- AnnetteBening
- SaoirseRonan
- CoreyStoll
- ElisabethMoss
- MareWinningham
- JonTenney
- GlennFleshler
- MichaelZegen
- BillyHowle
- andBrianDennehy
Synopsis
One summer at a lakeside Russian estate, friends and family gather for a weekend in the countryside. While everyone is caught up in passionately loving someone who loves somebody else, a tragicomedy unfolds about art, fame, human folly, and the eternal desire to live a purposeful life.
The estate is owned by Sorin (Brian Dennehy), a retired government employee, and his sister Irina (Annette Bening), a legendary actress of the Moscow stage. Irina is imperious, narcissistic and selfish, and anxious about holding on to her star status and the affections of her younger lover, Boris Trigorin (Corey Stoll), a successful writer of short stories. Irina constantly belittles her aspiring writer son Konstantin (Billy Howle), perhaps because his existence as a grown man reminds her that age is catching up with her. While he adores his mother despite her cruelty, Konstantin acts out his insecurity and anger by rejecting both her style of theatre and Boris's writing, declaring them old-fashioned and banal. A dreamer, Konstantin declares he will create bold and superior new forms of theatre and literature.
Konstantin, who grew up on the estate, is head over heels in love with Nina (Saoirse Ronan), a beautiful and naïve local girl who dreams of being an actress. Nina is flattered when Konstantin gives her the starring role in his newly written play, but soon after encountering Boris, she rejects Konstantin, and pursues the handsome and famous writer instead.
Masha (Elisabeth Moss), the forlorn, black-clad, self-medicating daughter of Sorin's estate manager Shamrayev (Glenn Fleshler) and his wife Polina (Mare Winningham), suffers an unrequited love for Konstantin, who insensitively spurns her. She scorns the insipid schoolteacher Medvedenko (Michael Zegen), who refuses to be discouraged by her rejection and accepts any crumbs of attention she drops him. Polina aches for the charismatic country doctor Dorn (Jon Tenney), who, pays her some attention, but still relishes the connection with Irina with whom he had an affair years ago. The elderly Sorin, long past any hope of romance, lives in a languid state of regret over roads not taken.
Adapted by Tony-winning playwright Stephen Karam ("The Humans") from Anton Chekhov's classic play and directed by Tony-winner Michael Mayer ("Spring Awakening"), THE SEAGULL explores, with comedy and melancholy, the obsessive nature of love, the tangled relationships between parents and children, and the transcendent value and psychic toll of art.
Cast
- IrinaAnnette Bening
- NinaSaoirse Ronan
- BorisCorey Stoll
- KonstantinBilly Howle
- MashaElisabeth Moss
- PolinaMare Winningham
- SorinBrian Dennehy
- Doctor DornJon Tenney
- ShamrayevGlenn Fleshler
- MedvedenkoMichael Zegen
- YakovBen Thompson
- Irina's DresserAngela Pietropinto
- OlgaBarbara Tirrell
- NataliaElsie Brechbiel
- EugeniePippa Pearthree
- IvanThomas Hettrick
- SashaPaul Krisikos
- SonyaRamona Wright
- Russian PeasantsJim HoganDan Tracy
Filmmakers
- DirectorMichael Mayer
- ScreenplayStephen Karam
- Based on the Play byAnton Chekhov
- Produced byTom Hulce
Leslie Urdang - Produced byRobert SalernoJay FrankeDavid Herro
- Executive ProducersIra PittelmanRon SimonsKelly E. AshtonMiranda De PencierMatthew MastenMargaret SkoglundStefan SonnenfeldBingo GubelmannBenji KohnNoah MillmanGalt Niederhoffer
- Associate ProducersMandy BecknerChristopher MaringAnthony Brandonisio
- Director of PhotographyMatthew J. Lloyd, CSC
- Production DesignerJane Musky
- EditorAnnette Davey, ACE
- Costume DesignerAnn Roth
- MusicNico Muhly
Anton Sanko - CastingJim Carnahan
Gallery
ANNETTE BENING (Irina) is a four-time Academy Award nominee, two-time Golden Globe®, and Screen Actors Guild Award winner. She was last seen in 20TH CENTURY WOMEN, directed by Mike Mills, for which she received her eighth Golden Globe® nomination, as well as Warren Beatty's RULES DON'T APPLY. Bening can currently be seen in Paul McGuigan's FILM STARS DON'T DIE IN LIVERPOOL with Jamie Bell, for which she was nominated for the BAFTA for Best Actress. Her upcoming films include Dan Fogelman's drama LIFE, ITSELF with Olivia Wilde, Oscar Isaac, Samuel L. Jackson, and Antonio Banderas, and Christoph Waltz's directorial debut GEORGETOWN, opposite Waltz and Vanessa Redgrave.
