Kleptocracy Announces Casting for Arena Stage World Premiere

Arena Stage has announced complete casting for the world premiere of Kenneth Lin's new play Kleptocracy, running from January 18-February 24, 2019 in the Kreeger Theater.

Inspired by the power struggle between the richest of the Oligarchs and an ambitious Vladimir Putin after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Lin explores U.S.-Russia relations then and now. Directed by Jackson Gay, the play is presented by special arrangement with Robert Ahrens, Mickey Liddell, and Michael Mills.

Kleptocracy will star Max Woertendyke (A View From the Bridge) as Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the leader of the Oligarchs, and Christopher Geary (These Paper Bullets!) as a young, ladder-climbing Vladimir Putin. Also in the cast will be John Austin as Valentin/Master of the Universe/Armed Soldier/Guard; Brontë England-Nelson as Inna Khodorkovsky; Alex Piper as Platon Lebedev/Master of the Universe/Armed Soldier; Elliott Bales as Petukhov/Prison Guard; Candy Buckley as White House Official; Joseph Carlson as Leonid Nevzlin/Master of the Universe/Armed Soldier/Kuchma; and Andrew Weems as Boris Berezovsky/Yuri Schmidt/Armed Soldier/Security Guard.

The creative team includes set designer Misha Kachman; costume designer Jessica Ford; lighting designer Masha Tsimring; original music and sound design by Broken Chord; hair, wig, and make-up designer Dave Bova; fight director Lewis Shaw; voice and dialect coach Zach Campion; casting directors Victor Vazquez and Geoff Josselson; stage manager Christi B Spann; and assistant stage manager Mimi Joyce.