MetroStage at the Lyceum Presents

A Reading of Cousin Bella by Sherman Yellen

Featuring

Adrienne Nelson and Michael Russotto

MetroStage premiered a reading of this adaptation of Sherman Yellen’s memoir, “Cousin Bella, Whore of Minsk” at the Kennedy Center’s Page to Stage Festival Labor Day, 2019. Yellen is a great storyteller and has written several memoirs about his family in New York as Russian immigrants at the turn of the century, and his “Cousin Bella” has an incredible, bordering on unbelievable, story to tell. From Minsk to Rivington Street on the Lower East Side, Bella led quite a life. Adrienne Nelson will return as Cousin Bella, with Michael Russotto joining her on stage as Sherman. Directed by Nick Olcott who also serves as sound designer. 

Author and playwright Sherman Yellen wrote the musical Josephine Tonight about Josephine Baker that MetroStage produced in 2012.