Bening's other film credits include DANNY COLLINS, THE SEARCH, THE FACE OF LOVE, RUBY SPARKS, GIRL MOST LIKELY, GINGER & ROSA, THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT, MOTHER AND CHILD, BEING JULIA, AMERICAN BEAUTY, IN DREAMS, THE SIEGE, THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT, MARS ATTACKS!, RICHARD III, LOVE AFFAIR, BUGSY, REGARDING HENRY, THE GRIFTERS, GUILTY BY SUSPICION, VALMONT, POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE, and THE GREAT OUTDOORS.
She was last seen on stage in the Public Theater's 2014 Shakespeare in the Park production of "King Lear." Her other theater credits include "Ruth Draper Monologues" at Geffen Playhouse, Anton Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard" at Mark Taper Forum, Alan Bennett's "Talking Heads" at Tiffany Theater, Henrik Ibsen's "Hedda Gabler" at Geffen Playhouse, and "Medea" at UCLA.
Bening received a Tony Award nomination and won the Clarence Derwent Award for Outstanding Debut Performance of the Season for her performance as "Holly Dancer" in Tina Howe's "Coastal Disturbances."
Bening graduated from San Francisco State University and trained at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco until she joined the acting company.
Two-time Oscar® nominee SAOIRSE RONAN (Nina) broke into Hollywood at age 13 with her critically-acclaimed performance as "Briony Tallis" in ATONEMENT, opposite Keira Knightley and James McAvoy. The role garnered her a Golden Globe®, and nominations for a BAFTA and an Academy Award®. In 2015, Ronan starred as "Eilis" in BROOKLYN, directed by John Crowley, with a screenplay by Nick Hornby. Her portrayal of a young Irish woman in the 1950s, forced to choose between two men and two countries, earned her Oscar®, Golden Globe®, and BAFTA nominations for Actress in a Lead Role. The film was also nominated for the Oscar® for Best Motion Picture of the Year.
Ronan can currently be seen in LADY BIRD, directed by Greta Gerwig, about the adventures of a young woman living in Northern California for a year. The role earned her a Golden Globe® as well as Oscar®, BAFTA, Critics' Choice, and Independent Spirit Award nominations for Actress in a Leading Role. Also released this year was LOVING VINCENT, an illustrated feature film about the life and death of Vincent Van Gogh. The film was nominated for the Golden Globe® for Best Animated Motion Picture.
She recently wrapped production on MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. Ronan plays the title character and the film follows her life after being condemned to years in prison after attempting to overthrow her cousin Queen Elizabeth I. She also recently wrapped production on ON CHESIL BEACH, a drama set in the early 1960s centered around a young couple on their honeymoon, directed by Dominic Cooke with screenplay and novel by Ian McEwan.
In 2016, Ronan made her Broadway debut in Ivo van Hove's revival of Arthur Miller's "The Crucible," alongside Ben Whishaw, Sophie Okonedo, and Ciaran Hinds. In 2014, Ronan was seen in Wes Anderson's THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL, which also starred Ralph Fiennes, Adrien Brody, Jude Law, Bill Murray and Edward Norton.
Her other credits include: Joe Wright's HANNA; Peter Jackson's THE LOVELY BONES (BAFTA nomination for Leading Actress); Peter Weir's THE WAY BACK; Ryan Gosling's LOST RIVER (2014 Cannes Film Festival); THE HOST; JUSTIN AND THE KNIGHTS OF VALOUR (voice); HOW I LIVE NOW; BYZANTIUM; VIOLET & DAISY; CITY OF EMBER; Amy Heckerling's I COULD NEVER BE YOUR WOMAN; THE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE OF JONATHAN TOOMEY; Gillian Armstrong's DEATH DEFYING ACTS; and STOCKHOLM, PENNSYLVANIA.
