Texas Woman’s University (TWU) is preparing to bid farewell to two of its most prominent theatre students as they take the stage for the final time in the production of Anton Chekhov’s ‘The Seagull’ at the Red Bud Theater. Performances are scheduled for November 20-24 and will mark the last appearances of Brenna Petersen and Adrian Theisen, students who have become integral to TWU’s theater productions over the past four years.
Both students have been involved in a combined total of 19 productions since 2021, including notable performances in last year’s sold-out ‘Hamlet.’ This milestone production of ‘The Seagull,’ directed by Steve Young, is set in Gulfport, Mississippi, rather than its original Russian setting, featuring live music and dance.
Reflecting on their journey, Theisen expressed disbelief that their time on the TWU stage is concluding, while Petersen described the end of their college career as closing a significant chapter. Both students were part of the ‘COVID wave’ that revitalized the theater department post-lockdown.
Petersen is embarking on a new role with North Texas Performing Arts, focusing on directing and working with children in the arts. Her initial project will be directing ‘SIX,’ a musical retelling of Henry VIII’s six wives. Meanwhile, Theisen is collaborating with fellow student Felix Ferris to establish a new theater company in Denton aiming to support the local arts community.
‘We’ve done all the shows, we’ve done the read-throughs, we’ve done mentorship,’ Petersen stated, highlighting their contributions to rejuvenating the department. Theisen added that building professional relationships in the wider Dallas-Fort Worth theater community has been a rewarding part of their experience.
The cast of ‘The Seagull’ includes Dinvela Adam, J.C. Boliek, Kaitlyn Chi, Victoria Cortez, Austin Creswell, Timathy Dorman, Christian Hachat, Nicholas Harwell, Gabriel Hawthorne, Alaina Hooke, Cody Leveck, Brooklyn Long, Julia Macleod, Isabell Malone, Meagan Murden, Susi Pastor, Brenna Petersen, Sophia Schaloff, Amyah Starkes, and Adrian Theisen. Performance dates are November 20-22 at 7:30 p.m., with additional shows on November 23 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and November 24 at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, including TWU faculty and staff, and $5 for students, children, and senior citizens.