Marko Kropyvnytskyi

Marko Lukych Kropyvnytskyi (Ukrainian: Марко Лукич Кропивницький; 22 May [O.S. 7 May] 1840 – 21 April [O.S. 8 April] 1910) was a Ukrainian writer, dramaturge, composer, theatre actor and director. Over his career Kropyvnytskyi wrote 40 plays, played in over 500 roles of various repertoire, as well as writing several songs.

In 1875, he was invited by Theophilia Romanovich to the theatrical society Ruska Besida (in English: Ruthenian conversation), and is attributed to be one of the founders of the first professional Ukrainian theatre, The Ruska Besida Theater.

Read more about this composer on Wikipedia.