SLAVA'S SNOWSHOW Begins Previews Tonight 12/2

The Olivier Award-winning SLAVA'S SNOWSHOW On Broadway begins preview performances tonight at the Helen Hayes Theatre (240 West 44th Street). 

The limited holiday engagement begins on Tuesday, December 2; opening night is Sunday, December 7.  The production must end its Broadway run on Sunday, January 4, 2009.

Tickets are available through www.Telecharge.com or www.snowshowonbroadway.com or by calling 212-239-6200.

Created and staged by Slava Polunin, considered by many to be the world's greatest clown, SLAVA'S SNOWSHOW On Broadway is a sensory whirlwind for the entire family, combining theatrical spectacle with the unbridled hilarity and heart-warming poignancy of the art of clowning.  Featuring a cast of 10 in a series of breathtaking stage images that need to be seen to be believed, SLAVA'S SNOWSHOW culminates in a stunning coup de theatre finale - a joyous, swirling snowstorm that sweeps across the stage, filling the theatre and engulfing the audience.

SLAVA'S SNOWSHOW played a record breaking run at off-Broadway's Union Square Theatre from September 2004 - January 2007, where it ran for 1,004 performances and still holds the record as the highest grossing show in the theatre's history.   The production had its world premiere in October, 1993 in Moscow and has since toured extensively, playing over 25 countries around the globe.

SLAVA'S SNOWSHOW is the recipient of London's Olivier Award for Best Entertainment, New York's Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience, Edinburgh's Festival Critics' Award, Moscow's Stanislavski Award, and Australia's Sir Robert Helpmann Award, among others.

SLAVA'S SNOWSHOW On Broadway will be performed on the following schedule at the Helen Hayes Theatre Theatre: Tuesday at 7:00pm, Wednesday - Friday at 8:00pm, Saturday at 4:00pm and 8:00pm, and Sunday at 2:00pm and 6:00pm.

Tickets for all preview performances (December 2 - 6) are $79.50.  Tickets for all performances December 7 - December 21 are $111.50.  Tickets for all performances December 23 - January 4 are $129.50.   All ticket prices include a $1.50 facilities fee.

Tickets may be purchased at Telecharge.com or by calling 212-239-6200. 

For group ticket information, please contact Olga at 646-536-8130.

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS'S EVE

Wednesday, December 24 - 2:00pm and 7:00pm
Thursday, December 25 - 7:00pm
Friday, December 26 - 2:00pm and 8:00pm
Saturday, December 27 - 4:00pm and 8:00pm
Sunday, December 28 - 2:00pm and 6:00pm

Tuesday, December 30 - 2:00pm and 7:00pm
Wednesday, December 31 - 7:00pm
Thursday, January 1 - No Performance
Friday, January 2 - 2:00pm and 8:00pm
Saturday, January 3 - 4:00pm and 8:00pm
Sunday, January 4 - 2:00pm and 6:00pm

Slava Polunin was born in a small town in Russia, far from the big city. His childhood was spent in the forests, fields and by a river. He lived in the world of fantasies, and liked to invent new things and make up stories. He built four-story tree houses and snow towns and organized funny parties for friends. Through TV and cinema, he fell in love with the great clowns and mimes. His biggest dream was to become a clown. He was so passionate about this that, at the age of 17, he went to Leningrad and joined a mime studio and so began his long-term quest to reclaim and re-establish the art and craft of the true clown. Influenced by great artists such as Chaplin, Marcel Marceau and Engibarov and building on his innate talents, Slava and his theatre company, Litsedei, founded in 1979, took clowning out of the circus onto streets, and from there into the major theatres of the world.

Slava's reputation grew rapidly and people traveled miles to learn his unique mix of alternative clowning and visual theatre. Slava's former students have gone on to form their own companies and many have been cast in productions of Cirque de Soleil or enjoyed successful independent careers.

Slava first brought his theatre to England in 1988. His there performances at Hackney Empire were enough to establish his name overnight. Five years later, he gathered together the highlights of his repertoire and the resulting show, SNOWSHOW (formerly called Yellow), was hailed as a triumph, winning him a Time Out Award. Following this London success, he toured North America with Cirque du Soleil's production of Alegria, which continues to feature excerpts from SNOWSHOW.  He won the Olivier Award for Best Entertainment during a sold-out run at the Old Vic, London in 1997.  SNOWSHOW is now touring the world and has been performed in 25 countries to more than 1 million patrons.

SNOWSHOW, like all of Slava's work, is best described as a work in progress, constantly changing and comprising new inventions, new inspirations and new ideas. Slava recently premiered Diabolo in Europe and is working on three other creations: Baden-Baden, Schisok and Ship of Fools, which will soon be released. Slava's creative aspiration is to lead theatrical clowning into the 21st century while entrancing family audiences around the world.

Victor Kramer (Director) has been a student and follower of the Russian classic Tovstonogov. Since 1992 he has been leader and art adviser of the Fantasy Theatre, one of Russia's youngest and best companies. Victor's work is characteristic of the Russian theatrical school festivals of theatre combining bright form and psychology. At present, he is working at the Comedy Theatre in St. Petersburg producing festivals and TV shows. His past successes include Farsy, Striptease (by Mrozek) and Fantasies Vakhylyanky (by Turgenev). Victor has won a number of international awards for his festival shows - Baltic House and The Theatre Without Borders; the Golden Sofit '96 ; Kult Modern; Ukrain in Russia; Undersland in Denmark; Hideshaim Art From Germany and Fama '95 in Poland.

Victor Plotkinov (Designer) graduated from the Academy of Theatre, Music and Cinema in St. Petersburg in 1989. In 1991, he created his own art project which he called Magic Theatre White Goat. Victor works with complicated images, combining visual theatre, mechanics, art and music. He lives in Russia and the South Urals, but has also spent two years living and working in Switzerland.

David J. Foster (Producer).  Broadway: Kiki & Herb: Alive on Broadway (2007 Tony Nomination); Concert: Jerry Springer - The Opera (Carnegie Hall), Rufus Wainwright's Judy Garland Show (Carnegie Hall, London Palladium, Paris Olympia), The Family Guy Sings (Carnegie Hall), Kiki & Herb Are Dead (Carnegie Hall).  Off-Broadway: Slava's Snowshow, The JAP Show, Puppetry of the Penis, 21 Dog Years, Sing-A-Long Sound of Music. Film:  The Craic.

For more information visit,  WWW.SNOWSHOWONBROADWAY.COM.

Photo Credit Veronique Vial