Julianna Drajko

Chekhov's THE SEAGULL is a classic of the theater, but I had never seen it. That's not exactly true, it was actually the first play I ever saw at the Guthrie, but being almost 25 years ago, I have no recollection of it. So it was as if I'd never seen it when I sat down to yesterday's matinee production of THE SEAGULL by Theatre Novi Most, a company that specializes in Eastern European theater, as part of the Southern Theater's ARTShare program. It took me a few minutes to get into this story of many inter-related characters with strange sounding names, but by intermission I was completely under its spell. This is one of those shows that is so completely captivating that it's hard to shake when you leave the theater. Funny, tragic, odd, and completely enchanting.

Theatre Novi Most presents the iconic Russian classic by Anton Chekhov about love, art and the power and meaning of symbols, The Seagull. Staged by Russian director and Novi Most co-artistic director, Vladimir Rovinsky, this production disengages the play from the cliche?s of samovars, corsets, and the 'mysterious Russian soul' and instead addresses our contemporary world of disconnection and the desperate longing for love that is our seething, vibrating underbelly. In this existential and darkly humorous mediation on the stakes of living life and making art, Theatre Novi Most reminds us that Chekhov is supremely one of us.

As the basis for the Academy Award-nominated film, Babe The Sheep-Pig paid homage to a gallant piglet won by James Cromwell's character "Farmer Hogget."

As the basis for the Academy Award-nominated film, Babe The Sheep-Pig paid homage to a gallant piglet won by James Cromwell's character "Farmer Hogget."

With his surprising ability to wrangle fellow barnyard animals with determination and unsurpassed politeness, Babe-an unlikely and celebrated hero-makes his stage debut at Children's Theatre Company, beginning Jan. 21.

As the basis for the Academy Award-nominated film, Babe The Sheep-Pig paid homage to a gallant piglet won by James Cromwell's character "Farmer Hogget."

As the basis for the Academy Award-nominated film, Babe The Sheep-Pig paid homage to a gallant piglet won by James Cromwell's character "Farmer Hogget."

Combining rigorous physical theater, live music and striking stage images, The Oldest Story in the World examines the enduring human question: How do we live knowing that we must die?

Combining rigorous physical theater, live music and striking stage images, The Oldest Story in the World examines the enduring human question: How do we live knowing that we must die?

Combining rigorous physical theater, live music and striking stage images, The Oldest Story in the World examines the enduring human question: How do we live knowing that we must die?