Theatrical Reading
November 6, 2025 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
In partnership with Voyage Theater Company and the Ukrainian Institute in Kyiv, the Ukrainian Institute of America is pleased to present a staged theatrical reading of 5000 Steps to Peace and Justice, a play by Ukrainian writers Anna Kyvyl and Piotr Armianovski. Originally conceived as a soundwalk through the dunes of The Hague, the play blends personal and historical memories with reflections on the idea of a “city of peace and justice.”
The reading will be followed by a talkback and a wine reception. This event is free and open to the public. Your contributions to help defray the costs of bringing this production to our community are deeply appreciated.
Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 7 p.m.
2 East 79th Street New York, NY 10075
SUPPORT THE PROGRAM
5000 Steps to Peace and Justice will be performed by Marianna Staroselsky, who also serves as production dramaturg. The reading will be directed by Wayne Maugans, with sound design by Luke Hofmaier, videography by Susan Shaw, and stage management by Keri Landeiro.
5000 Steps to Peace and Justice is made possible in part by a grant from The Center for International Theatre Development (CITD). Building on the success of CITD’s LINKAGES programs in Poland and Hungary, LINKAGES: Ukraine was launched in 2024 to foster long-term connections between U.S. and Ukrainian playwrights. For 2025, LINKAGES: Ukraine will include 5000 Steps to Peace and Justice as part of a script exchange between New York City’s Voyage Theater Company and Theatre on Zhukakh in Kharkiv, a city that continues to endure heavy missile attacks amid Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The event is supported by the Ukrainian Institute in Kyiv and by NYSCA-A.R.T./New York Creative Opportunity Fund (A Statewide Theatre Regrant Program). 5000 Steps to Peace and Justice is also presented in partnership with the Worldwide Ukrainian Play Reading Series, a global initiative launched by John Freedman in the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Soon after, Freedman began organizing the translation of new works by Ukrainian playwrights, many of which provided firsthand narratives of the war. CITD worked in tandem with Freedman as he recruited, encouraged, and aided hundreds of theaters around the world to mount readings of the plays.
ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS
Anna Khvyl is a Ukrainian sound artist, composer and researcher based in The Hague. Her work explores the role of sound in acts of commemoration and collective experience, creating temporary nomadic acoustic communities through site-specific performances.
Piotr Armianovski is a Ukrainian artist, performer and director from Donetsk, now based in Kyiv. His work explores memory, loss and social constructs of everyday life through video, performance and virtual reality.
Wayne Maugans is the founding artistic director of Voyage Theater Company, where he has directed eight mainstage productions and dozens of staged readings. Wayne holds a BFA in Acting from New York University and an MFA in Directing from CUNY/Brooklyn College, and is a member of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab and The Fence.
Marianna Staroselsky is a playwright, performer, poet, and scholar. She holds a PhD in Comparative Human Development from the University of Chicago, and an MFA in playwrighting from Columbia University. She has been a reader for the Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference and is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at City University of New York.
Voyage Theater Company (VTC) presents bold new works and international voices, fostering collaboration among theater-makers from diverse cultures. Since its 2012 debut at La MaMa with Mario Fratti’s Obama 44, VTC has produced acclaimed premieres including Intermission by Daniel Libman, The Mecca Tales and Unveiled by Rohina Malik, Sun by Adrienne Kennedy, Hope Hypothesis by Cat Miller, and Don’t Look Back by Adam Kraar. VTC also hosts the free PARTS UNKNOWN Play Reading Series, featuring new global plays and translations.
Since 1990, the Center for International Theatre Development (CITD) has connected over 800 American and global theatre artists across 10 countries. Its multi-year exchanges, focused on East Africa and Central/Eastern Europe, have seeded collaborations at nearly every major U.S. theater.
The Ukrainian Institute, Kyiv is a state institution acting in the field of cultural diplomacy. The institution’s activities are aimed at improving the understanding and perception of Ukraine in the world and the development of its cultural ties with other countries. Established by the Government of Ukraine, the Institute operates under the administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.