The Seagull: A Character Study Of Nina Zarechnaya And The Role Of Women In Theatre

Abstract

As a BFA Theatre Performance student, my senior project will consist of an in depth character study of Nina Zarechnaya from Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull. The initial research and script analysis will be done over the summer and will continue into the fall, with rehearsals taking place throughout the fall semester, leading to the final performances which will take place from December 1st, 2016 through December 11th, 2016. The goal of the project is to explore the inner life of Nina, and compare my own discoveries to the discoveries of other actresses who have tackled this character. By doing so, I hope to explore the universality of this playwright, and discover how the role and the role of women in the theatre has changed over time. My final project will consist of a prompt book (as altered to an actor’s journey), as well as a final performance in the Callan Studio Theatre, in which honors and theatre faculty will be invited to attend. Professor Peter Sampieri, a theatre faculty member, will advise me through the process until he leaves for sabbatical in the spring of 2017, at which time Professor Bill Cunningham will continue to advise me.