A musical inspired by Alexei Navalny, titled Alexei’s Quest, has scheduled its first concert presentation at Don’t Tell Mama on Tuesday, October 21 at 9:30 PM. Book and lyrics are by George Pfirrman, with music by Jamie Allen.
The musical explores themes of resistance and courage, drawing inspiration from the life and legacy of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny to bring awareness to his activism and the broader struggle for political freedom and human rights. Navalny was known for his anti-corruption investigations and organization of protests against the Russian government. His life had been marked by significant challenges, including imprisonment and alleged poisoning. Navalny was found dead in a remote Russian prison in February 2024. This play deals with his “afterlife.”
In that afterlife, which is actually a prison, two guides, the brutal Kostya and the mischievous Vadima, force him to undertake a quest: discover why democracy has failed in Russia. His life and his family’s safety depend on it. He soon learns that enduring Russian myths and ruthless state power have always been the twin pillars of autocracy.
The cast is:
- Sean Seamus Thompson (Funny Girl First National Tour, Sunset Boulevard Broadway 2017)
- Jared Bybee (Metropolitan Opera, Dutch National Opera, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center)
- Autumn Hurlbert (Tammy Faye and Legally Blonde)
- Eric Michael Gillett (Sweet Smell of Success)
- Yael Eden Chanukov (Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish)
There is a $20 cover nd $20 two-drink minimum, cash only. Reserve at donttellmamanyc.com
Don’t Tell Mama is located at 343 W 46th St, NYC
