MetroStage presents: Cousin Bella by Sherman Yellen Featuring Adrian Nelson and Michael Russotto

If you were lucky enough to meet Bella in 2019 at the Kennedy Center, you never forgot her. Because Bella is unforgettable! So, we are bringing her back to introduce her to even more of you.

MetroStage premiered a reading of this adaptation of Sherman Yellen’s memoir, at the Kennedy Center’s Page to Stage Festival Labor Day, 2019. Yellen, a great storyteller, 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 a complicated, yet fascinating, life. 

Adrienne Nelson will return as Cousin Bella, with Michael Russotto joining her on stage as Sherman. Director Nick Olcott also serves as sound designer.

Sherman Yellen is an Emmy Award winning screenwriter, playwright, lyricist, and book writer of musicals. We met Sherman when he came to MetroStage when we produced his musical “Josephine Tonight!” about Josephine Baker in 2012. We are delighted to bring Sherman’s beloved cousin back to introduce her to our Lyceum audience along with her old friends from the KC Page to Stage 2019.