Steppenwofl’s Martha Lavey moderates Artists Talk Discussion at 6:30 p.m., Sunday, November 7 at Goodman Theatre

 Chicago, IL –  Director Robert Falls and actors Mary Beth Fisher and Francis Guinan talk about the process of bringing Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull to Goodman Theatre at a special discussion on Sunday, November 7 at 6:30pm, following the matinee performance. Moderated by Steppenwolf Theatre Company Artistic Director Martha Lavey, this conversation is part of the theater’s Artists Talk series, a unique opportunity for audiences to connect directly with the artists from Goodman productions. Tickets to the Artists Talk are $10 ($5 for Goodman subscribers); 312.443.3800.

 The Seagull runs through November 14 in the Goodman’s Owen Theatre. The culmination of two years of research and preparation, this production of The Seagull marks a departure from Falls’ recent large-scale work—and a focus on the method of Konstantin Stanislavsky, the man often credited as “the father of modern theater.” As previously announced, the ensemble cast of 14 includes Will Allan, Janet Ulrich Brooks, Rebecca Buller, Cliff Chamberlain, Laura T. Fisher, Mary Beth Fisher, Dieterich Gray, Stephen Louis Grush, Francis Guinan, Scott Jaeck, Kelly O’Sullivan, Steve Pickering, Demetrios Troy and Heather Wood. Kirkland & Ellis LLP is the Contributing Sponsor of The Seagull.

 When famed actress Arkadina and her young lover, Trigorin, visit her family’s estate, they become ensnared in a tragicomic tangle of romance, intrigue and unrequited love. As Arkadina’s son, Konstantin, struggles with the complexities of love and life, he masks his angst by creating a play performed by Nina—with whom he is in love, but who does not share his feeling. Through passion and art, The Seagull uncovers the raw emotions of a family struggling to find itself.

 Moderator Martha Lavey is the Artistic Director at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, where she has been an ensemble member since 1995 and appeared in Endgame, Up, Good Boys and True, Love-Lies-Bleeding, Lost Land, I Never Sang for My Father, The House of Lily, Valparaiso, The Memory of Water, The Designated Mourner, Supple in Combat, Time of My Life, A Clockwork Orange, Talking Heads, SLAVS!, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Ghost in the Machine, A Summer Remembered, Love Letters, Aunt Dan and Lemon and Savages.

 Elsewhere in Chicago she has performed at the Goodman, Victory Gardens Theater, Northlight Theatre and Remains Theatre and in New York at Women’s Project and Productions. She has served on grants panels for the National Endowment for the Arts, Theatre Communications Group (TCG), The Steinberg Advisory Committee, Three Arts, USA Artists and the City Arts panel of Chicago.

 Lavey holds a doctorate in Performance Studies from Northwestern University and is a member of the National Advisory Council for the School of Communication at Northwestern and is Board President of TCG. She is a recipient of the Sarah Siddons Award and an Alumni Merit Award and honorary Doctorate of Arts from Northwestern University. Tickets to The Seagull are on sale now. Call 312.443.3800, click GoodmanTheatre.org or visit the box office (170 North Dearborn). Mezztix are half-price mezzanine tickets available at 12 noon at the box office, and at 10am online (promo code MEZZTIX) day of performance; Mezztix are not available by telephone. 10Tix are $10 rear mezzanine tickets for students available at 12 noon at the box office, and at 10am online on the day of performance; 10Tix are not available by telephone. Valid student I.D. must be presented when picking up the tickets. Limit four per student with I.D. All tickets are subject to availability and handling fees apply. Discounted Group Tickets for 10 persons or more are available at 312.443.3820.