Lev Grzhonko

Lev Grzhonko is a Russian-born American actor, director, and producer with a distinctive journey into the arts. Harvard-educated and originally trained in economics, he first built a career in finance and entrepreneurship before transitioning fully to performance and storytelling.

He directed short films that screened at major festivals, which led him into theatre and the founding of New Wave Arts—a creative collective focused on lean, precise, emotionally fearless work. His performances often explore morally complex characters and intimate human stakes, with a particular affinity for cross-cultural, bilingual, and historically resonant material.

“Mr. Grzhonko is a Harvard graduate with a head for figures and a heart in the arts.” — Outer Stage interview (Sep 7, 2023)

“As I play Satan, the question becomes: who is he? Another humanlike person? Personification of evil? Perhaps something entirely different… especially in his juxtaposition to St. Peter.” — Lev Grzhonko, Outer Stage interview

“We’re testing it: does this story still break your heart when the vowels change? Yes. And something new appears.” — Lev Grzhonko on bilingual production of Love Letters