Tolstories, Presented by Doug Berky

First Baptist Church of Asheville, Chapel

Sunday, February 19: 7:00 p.m.

Join us for a for a theatrical journey into the short stories of Leo Tolstoy.  An original adaptation of selected Leo Tolstoy short stories by Doug Berky. Leo Tolstoy lived what one biographer described as a “profoundly Russian life.” While “profoundly Russian” may describe some aspects of Tolstoy’s life, it fails to capture the uniqueness of the life of this aristocrat turned “holy fool.” Soon after the completion of his second internationally acclaimed novel, Anna Karenina, Tolstoy experienced a deep personal and spiritual crisis that led him to the brink of suicide. In struggling to find clarity and direction, he experienced a transformation that led him to renounce his nobility and embrace radical love, non-violence, and civil disobedience. In this production, storyteller Doug Berky brings to the stage stories written by Tolstoy after this transformation, stories that reflect his new vision for the world community. Through these simple stories, we learn much about the complex story of the man who wrote them. 

• Coffee and cookies will be served at 6:15 p.m. in the Atrium.
• Chapel doors open at 6:30 p.m.
• Performance begins at 7:00 p.m. (running time of approximately 75 minutes)

Free event and open to the public. Donations will be collected for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Ukraine Relief Fund.