On April 14, 2025, Bohemian National Hall in New York City, USA, opened its doors to a poignant evening of theater as part of the Rehearsal for Truth International Theater Festival. The occasion was a staged reading of Once Upon a Time There Was a Rooster, a contemporary play by Ukrainian playwright Anna Halas.
Set in a quiet Ukrainian village, the play follows the story of a family whose life is irrevocably disrupted by the full-scale military invasion of Ukraine. When a Russian soldier arrives at their home, the drama that unfolds captures not only the trauma of war, but also the enduring strength of those caught in its path. Through intimate dialogue and sharp emotional turns, the work sheds light on the ongoing suffering and resilience of the Ukrainian people.
It was an evening marked by both artistry and solidarity. Deep gratitude is due to the cast, the creative team, the festival organizers, and all who made this powerful reading possible. And to those who continue to stand with Ukraine — their presence, their support, and their voices matter more than ever.
Brought to life under the direction of Eva Burgess, the reading unfolded with quiet intensity and a deep sense of presence. The cast—Stan Buturla as the weathered and wise Grandpa Zakharii, Daniel Clark as the resilient young Levko, Yvonne Roen as the protective and tender-hearted Tonya, and Luca Napierala as the conflicted Russian soldier — inhabited their roles with honesty and restraint, allowing the emotional weight of the story to resonate powerfully in the space. Stage directions, read with clarity and subtlety by Max Arnaud, created a gentle rhythm that guided the audience through the unfolding tension. The use of recorded voices—Max Arnaud, Jason Blaine, Emily Davis, Yvonne Roen, and Erik Kever Ryle — added haunting echoes of memory and distance, layering the performance with an aural texture that deepened the impact of the text.
The evening brought together a remarkable group of voices, each contributing to the depth and resonance of the performance.
Anna Halas, the playwright behind Once Upon a Time There Was a Rooster, is a Ukrainian writer and translator with over two decades of experience in the theater. Since her debut in 2020, her works have gained recognition both in Ukraine and internationally, including presentations at festivals in London, Georgia, and Scotland. Her plays reflect the emotional landscape of a country at war, often blending realism with poetic intensity.
Eva Burgess, who directed the reading, is a New York–based theater artist dedicated to collaborative storytelling. Her work spans both domestic and international stages, with a strong focus on new writing. Eva’s connection to the Rehearsal for Truth Festival goes back years, and her return to direct this reading marked a meaningful continuation of her artistic engagement with Central and Eastern European voices.
Daria Kolomiec, who served as speaker, is a Ukrainian cultural activist and producer, known for her Diary of War project — an evolving archive of voice messages documenting the lived experiences of Ukrainians during the Russian invasion. Through podcasts, performances, and readings across the U.S., she has transformed these stories into moving works of documentary theater, collaborating with artists and organizations to raise both awareness and vital support.
Yascha Mounk, the evening’s guest speaker, is a political writer and academic whose work explores the tensions facing liberal democracy today. A professor at Johns Hopkins University and author of The Identity Trap, his presence added a thoughtful global context to the evening’s themes of resistance, identity, and the power of storytelling in times of conflict.
Part of the Rehearsal for Truth International Theater Festival honoring Václav Havel, the evening was presented through the collaborative efforts of the Václav Havel Center and the Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association. Established in 2017, the festival is an annual celebration of contemporary European theater in New York City, created to honor the legacy of Czech playwright, dissident, and political thinker Václav Havel.
Each year, the festival brings to the stage urgent and thought-provoking works that reflect the shifting sociopolitical landscape of Central and Eastern Europe. Supported by cultural institutions across New York State, it continues to serve as a space where art and activism meet—offering audiences a rare window into the theatrical voice of the region today.
A heartfelt thank you to Edward Einhorn, Artistic Director, whose guidance, creativity, and steadfast support were essential to the development of this project and its realization on stage.