NEWS RELEASE
Release Date: 11/18/2024
Organization: TheatreMidwest
Contact: Tom Woldt
Email Address: tom.woldt@theatremidwest.org
TOUR STOP, DES MOINES PLAYHOUSE--World Premiere Adaptation of Chekhov Classic
TheatreMidwest to partner with Des Moines Playhouse for presentation of Zachary Cohn’s brand new adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s beloved, world-famous, The Sea Gull. Reconfigured as a tour-de-force undertaking for one actor, The Gull; A Tragicomedy for One, After Chekhov continues its World Premiere national tour in the newly remodeled Studio Theatre at Des Moines Playhouse on January 22, 23, and 25. Tickets will be available through the DM Playhouse ticketing system.
Des Moines, IA (November 18, 2024) – Riffing on Anton Chekhov's classic "show about nothing," The Seagull, a young woman is desperate for fame and a way out. A young man is pining after the woman of his dreams. A successful writer longs for a sense of achievement. An actress wants to fight the changing of the times. Out at a dilapidated country estate, dreams die, hopes are dashed, and everyone loves the wrong person! What could go wrong? Zachary Cohn’s brand new, hilarious, and touching piece tears away any musty old remnants of the “early 1900’s version” of The Seagull by having one actor perform all 10 characters. It's a robust 90-minute journey and a tour de force for actor Joan Korte, as it also includes a "Narrator" to manage the chaos and provide snarky commentary. This fresh and witty treatment of one of the most popular and important comedies in modern drama will cause patrons to laugh, to shed a tear, to ask (as patrons have been doing for 130 years) "what is wrong with these people?!"
TheatreMidwest presents this project on the World Premiere tour of the Midwest USA and beyond. Having opened in Oklahoma in September, 2024, the full-weekend-stop in Des Moines is a major component of the tour, which will eventually also play in Nebraska, Minnesota, and beyond. This tour provides accessible theatre-going opportunities to people of the Midwest by bringing the work to these communities, and by maintaining the company’s commitment to Radical Hospitality (free and reduced-price tickets.)
The Gull lands at Des Moines Playhouse, Des Moines, Iowa, for performances on Wednesday, January 22, Thursday January 23, and Saturday, January 25, all at 7:30pm (CST). Ticket pricing and availability will be published soon with access via TheatreMidwest or Des Moines Playhouse. More information can currently found at: https://www.theatremidwest.org/the-gull.html.
The Company
“The Player” -------- Joan Korte*
Narrates and plays all these characters:
-Irina Arkadina - An actress, mid-40s.
-Peter Sorin - Her older brother, 50s. A former civil servant, in poor health.
-Constantine “Connie” Treplyev - Her son, early 20s, a young and unsuccessful writer. Loves Nina.
-Boris Trigorin - Her lover, 50s, a successful writer
-Nina Zarechnaya - An aspiring actress, early 20s.
-Masha - A woman not at home in life, early 30s. Loves Connie.
-Pauline - Masha's mother and Arkadina's maid, late 50s.
-Eugene Dorn - A local doctor, late 50s.
-Simon - A schoolteacher. early 30s. Loves Masha.
Time: Now
Place: The stage
Director: TheatreMidwest Producing Artistic Director, Tom Woldt#
Designer: Kate Kanne-Smith^
Other Management Team: Katie Braden, Katie Buchholz, Nadine Schmidt
*--Joan Korte is a member of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the national union for stage actors.
#--Tom Woldt is a member of the Stage Directors’ and Choreographers’ Society (SDC), the national organization for stage directors.
^--Kate Kanne-Smith is a member of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT), the national organization for designers and technicians.
Event Info
THE GULL; A Tragicomedy for One, After Chekhov
by Zachary Cohn
A world-premiere tour production by TheatreMidwest.
When: January 22, 23, 25 at 7:30p.m. (CST)
Where: Studio Theatre, Des Moines Playhouse, 831 42nd Street, Des Moines, IA
Cost: $0-20
Tickets: Current general information at https://www.theatremidwest.org/the-gull.html. Purchase details coming soon. Seating is limited; attendees are encouraged to pre-order online to guarantee a seat.
Synopsis: A World Premiere Tour launch of Zachary Cohn's hilarious piece, The Gull; A Tragicomedy for One, After Chekhov. Cohn tears away any potential musty old remnants of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull by having all 10 characters performed by one actor. The piece is a robust 90 minute journey and includes a "Narrator" to manage the chaos and provide snarky commentary. The one-actor is Professional Actor and Oklahoma State University Theatre Professor, Joan Korte. Tom Woldt, Indianola, former Professor and Chair of Theatre at Simpson College, directs. Kate Kanne, Pella, IA, Designer and Theatre Professor at Central College (IA) designs.
For more general information or to get involved, please visit www.TheatreMidwest.org or visit them on Facebook.
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ABOUT THEATREMIDWEST
MISSION:
Professionals creating works of relevance to the people of the Midwest, with particular attention to the voices of women and other under-represented groups.
TheatreMidwest strives to:
- Produce theatrical events of the highest quality.
- Connect with MidWestern communities with pertinent stories and storytelling.
- Lift up the voices, thoughts, artistry, and dreams of women and other under-represented groups that speak to the MidWestern experience.
- Reduce barriers that prevent or discourage people from attending live performances.
- Sustain a strong cultural presence in our communities.
TheatreMidwest is a 501c3 nonprofit arts organization, founded in 2018. Its mission is to create works of relevance to the people of the Midwest, with particular attention to the voices of women and other under-represented groups.
ABOUT RADICAL HOSPITALITY
Founded on the belief that live theatre should be a whole lot more accessible to a whole lot more people. TheatreMidwest uses “Radical Hospitality” as a guiding principle to reduce barriers that keep the public from seeing live theatre in the following ways:
- Creating free and reduced price ticket opportunities
- Curating plays relevant to Midwestern audiences and ensuring women and under-represented artists have prominent roles and artistic and leadership positions
- Actively reaching out to communities who do not regularly attend performances and inviting them to the theatre
- Bringing theatre to underserved communities.
