Jessica Hecht, Bill Irwin, More Set for Free Multimedia Staged Reading of Just Tell No One

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Arlekin Players will present a free, multi-media staged reading of Just Tell No One March 6 at 7:30 PM at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center.

The performance, which will also be streamed live, aims to raise awareness of the work of Worldwide Ukrainian Play Readings, a project of the Center for International Theatre Development.

Igor Golyak, the Ukrainian-born artistic director of Arlekin, will direct the one-night-only event, which will feature the talents of Jessica Hecht, Bill Irwin, David Krumholtz, Tedra Millan, Nathan Malin, and Will Manning. (Golyak recently directed Hecht and Mikhail Baryshnikov in Off-Broadway's The Orchard.)

Developed by Golyak, Just Tell No One utilizes excerpts from three plays: Bad Roads by Natal’ya Vorozhbit, translated by Sasha Dugsdale; Three Rendezvous by Vorozhbit, translated by John Freedman with Natalia Bratus; and Just Tell No One, from Night Devours Morning by Oksana Savchenko, translated by John Freedman.

Revealing the human consequences of war, the piece illuminates a part of the world where an incomprehensible set of rules is at play, and people struggle to make sense of the complexity of one another with life and death consequences. The immersive reading will make use of the Atrium's media wall, with five cameras running, visual effects, and actors interacting with architectural elements throughout the space.

“There are talented theatre-makers in Ukraine, and this is a critical moment to bring Ukrainian art out of the shadows and celebrate it. Worldwide Ukrainian Play Readings is incredible, shining a light on the voices and perspectives of these gifted Ukrainian playwrights, and I’m honored to be part of it,” says Golyak.

Producer Sara Stackhouse adds, “It is urgent to produce this work right now. Igor was born in Ukraine, and brings both passion and a unique artistic point of view to this material, which marks the beginning of a much larger artistic project that we will develop into a fully realized production over the next 18 months. We are truly grateful to have the support of Lincoln Center, CITD, and such a beautiful cast as we launch this important project.”

The creative team also includes visual dramaturg Irina Kruzhilina, video and effects designer Eric Dunlap, sound designer Eric D. Clark, and stage manager Kyra Bowie.

Worldwide Ukrainian Play Readings, led by playwright/journalist/translator John Freedman, in partnership with Philip Arnoult of the Center for International Theatre Development, has commissioned plays from over 30 Ukrainian playwrights and partnered on over 300 readings worldwide since the war in Ukraine began in 2022.

Seating and entry are on a first-come, first-served basis; the line will form at the Atrium’s entrance on Broadway, between 62nd and 63rd Street. For information about the live stream, click here.