12 Chairs by Jesse Jae Hoon

Former nobleman Ippolit Mateyevich Vorobyaninov’s dreary life in the early Soviet Union is about to change forever when he discovers his spiteful mother-in-law hid the family jewels in one of their dining room chairs before the Revolution. Together with a dashing con artist, Vorobyaninov must embark on an epic quest across Russia to recover the lost riches. Based on the 1928 novel by Ilya Ilf & Evgeny...
Former nobleman Ippolit Mateyevich Vorobyaninov’s dreary life in the early Soviet Union is about to change forever when he discovers his spiteful mother-in-law hid the family jewels in one of their dining room chairs before the Revolution. Together with a dashing con artist, Vorobyaninov must embark on an epic quest across Russia to recover the lost riches. Based on the 1928 novel by Ilya Ilf & Evgeny Petrov, 12 CHAIRS is an epic adventure satire exploring glory, greed, and a country desperate for the advancement of the collective good. It is a commentary on the Soviet Union and nothing else. Yeah, nothing else. You can’t prove otherwise, you haven’t even seen it. Wow, maybe you should see the play before contradicting us, you ever think about that? Wow. There’s always one. Do better.
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12 Chairs

Recommended by

  • Shaun Leisher:
    14 Feb. 2022
    “ Tons of opportunity for physical comedy and stage magic in this play. ”

Character Information

  • Ippolit Mateyevich Vorobyaninov
    Any Age, to play 50s,
    White
    ,
    Male
    The former Marshall of the Nobility of the City of Stargorod. Hungry, bitter, determined, but weary.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Ostap Bender
    20s-30s,
    non-white
    ,
    Any gender
    A smooth operator. Confident, cunning, cold – but not a monster. Also plays Railroad Worker.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any actor of color
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Father Fyodor
    Any Age, to play 40s,
    non-white
    ,
    Any gender
    No, Priest is merely a day job – his real job is ~entrepeneur~!
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any actor of color
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Elena Stanislavovna
    To play 30s-40s,
    White
    ,
    Female
    Formerly the Lady Elena Stanislavovna, now a fortune teller who keeps forgetting she doesn't have servants.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • The Widow Gritsasueva
    Any Age, to play 30s,
    non-white
    ,
    Female
    How's she doing? ahahahahahahahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA fine
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any actor of color
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Citizen(s)
    Any Age,
    non-white
    ,
    Any gender
    One or two intrepid actors of color to play all the other roles.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any actor of color
    • Gender: 
      Any gender

Development History