A comedy about despair
In the course of a year, Nikolai Ivanov—mid-30s, once charismatic and admired—has become overwhelmed and depressed. Everyone around him thinks they know why. Ivanov isn't convinced. Laura Strausfeld’s faithful, fast-paced, and gripping adaptation captures the central insight of Chekhov's first masterpiece: misunderstanding one another is both comic and calamitous.
Learn more about our partnership with the JED Foundation and our talkback series designed to reflect on the themes explored in the play.
Cast
Sam Adegoke
Sam Adegoke
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Ivory Aquino
Ivory Aquino
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Spencer Aste
Spencer Aste
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Will DeMeritt
Will DeMeritt
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Elijah Guo
Elijah Guo
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Aubyn Heglie
Aubyn Heglie
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Jordan Lage
Jordan Lage
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Sarah Long
Sarah Long
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Amelia Mason
Amelia Mason
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Soph Metcalf
Soph Metcalf
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Brendan Titley
Brendan Titley
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Sam Underwood
Sam Underwood
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Kimberlee Walker
Kimberlee Walker
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Team
set & lighting design
set & lighting design
Jiyoun Chang
Jiyoun Chang
costume design
costume design
Ella Matza
Ella Matza
sound design & original music
sound design & original music
Brandon Bulls
Brandon Bulls
casting director
casting director
Jack Doulin
Jack Doulin
casting associate
casting associate
Emma Paoletti
Emma Paoletti
stage manager
stage manager
April Ann Kline
April Ann Kline
assistant stage manager
assistant stage manager
Miriam Hyfler
Miriam Hyfler
assistant director
assistant director
Evie Barenberg
Evie Barenberg
presenting company
presenting company
Initiative Productions
Initiative Productions
production management
production management
Five Ohm
Five Ohm
general management
general management
Regular People
Regular People
producer
producer
Nina Korelitz Matza
Nina Korelitz Matza
producer
producer
Sam Underwood
Sam Underwood
producer
producer
Sara Sugihara
Sara Sugihara
associate producer
associate producer
Ashley M. Cowles
Ashley M. Cowles
co-producer
co-producer
Court Coursey
Court Coursey
advertising
advertising
The Pekoe Group
The Pekoe Group
digital director
digital director
Julia Eden Fink
Julia Eden Fink
web designer
web designer
London Mahaley
London Mahaley
press representative
press representative
Everyman Agency
Everyman Agency
legal counsel
legal counsel
David Manella, Loeb & Loeb
David Manella, Loeb & Loeb
Continue the conversation
The mental health themes in Chekhov’s Ivanov, written more than a century ago, continue to resonate today. Laura Strausfeld’s fast-paced adaptation invites audiences to look more deeply at depression, connection, and what it means to understand ourselves and one another. That’s why we’ve partnered with The Jed Foundation (JED), a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults, to continue the conversation and provide resources for audiences.
Following select Wednesday evening performances (8/26, 9/2, 9/9 and 9/16), we invite you to stay for a conversation with director Laura Strausfeld, lead actor Sam Underwood, and a mental health advocate or professional. Together, we’ll explore some of what you’ve just experienced on stage and create space for questions, reflection, and greater understanding.
We’ve also partnered on a companion resource page where you can learn more about the mental health themes explored in the play and find resources for yourself or someone you care about:
