Andrei Malaev-Babel, Assistant Professor of Theater, Florida State University/Asolo Conservatory

Not many people outside of the theater history world today know that the National Theatre of Israel, the Tel-Aviv Habima, was born in Moscow at the height of the Russian Revolution. Ironically, Stalin himself signed the 1920 decree establishing Habima as an institution. Just two years prior to that, a group of amateur Jewish actors, headed by Nahum Zemach, knocked at the door of the Moscow Art Theater's legendary founder Konstantin Stanisalvsky. Stanislavsky turned the Habima over to his most gifted follower, the Russian-Armenian director Yevgeny Vakhtangov. Having trained the Habima actors, Vakhtangov in 1921 staged with them, arguably, one of the most significant 20th Century productions, "The Dybbuk." For several decades to come, the mystical Dybbuk defined the Habima. Vakhtangov's swan song (the master director died just a few months following the opening), "The Dubbyk" allowed the young Jewish theater to take wing. They left Russia in 1926, embarking on a world tour that eventually led them to Palestine where the troupe settled. Professor Malaev-Babel's lecture will concentrate on the Habima's origin, the theater's relationship with the Revolution, the Soviet regime, the Moscow Art Theater, the director Vakhtangov, and the defining role of "The Dybbuk" in Habima's history.

This event will be held in the 6th floor Flom auditorium.

Please note that seating for this event is available on a first come, first served basis-no reservations required. Please call on the day of the event to confirm. Please bring an identification card with a photograph (e.g. driver's license, work ID, or university ID) as part of the building's security procedures.