Wabash College

"Lenin's Embalmers" Opens at Wabash

Jeremiah Clayton stars in rollicking true-story comedy

Crawfordsville, IN (02/20/2026) — Wabash College theater performs "Lenin's Embalmers" by Vern Thiessen this week in a four-night run.

Two scientists, driven by fear and fame, are pushed to their limits when tasked with embalming former Soviet leader, Vladimir Lenin. Based on a true story of deception, scientific achievement and bitter betrayal, Lenin's Embalmers is both a rollicking comedy and an epic tragedy.

"Lenin's Embalmers is a very funny play about the very serious topic of the abuse of power," says Associate Professor of Theater Heidi Winters Vogel. "It is based on the true story of the two Soviet scientists forced to embalm and preserve Lenin's body in order to maintain Stalin's control of the government of the Soviet Union. This is a deep dive into history thick with laughter and groans-and a circus!"

Directed by Vogel, the play stars Jeremiah Clayton as Lenin, Alexander Schmidt as Boris, Benjamin Donaldson as Vlad, Robin Vogel as Nadia, Eamon Colglazier as Stalin, and Nicholas Kvachkoff as Krasin. Members of the ensemble include Boston Cahoon, Isabella de Assis-Wilson, Andres Ornelas, Preston Parker, and Sebastian Smelser.

The play runs from February 25 to 28, with showtimes at 7:30 p.m. each evening. Admission is free to all events. All events are general admission. Tickets are required and may be reserved at https://www.wabash.edu/boxoffice/ or by calling 765-361-6411.

Preston

Parker