Harbor Stage's THE SEAGULL Plays Suffolk University, Now thru 9/22

Following the completion of their second intrepid season, Wellfleet's Harbor Stage Company will bring their much lauded production of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull to Boston's Modern Theatre at Suffolk University. The five performance Limited Engagement transfer will run tonight, September 19th through Sunday, September 22nd and marks the acclaimed ensemble's first appearance beyond the shores of Cape Cod.

The Harbor Stage production features a rich new version of Chekhov's classic text. Adapted and directed by Artistic Director Robert Kropf, The Seagull showcases the authentic, intimate aesthetic for which the artist-run Harbor Stage Company has become known. Hailed as a "stiletto-sharp milestone" (Boston Globe) and "a play that you wished would never end" (Barnstable Patriot), the adaptation distills Chekhov's classic drama down to its electrifying essence, resulting in a six-character, "seamless" (WBUR) production that takes audiences on a "vertiginous emotional roller coaster" (TheaterMania).

An achingly human investigation of art, love, and the struggle to endure, The Seagull examines the lives and liaisons of a group of family friends on holiday at a lakeside estate. Helmed by Kropf, the piece features the onstage talents of Harbor Stage co-founders Amanda Collins, Jonathan Fielding, Stacy Fischer, Brenda Withers, and Lewis D. Wheeler, as well as frequent Harbor collaborator Alex Pollock (Company One's The Aliens, Gloucester Stage's This Is Our Youth). The full production team includes costume designer Daniel Kozar, lighting designer John Malinowski, set designer Victor Johnson (in conjunction with Kropf) and production stage manager Erika Hanlan.

Like the 84-seat theater the Harbor Stage Company calls home in Wellfleet, Suffolk University's 185-seat Modern Theatre boasts a uniquely intimate venue, a good match for the ensemble's engaging, electric performance style. "Suffolk is really pleased to work with this inspired company in bringing this great production to Boston," says the Modern's Managing Director James Kaufman. "We're also delighted to welcome back Suffolk University Theatre Department alumnus, Elliot Award-winning actor and friend Alex Pollock- a member of The Seagull's talented ensemble."

According to Artistic Director Kropf, transferring The Seagull from the Harbor to the Modern is the perfect opportunity to share both the production and the company's mission with a larger population. "We've carved out a space in Wellfleet where a dedicated ensemble can create daring work in an environment of integrity. This production represents what can be achieved when a company prioritizes the artistic process over the bottom line, and we think theatergoers in Boston-- and the rest of the country-- are hungry for this kind of serious, inclusive work."

Since taking over operations at the iconic seaside Harbor Stage in 2012, the artist-run collective has presented 6 full productions to critical and community acclaim, revitalizing the venue's audience base and re-establishing the Harbor as a haven for fierce, live performance. In keeping with the company's mission to present great plays at fair prices for the right reasons, tickets to The Seagull at the Modern are priced at a very affordable $20. The 5 performance Limited Engagement will run tonight, September 19th to September 22nd, Thursday through Saturday evenings at 7:30pm and Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 2:00pm. More information about the company, the production, and Suffolk University's Modern Theatre are available at www.harborstage.org or (508)349-6800.

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