Moscow Nights, Dmitry Lipkin's newest contemplation of Russian emigre life ends its workshop run at Seattle's A Contemporary Theatre Dec. 17. The two-week, staged workshop began Dec. 7. ACT's artistic director Gordon Edelstein directs.

Set in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, Moscow Nights visits the home of Evelina Naumovna Kotolov as she and her family celebrate her 75th birthday. While embracing the happy occasion, their talk wanders back to their native Russia and all the things they lost by leaving. The play is described in a release as both "moving and hilarious...One part Chekhov, one part Mamet."

Born in Moscow before emigrating to Louisiana at age 11, Lipkin examined Russian life in the South in Cranes, performed in New York City by the New Group in 1999. Other credits include Skitaletz, Baton Rouge, The Elephant Play, I am Laika and The Tightwad. Lipkin is currently at work on a new play for South Coast Repertory and two musical theatre collaborations.

Workshopping Moscow Nights will be Laurence Ballard, Suzanne Bouchard, Marjorie Nelson, Marianne Owen, R. Hamilton Wright, Anthony DeFonte, Anne Ludlum, Conor Shine and Katie Tomlinson.

Although the new play is a Bullit production, staging constraints demand it be performed on the ACT mainstage, the Falls Theatre. Only 99 seats, however, are available per performance, re: the Actor's Equity ruling governing Bullitt production. Tickets are $10. A Contemporary Theatre is located at Kreielsheimer Place at the corner of 7th Avenue and Union Street. A Contemporary Theatre is on the web at http://www.accttheatre.org.

-- By Christine Ehren