A new 'Three Sisters' opens theater season

Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning playwright Tracy Letts’s newly adapted “Three Sisters” by Anton Chekhov makes its East Coast premiere at the Brandeis Theater Company Sept. 30-Oct. 10.  The world premiere was commissioned by Artists Repertory Theatre in Portland, Oregon; the Brandeis Theater Company production, under the direction of Adrianne Krstansky, is only the second production of the play.

Arguably America’s most honored contemporary playwright, Tracy Letts is an Artistic Associate at Steppenwolf Theater where he has acted, directed and written plays for the company.  His most recognized play, “August: Osage County” was recognized with the Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2008.  His other plays include “Superior Donuts,” “The Man from Nebraska,” “Killer Joe,” and “Bug.”  “Three Sisters” marks his first adaptation of a play.

“Chekhov is not about story and not about plot,” Letts said, “He takes panoramic vision of human experience and keeps moving the focus around.”  “Three Sisters” takes an uncompromising look at longing, love and loss as Olga, Masha and Irina opine for happier days in their native Moscow where, they believe, they might be happy.

“I was drawn to Tracy Letts’s adaptation of ‘Three Sisters’ because he is not afraid to examine the trap and futility of hope, the freedom found in acceptance and ability to live in a moment with love,” says director Ardrianne Krstansky. “Suffering is a part of life and we survive it through love.”

This production features performances by Craig Mathers as Chebuytkin and Janet Morrison as Anfisa, along with an ensemble of graduate and undergraduate students at Brandeis University.  Designs for the play are by graduate students Natalie Laney (scenic), Lisa Polito (costumes), Jake Bray (lights) with sound by Brandeis faculty member David Wilson.

Adrianne Krstansky is an Assistant Professor of Theater Arts and an accomplished actor and director.  Most recently, she was seen as Emelia in Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s production of “Othello.” Other performances include “Paradise Lost” and “Britannicus” at the American Repertory Theatre and Lisa Kron’s “2.5 Minute Ride” at New Repertory Theater.  She is about to appear in “Body Awareness” at Speakeasy Stage, part of the three-theater festival of the Shirley, VT, plays by Annie Baker.

Performances are at the Spingold Theater Center. Tickets range in price from $18-$20, with student discounts available. To purchase tickets, contact Brandeis Tickets at go.brandeis.edu/tickets or call 781/736-3400.