Peter Sarsgaard flies with 'Seagull'

Production begins previews on Sept. 16

By DAVID ROONEY

Sarsgaard

Kristin Scott Thomas will reprise her award-winning perf in 'The Seagull' in a transfer to Broadway.

Peter Sarsgaard will join Kristin Scott Thomas in the Broadway transfer of Christopher Hampton's new adaptation of Anton Chekhov's "The Seagull," which begins previews Sept. 16 at the Walter Kerr Theater for an Oct. 1 opening.

The production, which premiered at London's Royal Court Theater in January 2007, was helmed by Ian Rickson as the swan song of his seven-year term as Court artistic director. The limited run became the biggest-selling production in the theater's 50-year history, winning Thomas a Laurence Olivier Award earlier this year for her performance as fading actress Arkadina.

Sarsgaard steps into the role of writer Trigorin, played at the Royal Court by Chiwetel Ejiofor. The production marks the Broadway debut for both Thomas and Sarsgaard. Also new to the cast is Zoe Kazan ("Come Back, Little Sheba") as Masha.

In addition to Thomas, other London cast members reprising their roles include Mackenzie Crook, Art Malik, Carey Mulligan, Pearce Quigley, Peter Wight, Christopher Patrick Nolan and Mary Rose.

The limited 14-week Broadway engagement will be produced by Sonia Friedman Prods., Bob Boyett, Robert G. Bartner, Dede Harris, Eric Falkenstein, Fox Theatricals, Dena Hammerstein, Sharon Karmazin, Olympus Theatricals, Spring Sirkin, Tara Smith, Mort Swinsky, Karl Sydow, the Weinstein Co. and Jay and Cindy Gutterman.

Chekhov's 1895 play about the romantic conflicts and regrets of a group of actors, writers and artists on a Russian estate was last seen on Broadway in a 1992 National Actors Theater production starring Tyne Daly, Jon Voight, Laura Linney and Ethan Hawke.