Intiman and The Seagull Project Team Up For “The Lower Depths”

February 2, 2024• byMichael Strangeways

(Pictured above L to R) Miguel Castellano, making his Intiman debut; Esther Okech, who is in our current production of “Black Nativity”; Veteran Seattle Actor & Gregory Award recipient, Charles Leggett, and Seagull company member, Sharva Maynard who was part of Intiman’s 2005 production of “The Grapes of Wrath.”

Two strong local theater companies are teaming up for a big project: an adaptation of Maxim Gorky’s masterpiece play, THE LOWER DEPTHS. The 1902 play was a major success for Gorky and the Moscow Arts Theatre who first produced the work with director Konstantin Stanislavski and became the cornerstone of the Russian social realism movement.

Intiman and The Seagull Project are the partners on this mammoth undertaking that features a cast of 14 of Seattle’s best actos under the direction of Gavin Reub. This production features a new translation from Thyler Polumsky and an adaptation created by a multi month rehearsal process led by Reub and company members David Quicksall and Charles Leggett.

The production will run from February 6th through the 24th at the Erickson Theater on Capitol Hill. Tickets available at https://www.intiman.org/depths/

“After partnering with The Williams Project last year on The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window, we are thrilled to welcome The Seagull Project to their new home at Intiman Theatre,” says Wesley Frugé, Intiman’s Managing Director. “Both companies share a commitment to artistic excellence, and we are excited to include this classic hallmark of Russian realism in our 50th anniversary season.”

ABOUT THE PLAY:

Neglected, seeking refuge and hope, fourteen lost souls battle for love and humanity while pushing at the limits of the human spirit and a society at the breaking point.

The play stars Kiki Abba (2019 Gregory Award nominee for Everything You Touch), Julie Briskman (Native Gardens at Intiman and The Seagull Project co-founder), Rob Burgess (The Little Mermaid at 5th Ave), Miguel Castellano (Sweat at ACT), Jonelle Jordan (Last Drive to Dodge at Taproot), Charles Leggett (countless Intiman credits including Angels in America, Hir), Sharva Maynard (The Grapes of Wrath as part of Intiman’s American Cycle, 2005), Tyler Polumsky (company member of Ilkhom Theatre’s Main Ensemble in Tashkent, Uzbekistan), David Quicksall (appeared in three previous Seagull Project productions), Esther Okech (currently appearing in Black Nativity at Intiman), Alexandra Tavares (co-founder of Seagull Project, The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window at Intiman), Amy Thone (last season’s The Niceties), and Jarron Williams (currently appearing in Black Nativity).

The Seagull Project’s Artistic Director Gavin Reub will direct. He says, “This is an incredible, hard-hitting cast of Seattle stars, taking on a story that is undeniably resonant to our city today. These characters live in the corner of our eyes every day, and this dream collaboration with Intiman has given us the space to bring them vividly to life.”

The creative team is rounded out by Jennifer Zeyl (scenic), Katrina Hess (costumes), Ryan Dunn (lights), and Matt Starritt (sound).

All ticket tiers are now on sale at intiman.org, ranging from $20-$110. FREE FOR EVERYONE tickets: 10 free walk-up tickets will be distributed 1hr before each performance on a first come, first served basis (limit 2 per person). Intiman Members receive 30% off all ticket purchases with Membership starting at just $8/month.

About the Author: Michael Strangeways

As the Editorial Director/Co-Owner, Michael Strangeways writes, edits and does about a million other jobs for Seattle Gay Scene, Puget Sound's most visited LGBTQ news, arts and entertainment website now celebrating its 14th year as a media outlet. A semi-proud Midwesterner by birth, he's lived in Seattle since 2000. He's also a film producer who would like you to check out the Jinkx Monsoon documentary, "Drag Becomes Him" now available on Amazon.com. In his spare time, he gets slightly obsessive about his love for old movies, challenging theater, "otters", vodka, chocolate, "I,Claudius", Lizzie Borden, real books made out of paper, disaster films, show tunes, Weimar era Germany, flea markets, pop surrealistic art, the sex lives of Hollywood actors both living and dead, kitties, chicken fried steak, haute couture and David Bowie. But, not necessarily in that order.