The Cherry Orchard
In the Spring of 2012, a group of collaborators, students, and alumni from New York University and Tisch School of the Arts will mount Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard. It is a bold, visceral, and stunning production which uncannily captures the financial and nostalgic issues which ail today's society. In order to fully present this play, the company has launched a proactive campaign to raise funds.
The Play
While a comedy, the play is also about disintegration. For some characters in the play, this disintegration is the "end of the world," a state of incapacitating financial and personal crisis, while for others it is an opportunity for growth and rebirth. This is a world in which, by neglecting to make a choice about their fate, these characters sacrifice the opportunity to ever choose again.
While the issues of this play are overwhelmingly grave and relevant today, we will treat it as Chekhov intended: a comedy in four acts. The absurdity of these characters and their melodramatic sensibilities will shine as their world disappears. As a new company looking to tell the story in its truest form, we are not tied to any one theatrical style. The tone of this piece will have a drastic, ever-changing range: a slapstick comedy, a sincere emotional family drama, and an epic tragedy. The audience will realize that this play is about having hope when there is none.
The Company
While this particular production of The Cherry Orchard is completely new, these characters are not unfamiliar to many cast members, having been in a different production some two years ago. In August 2011 a small group of these actors, fascinated with the play since the first time around and eager to do it again, began talks to mount a completely new and bold production, looking to reprise their roles and reveal to audiences how relevant and disarmingly fresh this play truly is. Just as some cast members are reprising their roles, some are visiting this piece for the first time, and bring with them incredible brilliance and dexterity to these complex and challenging characters.
Our Donors
Your donations will be used for production purposes only; those being set, costumes, lights, sound, and marketing materials. Please see all the perks involved; we are excited to give back to those who are so generous in helping making this production happen.
We hope you will join us in helping to mount The Cherry Orchard, and we look forward to seeing you in February.
THE CHERRY ORCHARD
by Anton Chekhov
at THE THEATRE AT THE 14TH ST Y
February 17th, 21st and 23rd at 8PM
February 18th and 25th at 2PM
Directed by Kelly Colburn
with (in alphabetical order)
Alyssa Block (Lopakhin), Trevor Buteau (Yasha), Chris Dieman (Gaev), Diana Egizi (Varya), Jon Fusco (Trofimov), Annalie Gernert (Charlotta), Lauren LaRocca (Anya), Julia Sherman (Liubov), Jason Silverman (Yepikhodov), Daniel Patrick Smith (Firs), Kelsey Torstveit (Dunyasha), and William Vaughn (Pishchik).
