SEAGULL, with Kristin Scott Thomas and Peter Sarsgaard, to Play the Kerr

I love Krisitn Scott Thomas.
I love Chekhov's THE SEAGULL.
What a combination!

Last week, I auditioned for this production. They need(ed) understudies for all the roles. One lucky gal will understudy both the roles of Nina and Masha. I didn't receive a call about it, and it really stinks that I have to let this one go, but I must persevere on---> =)

Nonetheless, I would LOVE to see this production.
(I would Love MORE to be in it, to be part of it;)

By Andrew Gans
30 Jun 2008

Ian Rickson's acclaimed production of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull, which played a January-March 2007 run at London's Royal Court, will begin previews Sept. 16 at the Walter Kerr Theatre.

The production, which features a new translation by playwright Christopher Hampton (Les Liaisons Dangereuses, The Philanthropist), was the final play to be directed by Rickson as the Court's artistic director. Opening on Broadway will be Oct. 1. The production will play a limited run of 14 weeks through Dec. 21.

(The Kerr is the current home of A Catered Affair, which will end its run July 27.)

Kristin Scott Thomas will reprise her Olivier Award-winning performance as Arkadina for New York audiences. She will be joined onstage by Peter Sarsgaard, who will also be making his Broadway debut, as Trigorin. The cast will also feature members of the original Royal Court Theatre cast, including Mackenzie Crook as Konstantin, Art Malik as Dorn, Carey Mulligan as Nina, Pearce Quigley as Medvedenko, Peter Wight as Sorin, Christopher Patrick Nolan as Yakov and Mary Rose as the Maid. The production will also feature Zoe Kazan as Masha, with other casting to be announced at a later date.

Chekhov wrote The Seagull in 1985. The classic play, according to press notes, concerns "the romantic entanglements and regrets of a group of actors, writers and artists gathered on a Russian estate."

The production will feature designs by Hildegard Bechtler, lighting by Peter Mumford, sound by Ian Dickinson and music by Stephen Warbeck.

Kristin Scott Thomas won the 2007 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performance as Arkadina in The Seagull. She received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in "The English Patient" and has also been seen in "Four Weddings and a Funeral," "Gosford Park," "Random Hearts," "Life as a House," "The Horse Whisperer," "Angels and Insects," "The Other Boleyn Girl" and "The Walker" as well as the upcoming ""Easy Virtue," "Confessions of a Shopaholic" and "I've Loved You So Long."

Peter Sarsgaard made his screen debut in "Dead Man Walking" and has since appeared in "Kinsey," "Shattered Glass" (National Society of Film Critics Award), "Garden State," "Boys Don't Cry," "Rendition," "The Dying Gaul," "Jarhead," "The Skeleton Key," "Flightplan," "Year of the Dog" and the upcoming "In the Electric Mist," "Orphan," "Elegy," "An Education" and "The Mysteries of Pittsburgh." He trained at the Actor's Studio and appeared Off-Broadway in Signature Theatre's production of Burn This and Laura Dennis and Drama Dept.'s Kingdom of Earth.

The Seagull will be produced on Broadway by Sonia Friedman Productions, Bob Boyett, Robert G. Bartner, Dede Harris, Eric Falkenstein, Fox Theatricals, Dena Hammerstein, Sharon Karmazin, Olympus Theatricals, Spring Sirkin, Tara Smith, Mort Swinsky, Karl Sydow, The Weinstein Company and Jay & Cindy Gutterman.

Show times will be Tuesdays-Saturdays at 8 PM with matinees Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2 PM and Sundays at 3 PM. There will be an extra performance Sunday, Oct. 5 at 8 PM.

Ticket information will be announced shortly.

The Walter Kerr Theatre is located in Manhattan at 219 West 48th Street.

from: playbill.com
photo of Kristin Scott Thomas as Arkadina in the London production of THE SEAGULL by Johan Persson

"The English Patient"

I cannot help but weep BUCKETS whenever I pop this film into the DVD player. I turn into Niagara Falls. If I made just one film like this and then died after shooting it, I would die happy. Anthony Minghella is a marvelous story-teller, so sensitive and full of passion. The cast is sublime: Ralph Fiennes, Kristin Scott Thomas, Juliette Binoche, Naveen Andrews, Colin Firth, Willem Dafoe...

This is one of those rare films that touches my heart in a way that if I tried to describe it, I would certainly bastardize that feeling. I won't even attempt. It's the same kind of feeling that I experienced with Babette's Feast, The Cranes are Flying, Hiroshima Mon Amour, Les Choses de la Vie, A Woman Under the Influence, Rabbit-Proof Fence, La Vita è Bella, Le Notti di Cabiria, Schindler's List, Sophie's Choice... *le sigh* The depth of emotion, of imagery, of words, of music... I would have done Anything to get into that film.

Ralph Fiennes is beautiful, period. Kristin Scott Thomas and Juliette Binoche can Never do wrong (in my humble eyes). It's really an example of how the stars were truly aligned when this film was made. Perfection. Or, since perfection cannot be attained, Near-perfection.

The intensity of this scene makes it feel like you shouldn't be watching it. Almásy's gaze at Katherine is focused and direct. Katherine cannot do anything but look away. It seems that he will ravage her but in which way? Sexually or murderously? And the scene that follows with the sleeping Hana, her arm on Almásy's mid-section. It's tenderly comedic.

"...for the heart is an organ of fire..." *le whew*

I remember getting the soundtrack to the film while I was at school. I had rehearsal that day and brought it in to play as a personal warm-up. The theatre was empty except for me and my good friend (who is also in love with the film). We re-enacted this scene on our dorky stage pieces. It still brings a smile to my face. Mm. I love him.

I especially detest this scene but then what comes AFTER it. I'm already so emotionally invested in the story, in the people, I can't help but be upset beyond belief for Almásy at this point and I understand his ultimate "betrayal."

The novel by Michael Ondaatje is superb. So lyrical. Reading his book is like watching Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance. I Love people who know how to tell a story. Story-tellers of any kind, be it through dance, writing, speaking, painting, acting, music...

It is an incredibly moving piece of art. Both the film and novel.