"Leaving Kiev: Coming Full Circle" One Woman Show with Mila Levine
An autobiographical one-woman show about a timid, imaginative, and resilient Jewish girl from Kiev, Ukraine, who immigrated to the US and who has always wanted to be an artist – filled with original songs and poetry. “Leaving Kiev: Coming Full Circle” is about leaving home we always carry inside. The show addresses such issues as antisemitism, immigration, first heartbreak, and emotional/physical abuse.
__
Mila Levine is a Kiev-born performing artist, poet, singer, songwriter, actor, and playwright. Her deeply personal solo performances, Leaving Kiev and Leaving Kiev, Part 2, have been featured at numerous festivals across New York City. A condensed virtual version of her work, Behind Closed Doors, is available on her YouTube channel: @Milochka89.
Mila’s songwriting has received multiple honorable mentions in national competitions. Her album of original Russian songs, My Voyage Back—written during her teenage years and later partially translated into English—is currently available online under the name “Mila.”
She arrived in the United States at the age of 18 with no knowledge of English. Since then, she has earned two master’s degrees and numerous fitness certifications, allowing her to teach a wide range of fitness formats. She is the founder and artistic director of Stage Love Theater, Inc., a nonprofit theater company.
Mila has been writing poetry since the age of seven and composing songs since she was thirteen. Her creative journey continues through her expanding digital portfolio, which includes several music videos such as Hometown, a tribute to her native Kiev and the ongoing war in Ukraine. She is currently producing a new music video for her song Hurt, featuring artists from diverse backgrounds.
Professionally, Mila serves as Director of Activities at a senior living facility in Westchester and teaches fitness at New York Sports Club. She is also developing her creative skill set further through studies in digital storytelling and photography. In addition, she is performing as part of a dance ensemble in Romeo and Juliet at the JCC of Mid-Westchester.
Her latest theatrical production, Leaving Kiev: Coming Full Circle, weaves together elements from her previous autobiographical performances and features several of her original songs in both Russian and English. Spanning decades—from her childhood in Ukraine to her life in the United States—this powerful piece has earned acclaim from audiences and critics alike following performances throughout New York City and Westchester. Mila is thrilled to bring her work to Connecticut and share it with the JCC of Sherman audience.