ARTSEMERSON PRESENTS SPACEBRIDGE

BRIDGING WORLDS ON STAGE:
RUSSIAN REFUGEE CHILDREN AND THEIR AMERICAN-BORN FRIENDS UNITE IN JOYFUL RESISTANCE, OFFERING ANTI-WAR MESSAGES AND REIMAGINING WHAT IT MEANS TO BELONG

CONCEIVED AND DIRECTED BY IRINA KRUZHILINA (VISUAL ECHO)
FOUR PERFORMANCES ONLY
EMERSON PARAMOUNT CENTER
ROBERT J. ORCHARD STAGE
NOVEMBER 21 – 23, 2025

[Boston, MA – Monday, October 27, 2025] – ArtsEmerson, Boston’s leading presenter of contemporary world theater and film and the professional presenting and producing organization of Emerson College, is thrilled to present the Boston premiere of SpaceBridge, running at the Emerson Paramount Center’s Robert J. Orchard Stage from November 21 through November 23, 2025, for four performances. This dynamic new work brings together the voices and creative energy of ten Russian‑refugee children—who fled to the U.S. due to their families’ anti-war stance and currently reside in NYC shelters—and their ten American peers to create a performance anchored in friendship, resistance, and the power of imaginative connection.

Photo Credit: Walter Wlodarczyk

In SpaceBridge, audiences will witness a vibrant, multimedia stage piece co‑devised by Irina Kruzhilina and the young cast, in which movement, story‑telling, visual design and real voices cross literal and metaphorical borders. Watch film and television legend Sarah Jessica Parker react to seeing SpaceBridge in January 2025 in New York.

“SpaceBridge is not political theater—it is a world reimagined by children,” says director Irina Kruzhilina. “With unguarded honesty and boundless imagination, they cut through the noise of division and create a new world—one where empathy, creativity, and intercultural dialogue build bridges instead of walls.”

Tickets for SpaceBridge may be purchased 24/7 at ArtsEmerson.org, or by calling 617-824-8400 (Tue-Sat from 12:00PM ET – 6:00PM ET). The Paramount Center Box Office (559 Washington Street, Boston) is open for walk-up service Thu-Sat from Noon – 6:00 PM ET. Tickets start at $27.50. Groups of 10+ attending a performance save up to 30%.

LISTINGS INFORMATION FOR SPACEBRIDGE

Public Health Information

Mask-wearing is strongly encouraged at all times while indoors at the theatre but is no longer required for most* performances and events. For folks who require a socially distanced seating location or who have other questions or concerns, please contact the Box Office by phone at 617.824.8400 or by emailing tickets@artsemerson.org to arrange seating that accommodates your needs. Masks and face shields will also be available at the theatre upon request. If you or a member of your party is feeling sick, experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, or has been in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 10 days, please stay home. Our box office will allow you to refund or exchange performance tickets at any time prior to the event. No one should come to the venue if they are not feeling well. It is within our values to create a safe space for everyone, full stop. All staff at the Theatres of Emerson College are working to ensure the health and safety of all who are sharing these spaces. Maintaining our community’s health and safety requires the effort of all involved. By committing to this Shared Code of Conduct, you are not only protecting yourself, but fellow guests, artists, and staff. Please do all you can to help keep all of us safe. We cannot wait to see you at the theater! Click here to review full info on Health and Wellness information.

CREDITS & BIOGRAPHIES

Conceived and directed by: Irina Kruzhilina
Irina Kruzhilina is a New York-based director, scenographer, visual dramaturg, experience designer and educator, creating work at the intersection of visual art, live performance, and civic engagement. Her creative endeavors range from interdisciplinary downtown theatre to large scale parades, from opera to site responsive installations. She is the founder of Visual Echo, a New York-based performance organization dedicated to facilitating generative dialogues among people from diverse backgrounds. She holds the position of associate professor at the New School of Drama and is a La MaMa resident artist and Joan D. Firestone Fund Award recipient.

Visual Echo
Visual Echo is a New York–based multidisciplinary performance organization founded by a collective of immigrant artists and educators, led by Irina Kruzhilina. Rooted in our cross-cultural experiences, we create bold, socially engaged performances and educational programs—locally and internationally—that address civic issues such as immigration, polarization, and peacebuilding.

PRESENTER INFORMATION

ArtsEmerson
ArtsEmerson is the professional presenting and producing organization at Emerson College, and its mission is to bring people together to experience powerful performances that delight, provoke, and inspire, celebrating both our differences and common humanity. Founded in 2010 by Robert J. Orchard — the year the U.S. Census confirmed there was no single cultural majority in Boston — ArtsEmerson is committed to building a cultural institution that reflects the diversity of our city. For more information visit ArtsEmerson.org.

Emerson College
Emerson College is uniquely dedicated to the arts and communication, educating and inspiring storytellers and artists to impact and advance creative industries and media throughout the world. Distinguished faculty spearhead a dynamic curriculum and guide several thousand undergraduate students and 1,300 graduate students to exhibit an unyielding spirit of creativity, professionalism, and critical thought, to transform lives, and make a profound impact on our community and beyond. Based in the world-class city of Boston, Massachusetts, the College offers experiential learning programs across the globe. For more information, visit emerson.edu.