ELISABETH MOSS (Masha) currently stars in the Emmy-winning Hulu drama series "The Handmaid's Tale," based on the acclaimed Margaret Atwood novel of the same name. Her performance as "Offred/June" earned her Emmy and Critic's Choice Awards for Best Actress in a Drama Series, as well as Best Actress nominations from the Golden Globes® and SAG Awards.
On the big screen, she can be seen starring in THE SQUARE, from Danish director Ruben Ostlund, which won the Palme d'Or at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for a Golden Globe® Award for Best Foreign Film. Her upcoming films include MAD TO BE NORMAL, a biopic starring David Tennant as acclaimed Scottish psychiatrist, R.D. Laing, and an appearance in THE OLD MAN AND THE GUN with Robert Redford and Casey Affleck. She is next set to star in CALL JANE, directed by Simon Curtis, a true story set in 1960s Chicago about an underground network of suburban women who secretly provided safe abortions before the landmark decision Roe v. Wade.
Moss's additional film credits include: the short film TOKYO PROJECT, directed by Richard Shepard and starring opposite Ebon Moss-Bachrach; CHUCK with Liev Scrheiber; THE FREE WORLD, a drama from director Jason Lew also starring Boyd Holbrook; HIGH-RISE, a film directed by Ben Wheatley also starring Tom Hiddleston, Sienna Miller and Jeremy Irons; TRUTH, with Cate Blanchett and Robert Redford; QUEEN OF EARTH, written and directed by Alex Ross Perry; MEADOWLAND, directed by Reed Morano and starring Olivia Wilde; THE ONE I LOVE, in which she starred with Mark Duplass; LISTEN UP PHILIP, directed by Alex Ross Perry and starring Jason Schwartzman; Walter Salles's adaptation of the classic Jack Kerouac novel ON THE ROAD; GET HIM TO THE GREEK; THE MISSING; GIRL, INTERRUPTED; MUMFORD; A THOUSAND ACRES; and VIRGIN, for which she was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Actress.
On television, Moss recently starred in "Top of the Lake: China Girl," the second installment of the award-winning limited series, for which she reunited with Jane Campion and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award. She is set to star in and executive produce "Fever," a limited series based on the Mary Beth Keane novel which tells the story of the first known healthy carrier of typhoid fever who became known as "Typhoid Mary" as she spread typhoid across the burgeoning metropolis of early twentieth century New York.
Moss starred on Broadway in "The Heidi Chronicles," a Broadway revival of Wendy Wasserstein's Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning play, for which Moss's performance as the title character earned her Tony nomination, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations. Moss's additional theater credits include "The Children's Hour" in London's West End opposite Keira Knightley, the Broadway revival of David Mamet's "Speed the Plow," opposite William H Macy, and her New York theater debut at the Atlantic Theater Company in "Franny's Way."
Best known for his Golden Globe nominated portrayal of "Congressman Peter Russo" in the Netflix series "House of Cards," COREY STOLL (Tregorin) has made a priority of seeking out varied roles in film, television and theater.
This summer, he reprised the lead role in the fourth and final season of FX series "The Strain," based on the books by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan. He also played "Brutus" in a provocative production of "Julius Caesar" in New York's Shakespeare in the Park. And he returned to "Girls" in its final season reprising the role of Elijah's love interest, "Dill Harcourt."
Stoll's other notable roles include playing Ernest Hemingway in Woody Allen's MIDNIGHT IN PARIS (for which he received an Independent Spirit Award nomination) and the super-villain "Yellow Jacket" in Marvel's ANT-MAN.
Stoll has also been seen in Woody Allen's CAFE SOCIETY, GOLD, BLACK MASS, THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU, and in Showtime's "Homeland." After graduating from NYU/Tisch with an M.F.A. in 2003, Stoll landed his first professional acting job in Lynn Nottage's "Intimate Apparel" (Drama Desk Award nomination in N.Y. and Drama Critics Circle Award in Los Angeles) His other memorable theater outings include appearances opposite Rachel Weisz in last season's New York revival of "Plenty" and opposite Liev Schreiber in Gregory Mosher's Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's "A View from the Bridge."
