Be Here Now: Chekhov’s ‘The Seagull’ @ Main Street Stage, 5/5-22/11 (Berkshire On Stage)

The final (for now) production slated for the current Main Street Stage space is a classic work with a modern, local twist: Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull. It is based on the adaptation by Paul Schmidt and will be set in the present day Berkshires.

One also hopes it will not be the final act of Main Street Stage which has been forced to vacate its space in downtown North Adams due to the shop next door expanding. A search for a new space is underway.

There will be ten performances, and they will run the first three weekends of May at 57 Main Street in North Adams. Tickets are $15 and $10 for students and seniors. Preview tickets are only $10. They can be ordered online at mainstreetstage.org. Previews Thursday and Friday May 5 and 6 at 8pm, with Opening Night Saturday May 7 at 8pm and then Performances Continue: Thursday and Friday May 12 & 13 at 8pm, Sunday May 15 at 7pm, Thursday, Friday, Saturday May 19, 20 & 21 at 8pm and closing Sunday May 22 at 3pm. There is a community “Pay What You Can” performance on May 12.

Under the direction of long-time Main Street Stage member and Director of Barrington Stage’s Playwright Mentoring Project, Frank LaFrazia, a cast of area actors will adapt the setting from the Russian summer getaway to the ever-so-familiar Berkshires summer art scene, bringing immediacy and accessibility to The Seagull. Set designer Juliana Haubrich, and costume designer Vanessa Phelon from On The Verge will be joined by half of Barrington Stage’s”power couple” Jeff Roudabush as the lighting designer and Michael Trainor as the sound designer. The assistant director is Barrington Stage’s wunderkind David Sernick who is also creating video for some multi-media effects.

Click here to read the rest of this story at Berkshire On Stage.