“Amazing, heart rending, beautiful acting/living/telling/calling. Shine on! Bring light!”

-Top 5 audience member

Top 5 Survival Moves premiered at the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans in March, 2024. It was inspired by the story of Ukrainian-born New Orleanian Katya Chizhayeva, a dancer and acupuncturist. Chizhayeva worked with Goat in the Road to create a dynamic new play about her work with soldiers in Ukraine, her experiences as an immigrant in the United States, and the ways that culture and identity change in the face of violence. Ms. Chizhayeva’s story is layered with moments of historical context, Ukrainian songs, and first-hand accounts from soldiers. Top 5 is not just a show about Ukraine, it’s about the U.S. It’s about the way culture survives and grows despite harsh conditions. It’s about a talking cat! It’s about colonialism and intergenerational mysteries. We think that Katya has something essential to convey to American audiences about our place in the world. Top 5 Survival Moves is about current events, but even more it’s about the river of culture that flows through and around these events. 

Audience Reaction

“There was an inspiring thread of hope and resistance that translates to all conflicts - both political and climate. Just a really beautiful play.”

“Amazing, poignant, moving. Should travel all over.”

“What a fine, fine piece of theatre. And the subject matter is profound and timely.”

“Thank you for this beautiful, heart-breaking, funny, tragic, deep, eye-opening production. I come from a long line of Eastern European Jews that survived pogroms, ghettos, and gulags and I saw myself tonight. I felt my ancestors. My pride was re-awakened. Thank you.”

“Amazing, heart rending, beautiful acting/living/telling/calling. Shine on! Bring light!”

“This production is one of the most thoughtful, courageous, and evocative glimpses into the human soul aimed through the tragedy and resilience of the Ukrainian people, which Katya so eloquently delivered.”

Performance History

Top 5 premiered at the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans (900 Camp Street) from March 8th - 17, 2024. All ticket proceeds from the show went to the Lisova Polyana Rehabilitation Center in Kyiv, Ukraine. Goat in the Road and the Contemporary Arts Center also held a series of engagement events along with the work. These included:

Saturday, March 9, post-show talk with the creative team
Saturday, March 16, post-show talk with community members affected by the war

Future Plans

Considering the live performance landscape today, we are trying to think expansively about what a Top 5 Survival Moves tour could look like.  Please reach out to ckaminstein@gmail.com if you would like to bring the show to your space, or stream it for your audience!

Top 5 Survival Moves was made possible by support from the New Orleans Theatre Association, the Harper Family Foundation, New Orleans Tourism & Cultural Fund, the RosaMary Foundation, and a Community Partnership Grant from the Jazz & Heritage Foundation.