Next year, Stoll will be seen as astronaut Buzz Aldrin, opposite Ryan Gosling in Damian Chazelle's FIRST MAN. He will also star in the John Delorean film DRIVEN, opposite Jason Sudeikis, and will play the lead role in an episode of Matthew Weiner's highly anticipated Amazon series "The Romanoffs."
Stoll lives in Brooklyn with his wife and son.
BILLY HOWLE (Konstantin) will soon be seen in the upcoming films ON CHESIL BEACH with Saoirse Ronan, and OUTLAW KING. His other screen credits include THE SENSE OF AN ENDING and DUNKIRK.
Howle graduated from the prestigious Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and made his US stage debut in Richard Eyre's production of "Ghosts" at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, opposite Lesley Manville. His other theatre credits include Richard Eyre's production of "Long Day's Journey Into Night," opposite Manville and Jeremy Irons at the Bristol Old Vic, and "Life of Galileo: at the Young Vic.
His television credits include "The Witness for the Prosecution," "Cider with Rosie" "Glue," "Vera," and "New Worlds."
MARE WINNINGHAM (Polina) has received two Emmy Awards and eight nominations for television films and mini-series including "Mildred Pierce" and "Hatfields and McCoys." Her recent TV credits include four seasons of "American Horror Story" and Showtime's "The Affair."
Winningham's theatre credits include: "Casa Valentina" (Outer Critics Circle Award, Tony Award nomination); "Rancho Viejo"; David Byrne's "Joan: Into The Fire" at The Public Theatre; "Her Requiem"; "Picnic"; "Tribes" (Lucille Lortel nomination); "After the Revolution"; "10 Million Miles" (Lucille Lortel Award; Drama League, Drama Desk nominations).
Her film credits include: GEORGIA (Academy Award® nomination, SAG nomination and Independent Spirit Award), PHILOMENA, MIRACLE MILE, and ST. ELMO'S FIRE.
JON TENNEY (Dr. Dorn) will next be seen in the upcoming Mathew Weiner series "The Romanoffs" for Amazon as well as HBO's highly anticipated third season of "True Detective". He appeared for seven seasons on the critically acclaimed TNT drama "The Closer," as FBI Agent "Fritz Howard," opposite Kyra Sedgwick. The series received four SAG Award nominations for best ensemble cast. Reprising his role in the show's spin-off, "Major Crimes", Tenney also directed multiple episodes. Other recent television credits include playing "Vice President Andrew Nichols" on ABC's hit show "Scandal".
His film credits include: YOU CAN COUNT ON ME, TOMBSTONE, FOOLS RUSH IN, RABBIT HOLE, THE STEPFATHER, LOOKING FOR COMEDY IN THE MUSLIM WORLD, LEGION, WATCH IT, LASSIE, MUSIC FROM ANOTHER ROOM, WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE, ENTROPY, LOVELIFE, GREEN LANTERN, THE PHANTOM, BEVERLY HILLS COP III, and NIXON.
Other television series credits include: "Equal Justice," "Brooklyn South," "Get Real," "King & Maxwell," "Good Company," "Crime & Punishment," "Dirty Dozen: The Series," and "Kristin." He has made guest appearances on shows as diverse as "Murphy Brown," "Will & Grace," "CSI," "Without a Trace," "The Division," "Hand of God," "Longmire," "The Newsroom," as well as starring in the television movies "Story of a Girl" and Showtime's "Homecoming" and "The Twilight of the Golds."
Tenney's theatre credits include: "The Heiress" (Tony Award for Best Revival), "The Substance of Fire" (original cast NY & LA), "Good People" (LA Premiere), "The Real Thing" (Dir. Mike Nichols), "Speed-the-Plow" (as "Bobby Gould"), "Tuesdays with Morrie" (originating the role of "Mitch Albom"), "Romeo and Juliet" (as "Romeo"), "Up in Saratoga," "Beggars In The House Of Plenty," "Impossible Marriage" (opposite Holly Hunter), "Brighton Beach Memoirs," "Biloxi Blues" and "Sweet Sue" (opposite Mary Tyler Moore and Lynne Redgrave). After graduating from Vassar College, Tenney trained at the Juilliard School in New York City.
