The Public Theater has added Seagull: True Story to its Spring 2026 lineup, bringing a politically charged and deeply personal new work to its landmark Astor Place home. Produced by MART Foundation, the play is written by Eli Rarey and created and directed by Alexander Molochnikov, and follows sold-out engagements at La MaMa in New York and London’s Marylebone Theatre.
Performances will begin with a Joseph Papp Free Performance on March 22, in The Public’s LuEsther Hall, ahead of an official opening on March 30. The limited run continues through April 26.
Seagull: True Story reimagines Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull through the lens of Molochnikov’s real-life experience attempting to stage the classic while navigating exile, censorship, and artistic suppression. Blending autobiographical storytelling, sharp political satire, and Chekhovian themes, the production unfolds as both a comedy of artistic chaos and a sobering reflection on the cost of creative freedom. The play centers on displacement and resistance, drawing from Molochnikov’s own journey after publicly opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and relocating to New York, where he is now unable to return home.
Rarey, an independent filmmaker and playwright whose work spans theater, film, and performance art, brings a layered, contemporary voice to the script. His writing supports a narrative that moves fluidly between humor and urgency, anchored by an ensemble of international artists. The result is a work that interrogates the role of theater in moments of political crisis while underscoring its power as a space for truth-telling.
The addition of Seagull: True Story complements The Public’s broader 2025–26 season, which includes John Leguizamo’s return in The Other Americans, Ma-Yi Theater Company’s Did You Eat? (밥 먹었니?), and multiple world premieres. Together, the lineup reinforces The Public’s long-standing mission to champion bold voices and socially engaged work.
More information is available at publictheater.org.