The vacillation
between acting and
writing reflects the
choice between the
transient and the
eternal.  It's the
wavering between
instant gratification
and slow work,
between hunting and
farming, between a
chance affair and a
relationship, between
sketching a quick
silhouette and
carving a rock.


Of course, acting
requires work too.
But even with work,
the gratification of
being on stage is so
immediate, so
intoxicating, it
entices so irresistibly
that no joy from a
book published a
year after it's written
can match it.  He
who has tasted this
inebriating fruit is
forever addicted. The
limelight pulls; he
wants to stay there
and never leave and
he keeps coming
back at every
opportunity. Look at
the face in the
pictures: happy,
heady, almost drunk
from being the center
of attention--all those
looking at him, all
those listening to
him, all that energy
and love directed at
him. And the
applause, the
flowers, and the eyes
of women.


It passes quickly.
The night is over, the
lights are out, the
audience is gone.
The theater is empty
and quiet. The warm
memory of tonight
may linger tomorrow;
then it evaporates--
warm breath on a
winter window. A few
years later, who
remembers that
show? Who
remembers the
episode where the
proud coat was so
prominently
featured? It was good
while it lasted, but
now the silhouette is
blurry, the lines are
smudged. He doesn't
remember what it
was; the audience
doesn't remember
what it was. Was
there anything there
at all?

He'd better get back
to the rock and start
carving again. With a
tiny pin, on a big
rock. Scratch,
scratch. A pin and
the rock. Scratch,
scratch, scrape,
scribe, scrabble,
scribble. Rasping,
squeaking, filing.
Letter, syllable,
word. Letter,
syllable, word.
Sentence,
paragraph, page.

Back to writing.
eugene alper
ACTOR
Born and raised in Russia, Eugene earned his Master's Degree in
Theater in St. Petersburg.  He worked as an actor in Theater-Buff
and won the prestigious laureateship of the National Competition
of Variety Actors.

Since immigrating to Los Angeles in 1989 Eugene has appeared
in such television series as Cybill, Time of Your Life, The West
Wing, ER, Law & Order, and Touch.  He had the leading role of
Count Rezanov in the History Channel's miniseries Conquest of
America and portrayed Dr. Laszlo in the web series Gemini
Division.

A classically trained actor, Eugene has been a member of the
Antaeus Company and as part of the ensemble was nominated
for an Ovation Award in 2005.  His theatrical roles have varied
from Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol" to Dr. Spivey in "One Flew
Over the Cuckoo's Nest," Otto Preminger in "Dorothy and Otto,"
Matt in "The Threepenny Opera," and Lucretius in Shakespeare's
"The Rape of Lucrece."

With his own accompaniment on the guitar, Eugene sings
traditional Russian and Gypsy songs (listen to one) and has
been a guest artist with the Pasadena Pops Orchestra and Opera
Leggera (Kingwood, Texas).  As a voice artist Eugene has
dubbed numerous voice-over projects.

A list of Eugene's television and movie roles can be found at
the International Movie Database.
As Nikolay Rezanov in Conquest of America on the History Channel
As Cabaret Host
As Messer Nicia in Machiavelli's Mandragola
As Messer Nicia
As Master of Ceremony in Theater-Buff
As Cabaret Singer
As Master of Ceremony, Los Angeles, 1989
As Nikolay Rezanov in Conquest of America on the History Channel
As Singer in Chekhov x 4 at Antaeus Company, February 2004
As Messer Nicia in Machiavelli's Mandragola
As Messer Nicia
As Messer Nicia
As Detective in an independent movie
As Master of Ceremony at National Competition of Variety Actors
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The Press in English

"Eugene Alper is a wonderful surprise in his big scene as
Lucrece’s father Lucretius.  The slightest of accents flavors his
speech but hardly reveals that he is a native of Leningrad, where
he earned his Master’s Degree in acting and from whence he
hailed only last year.  He is excellent."  Drama-Logue, 1991

"Not to be overlooked, however, is the eloquent performance
Eugene Alper gave as Lucrece's father, Lucretius.  His rendering
of the poignant language of the elegy over his daughter's body
made this minor role shine."  Shakespeare Quarterly, 1991

"Eugene Alper adds more vibrancy to the evening as a strolling
singer."  The Daily News, 2004

"...excellent singer-guitarist Eugene Alper."
The Los Angeles Times, 2004
ARCHIVE
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Scene from Mother Courage at Antaeus Company
As Musician in Mother Courage
As Roman Mindeli in The West Wing
As Gregor in 24
As Dr. Laszlo in Gemini Division
Narrating Russian poetry
Listen to Russian Voice Demo

Corporate training

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