MICHAEL ZEGEN (Medvedenko) currently stars opposite Rachel Brosnahan in Amazon's Golden Globe® winning series "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," created by Amy Sherman- Palladino.
He will soon be seen in Sebastian Silva's ensemble indie feature TYREL ,in which he appears alongside Michael Cera, Jason Mitchell and Caleb Landry Jones, as well as the musical film BECKS with Lena Hall. His other film credits include Noah Baumbach's FRANCES HA, John Crowleys Oscar®-nominated film BROOKLYN, Greg Mottola's ADVENTURELAND, and Ang Lee's TAKING WOODSTOCK.
On TV, he is most notably remembered as "Benny Siegel" on HBO's "Boardwalk Empire," for which he shared a 2015 SAG Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. His additional television credits include "The Walking Dead," "Girls," "How To Make It In America," "Happyish" and all seven seasons of "Rescue Me."
On stage, Zegen starred as "Marco" in the Broadway production of Ivo van Hove's Tony-award winning "A View From The Bridge." His previous theater credits include originating the role of "Ted" in The New Group's production of "The Spoils," written by and co-starring Jesse Eisenberg, and the role of "Liam" in Joshua Harmon's hit play "Bad Jews" at the Roundabout Theater.
In recent years, GLENN FLESHLER (Shamrayev) was recently seen in HBO's "The Night Of" as "Judge Roth" and for the last two seasons of Showtime's "Billions" as attorney "Orrin Bach." He was recently seen in George Clooney's film SUBURBICON and THE RENDEZVOUS. Previously, he stunned audiences of the first season of "True Detective," with his portrayal of the terrifying "Yellow King." Fans of "Boardwalk Empire" remember him as bootlegger "George Remus," who liked to refer to himself in the third person, as "Remus."
Fleshler recently completed season one of Bill Hader's HBO comedy "Barry." He will also appear in IRREPLACEABLE YOU, RONALD, and the limited series "Waco."
In film, Fleshler has worked with many of the world's leading directors, including Barry Levinson, Woody Allen, Kenneth Lonergan, Tom McCarthy, JC Chandor, and Andrew Jarecki. In the theater, he has worked with such acclaimed directors and playwrights as Mike Nichols, Tony Kushner, Edward Albee, Tom Stoppard, and David Hare.
Fleshler earned an MFA from the NYU Graduate Acting program.
Tony Award winner MICHAEL MAYER (Director) made his feature film directorial debut in 2004 with A HOME AT THE END OF THE WORLD, starring Colin Farrell and Robin Wright. It was awarded a "Special Recognition for Excellence in Filmmaking" by the National Board of Review and was nominated for "Outstanding Film in Wide Release" by the GLAAD Media Awards.
In 2006, Mayer went on to make the family film, FLICKA. He served as an executive producer on 27 DRESSES, and directed the acclaimed pilot and several episodes of NBC's "Smash," for which he was also a consulting producer in Season One. Mayer directed two-seasons of Amazon's "Alpha House," and was featured in the documentary, BROADWAY IDIOT.
Mayer is well known for his theatrical directing around the world. His most recent works include: Michael Moore's "The Terms of My Surrender" on Broadway, a record-breaking revival of "Funny Girl" in the West End and UK tour, a new Japanese language production of "As You Like It" at the Toho Theatre in Tokyo, and Mike Bartlett's "Love Love Love," at the Roundabout. He received the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for his production of "Spring Awakening," which also played in London, Vienna, Tokyo, and Seoul. His other Broadway credits include: "Hedwig And the Angry Inch" (Tony Award for "Best Musical Revival"), "American Idiot" (Drama Desk Award for Direction), "Side Man" (Tony Award for Best Play), "Thoroughly Modern Millie" (Tony Award for Best Musical), "A View from the Bridge" (Tony Award for Best Revival), "On A Clear Day You Can See Forever," "Everyday Rapture," "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," and "Triumph of Love." He also directed the national tours of "Angels in America," "Thoroughly Modern Millie," "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," "Spring Awakening," "American Idiot," and "Hedwig and The Angry Inch."
Mayer made his Metropolitan Opera debut with a celebrated new production of "Rigoletto" and directed the world premiere of Nico Muhly's "Marnie" at the English National Opera. He serves on the board of New York Stage and Film.