Theatre is always evolving. It emerges from what is mainstream and accepted, only for something new to disrupt tradition—challenging the status quo, revealing deeper truths, or envisioning what could be. It moves through history, speaking to intellect, emotions, and senses, but always rooted in the same essential elements: the writer’s vision, the performers’ interpretation, the audience’s presence, and the shared space where it all unfolds in real time. 

Anton Chekhov wrote The Seagull in pursuit of innovation. A doctor by trade, he was both realist and dreamer, blending symbolism with raw human experience. His characters are neither heroes nor villains—they are simply, and profoundly, human. He dared to address subjects others avoided, including suicide and the quiet despair of unfulfilled dreams. And then, there is his irony—an element that informs and exposes. Irony in art can make us laugh, raise the hairs on our arms, or break our hearts. It reveals truth in unexpected ways, often highlighting the contradictions between what is said and what is felt, between what characters want and what they do. In The Seagull, irony is everywhere—in love unreturned, in ambition unfulfilled, in the way characters long for something just out of reach, even as they dismiss what is right before them.

As we bring The Seagull to life, we reflect on our own artistic lineage. Our conservatory was founded in music—instrumental and vocal excellence forming its core. That same dedication to craft, to discipline, and to artistic exploration now extends into theatre. This production, in collaboration with the Conservatory Choir, embodies our mission: as a visionary and collaborative arts community, we educate motivated students in a supportive and inclusive environment, equipping them for professional success. Just as Chekhov and his collaborators redefined theatre, we, too, honor tradition while pushing forward—seeking new forms, new practices, and deeper artistic understanding. 

In this production, the choir is more than a presence—they are the spirit of the artist itself, the voice that calls us into the now and into the future. Theatre demands vulnerability. It asks us to step beyond the expected, to risk failure, to refine and evolve. May you laugh, be moved, and, for a moment, drift into the dream that theatre offers. 

– Scott Hudson