are very enthusiastic about their roles and look forward to the coming curtain rising.

Natasha succeeded to capture from the novel one of the most mysterious characters named “evil spirit” arriving with his entourage of “students” onto Planet Earth, showing them “people” he watches over the centuries. Spontaneously, and quite unpredictably, the conversation turns to Jesus ~ and answers their questions about people’s belief in Jesus. They even question if Jesus even existed!?

“Oh yes,” says Woland. “I was there and I’ll show you!”

They cross time into the past through the centuries to arrive at dawn at the very moment the saga begins.

Media from the Production

Collarborating with Dillard University

The university was named in honor of JAMES HARDY DILLARD, a distinguished academician dedicated to educating African Americans. This year, Dillard University celebrates150 years of commitment to excellence in education and strives to position itself as one of the nation’s premier centers for undergraduate research. A recent major realignment of academic units has created two colleges, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Professional Studies, in order better to serve students’ needs in today’s growing global economy.

The School of the Humanities, in the College of Arts and Sciences, emphasizes culture from a global perspective as expressed in literature and the creative arts, and offer majors in the following areas: Visual Art, English, Music, Film, and Theater Arts. Students may also minor in World Languages.

Dillard University’s Theatre Program is housed in the School of Humanities and it is the oldest H.B.C.U. (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) theatre program in the country. It was founded by S. RANDOLPH EDMONDS. A man of remarkable talent and achievement, Edmunds wrote his first play in 1922, and proceeded to graduate from Oberlin College in 1926. In 1934, he received his master’s degree in English and Drama at Columbia University and went on to study at the Yale University School of Drama. His achievements as a director, playwright andeducator won him widespread acceptance as the unofficial “Dean of Black Academic Theatre.” From 1935 to 1944, Edmonds established and directed the Dillard Players’ Guild at DillardUniversity and played a lead role in the formation of the Southern Association of Dramatic and Speech Arts, later called the National Association of Dramatic and Speech Arts.

About Dillard University

In 1869, Straight University and the Union Normal School were founded. They were subsequently renamed Straight College and New Orleans University, respectively. In 1930, the two schools merged to form Dillard University.  The trustees of the new university called for the implementation of a coeducational, interracial school that would serve a predominantly African American student body adhering to Christian principles and values.

The university was named in honor of James Hardy Dillard, a distinguished academician dedicated to educating African Americans.  This year, Dillard University celebrates 150 years of commitment to excellence in education and strives to position itself as one of the nation’s premier centers for undergraduate research.  A recent major realignment of academic units has created two colleges, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Professional Studies, in order better to serve students’ needs in today’s growing global economy.

The School of the Humanities, in the College of Arts and Sciences, emphasizes culture from a global perspective as expressed in literature and the creative arts, and offer majors in the following areas: Visual Art, English, Music, Film, and Theater Arts.  Students may also minor in World Languages.

Dillard University’s Theatre Program is housed in the School of Humanities and it is the oldest H.B.C.U. (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) theatre program in the country. It was founded by S. Randolph Edmonds. A man of remarkable talent and achievement, Edmunds wrote his first play in 1922, and proceeded to graduate from Oberlin College in 1926.  In 1934, he received his master’s degree in English and Drama at Columbia University and went on to study at the Yale University School of Drama.  His achievements as a director, playwright and educator won him widespread acceptance as the unofficial “Dean of Black Academic Theatre.” From 1935 to 1944, Edmonds established and directed the Dillard Players’ Guild at Dillard University and played a lead role in the formation of the Southern Association of Dramatic and Speech Arts, later called the National Association of Dramatic and Speech Arts.

The mission of the Theatre Arts Program is to provide rigorous, professional training in a liberal arts context for future actors, directors, designers, managers, teachers, scholars, and related theatre practitioners. The program is committed to the aesthetics of Black theatre, creating a globally aware artist while identifying, sharing, and perpetuating the highest standards possible.

The collaboration between Dillard’s Theatre Arts Program and Moscow Nights is a valuable initiative for both programs. This wonderful collaboration provides both the Performance and theTechnical Theatre Majors alike the opportunity to work alongside the region’s finest professional theatre cast and crew, affording them an invaluable educational and training opportunity, andthereby strengthening and supporting the overall mission of Dillard’s Theatre Arts program.

And so, with 150 years of academic excellence, Dillard University continues its historical commitment to excellence in education and the arts …

Sponsors of this Production

This production is made possible thanks to the generosity of our donors!

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January 2019 – Moscow Nights Presents: 24 Hours in the Life of Pontius Pilate | Moscow Nights