Every once in a while, you may feel that a part of your body has a mind of its own. That's literally true for Kovalyov, the minor bureaucrat at the center of Nikolai Gogol's 1836 short story, "The Nose," who discovers to his dismay that that feature of his face has taken off, donned a fancy uniform and is now pretending to be an official more powerful than he is. This musical adaptation by Kit Goldstein Grant features a Russian flavored score as it follows Kovalyov's efforts to save his face.
(excerpt from The New York Times)
Promo Video for THE NOSE by Animator Nancy Gold
Featuring "The Strangest Things" by Kit Goldstein Grant
Performed by Emma Barishman
Animation & Editing Assistance by Michael Henry Grant
Russian Language Promo Video for THE NOSE at the Master Theater
Production History
The Nose premiered at the Midtown International Theatre Festival (MITF) in August 2016.
It has since been seen at the 1,300 seat Master Theater in Brooklyn in February 2017, the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, South Africa in Summer 2017, and the Drama Factory in Cape Town, South Africa in Fall 2017.
Previously, a staged reading featuring Drama Desk award-winner Graham Stevens in the title role was produced on October 25, 2015, at the National Opera Center in New York, NY.
The Nose has also had developmental readings at Theater Resources Unlimited and The Playground Experiment.
The cast and production team from the MITF production, Summer 2016.
The cast and and creative team from the 2015 reading at the National Opera Center.
Kit Goldstein Grant, Ron Orlovsky, Christopher Michaels, and Matthew Bennis attending the MITF 2016 Awards Ceremony in accidentally matched outfits.
Awards & Nominations
Directors' Choice Award from MainStreet Musicals.
Jackie White Memorial National Children’s Playwriting Contest, 2nd prize.
Helen-Jean Play Contest, finalist.
"The Nose" was nominated for four awards for its summer production in the Midtown International Theatre Festival (MITF) 2016 including the Playwrights Award (Musicals), Outstanding Musical Direction, Outstanding Costume Design, and Outstanding Set Design.
Courtney Butt received the award for Outstanding Costume Design from MITF in the winter of 2016.
A few of Courtney Butt's award winning designs for the 2016 World Premiere.
The Nose is suitable for all ages, but will be most enjoyed by those 8 years and up!
Kit Goldstein Grant
Book/Music/Lyrics
Kit is a prize-winning New York City-based composer, lyricist and librettist. Her musicals have been seen at the Midtown International Theater Festival (THE NOSE), the Strawberry One-Act Festival (THE COMMUTERS, Calendar Boys Productions), the Emerging Artists Theatre New Work Series, the Musical Theatre Factory, and the National Opera Center (THE WRONG BOX). Five of her musicals for young audiences have toured schools with the Schenectady Theatre for Children, including IT’S RAINING TAMALES!, which is published by YouthPLAYS. Kit has studied at Juilliard and the Tony-Award winning BMI Musical Theatre Writing Workshop, and is a founding member of NYC's Composers Collective. She is a member of The Dramatists Guild and ASCAP. www.kitgoldstein.com (Photo Credit: Yulduz Zaripova)
Nikolai Gogol
Author
Russian novelist Nikolai Gogol was born on March 31, 1809, in Sorochintsy, Ukraine. His first successful book was Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka, which he wrote in the early 1830s. His short, satirical story, The Nose (written between 1835 and 1836), was written during his time living in St. Petersburg when his works were primarily focused on surrealism and the grotesque, with a romantic twist. The use of iconic landmarks in the story, as well as the sheer absurdity of the story, has made "The Nose" an important part of St. Petersburg's literary tradition. His 1842 novel Dead Souls is considered his masterpiece, however, a fanatical priest convinced Gogol to burn the second volume of Dead Souls in 1952. He died later that year, on March 4, 1852, in Moscow, Russia; it's believed that he starved himself to death.
Michael Chase Gosselin
Director/Choreographer (us Production
Michael is a professional producer, director, and designer based in NYC. He recently produced MIDNIGHT AT THE NEVER GET and LUDO'S BROKEN BRIDE in the 2016 New York Musical Festival, and POPE! AN EPIC MUSICAL in 2015. He served as the Artistic Director/ Executive Producer of Act Three Theatricals from 2006 to 2012. In 2013, he co-produced and directed a developmental reading of MOBY DICK - A WHALE OF A TALE for Cameron Mackintosh. As a Director/Choreographer, recent credits include DISNEY'S TARZAN (VT Premiere), THE WEDDING SINGER and SOUTH PACIFIC (NCT), ROCK NATIVITY (Regional Premiere), HAIRSPRAY, CHICAGO, a tour of THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF AMERICA (ABRIDGED), NEXT TO NORMAL (VT Premiere), YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN and A CHRISTMAS CAROL at the Helen Hayes Youth Theatre, and LEGALLY BLONDE for Clark University. Last spring, he helmed the New England Premiere
of Justin Moran’s THE SPIDEY PROJECT. Current projects include producing and directing the new musical HOW TO SURVIVE AN APOCALYPSE WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, as well as producing the Off-Broadway Premiere of POPE!. He is a proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. www.michaelchasegosselin.com
Aleksandr Ananev
Translator (Russian-Language Edition)
Aleksandr Ananev is based in Moscow and was born in a small village in the Kaluga region of Russia. He has a university degree in teaching and for 10 years has worked as a translator and an interpreter, as well as a teacher of foreign languages.In 2015 – 2016 he translated German articles about history, socio-political life and culture for "Socialist", a Russian magazine.
In 2011, he performed for the circus theater “Krakatuk” (tours in St. Petersburg and Sochi) in two productions: "Aurora" (Prince Papageno; Ensemble) and "Krakatuk" (Ensemble). He also
participated in the preparation of the English text of their promotional brochures.
In 2014 – 2016 Aleksandr performed for the theater studio "ATO" (Moscow) in two plays: "Citizens, Put Yourselves in My Place!" (Korenev, enamored student; Photographer) and "About love" (Nikolai; Ensemble). He is an amateur jazz-modern dancer. Since 2017, he is a singer in "Tonus" (Moscow), an ensemble of Russian folk music.
Александр Ананьев живёт в Москве, родился в небольшом селе в Калужской области (Россия). Имеет высшее педагогическое образование, 10 лет работает устным и письменным переводчиком, а также преподавателем иностранных языков.
В 2015 – 2016 гг. переводил с немецкого языка статьи, посвящённые темам истории, общественно-политической жизни и культуры, для российского журнала «Социалист».
В 2011 г. актёр театра-цирка «Кракатук» (гастроли в Санкт-Петербурге и Сочи) в двух постановках: «Аврора» (Принц Папагено; ансамбль) и «Кракатук» (ансамбль). Также участвовал в подготовке английского текста рекламных буклетов.
В 2014 – 2016 гг. Александр играл в театральной студии «АТО» (Москва) в двух пьесах: «Граждане, войдите в положение!» (Коренев – влюблённый студент; фотограф) и «Про любовь» (Николай; ансамбль). Является танцором-любителем в направлении джаз-модерн. С 2017 г. поёт в ансамбле русского фольклора «Тонус» (Москва).