Chekhov's "Three Sisters" Opens Purchase Repertory Theatre Season

Purchase Repertory Theatre launches its new season with Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters directed by A. Dean Irby from October 15-23.

Considered one of the greatest plays of the modern era, Three Sisters will be presented in the Performing Arts Center by members of the Senior Acting Company from the Conservatory of Theatre Arts in Purchase College's School of the Arts. Tickets $20.  Box Office 914-251-6200 or www.artscenter.org. 

Chekhov's drama traces the lives of the Prozorov family as they marry the wrong people, fall in love at the wrong time, and try to discern the meaning of existence.

Director A. Dean Irby, a member of the Purchase faculty, says that "Chekhov considered his plays to be comedies on life and this production aims to pull out and explore the playwright's comedic sensibilities as they relate to the characters sense of loss at a way of life, loss of family, and loss of cultural identity."  The production is staged in the classical style in which it was written at the turn of the twentieth century.  

A. Dean Irby, a director for the past 20 years, has acted and directed on Broadway and Off Broadway, for the New York Shakespeare Festival, Negro Ensemble Company, Crossroads Theatre, and for many regional and university theatres.  He is the recipient of two Audelco Awards for directing.  Irby is also the former acting coach for The Cosby Show and has appeared in more than 30 television commercials.

Professor Jim McElwaine, of the Conservatory of Music, a Greenwich, CT resident, composed a musical score and served as musical director of the production. He composed incidental music including several dances for the revelry scenes, a waltz for an intimate duet, a Russian lullaby and several solo violin transitional pieces.  In addition, the director Dean Irby cast a few actors who perform different instruments.  A freshman violinist from the Music Conservatory was also cast in a supporting role. "That," said Jim McElwaine "gave me the rare and exquisite challenge to write for onstage instrumentalists."

The Purchase Repertory Theatre is comprised of students from the School of the Arts Conservatory of Theatre Arts who perform bold and exciting interpretations of classical and contemporary plays while bringing to the stage the next generation of actors, designers, and technicians. Stage design, lighting, costumes and technical support are all provided by students in the Conservatory" Design/Technology Program.

Cast List:

Olga,             Christine Osuala, Richmond, TX ; Cassie Post, Poulsbo, WA

Irina,              Eunice Hong, La Cressenta, CA; Emily Fleischer, Valencia, CA

Masha,          Aeriel Uppaluri, New York, NY

Tuzenbach,   Christopher Perfetti, Webster, NY

Chebutykin,  Frank Winters, Pleasantville, NY

Solyony,        Aaron McDaniel, San Antonio, TX

Ferapont,      Steven Laing, Benzonia, MI

Anfisa,          Joanna Hartshorne, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY

Vershinin,     Micah Stock, Dayton, OH

Andrei,          Sean Willkens, Summit, NJ

Kulygin,        Devin Doyle, Wood Ide, NY

Natasha,       Sofia Lauwers, Santa Barbara, CA

Fedotik,        Stevern Laing, Benzonia, MI

Rodez,          Julien Melendez, Flushing, NY

Maid,             Meghan St. Thomas, Gloversville, NY

Production Crew:

Production Stage Manager, Carly Anechiarico

Stage Manager, Sarah Testerman

Assistant Stage Manager, Jill Nacnodovitz

Scenic Designer, Miranda Casler

Asst. Scenic Designer, Jacqueline Leung

Paint Charge, Richart Schug

Prop Charge, Jeanette Mieses

Costume Designer, Hanadi Khurma

Asst. Costume Designer, Maria Ozmen

Wardrobe Sup., Mikaela Gladstone

Lighting Designer, Shane Collins

Asst. Lighting Designer, Ann Sitzman

Master Electrician, James Roderick

Sound Designer, Trevor Collins

Sound Op., Kyle McKenzie

Technical Director, Patrick Lawrence

Asst. Technical Director, Joseph DiMartino

Rigger, Zach Wright

Lead Carpenter, Megan Anderson