Behind the Curtain: Strategy and Community Define Rutgers-Camden’s The Seagull

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When the lights go up on Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull, audiences expect a classic tale of unrequited love and existential despair. For the Rutgers-Camden theater company, this production is a conscious modern twist on the 1896 masterpiece, running from October 30th to November 9th, 2025.

Beyond the expected analysis, Director Damon Bonetti and Stage Manager Caden Adams reveal the efforts to manage time, build morale, and execution of a set design that literally extends the drama into the audience.

The first strategic move for this production was to emphasize the play’s emotional core. Bonetti insists that while the play seems “about art,” it is about selfishness and human desire, “There’s no heroes in this play… everyone’s got a problem, just like we do.” Director Bonetti notes that every character is drawn with a complexity that reflects life. These complexities can reflect how life is sometimes kind, sometimes cruel, and always flawed.

The design team anchored the production in a familiar era. Adams reveals the deliberate aesthetic choice of making it a more modern take on the play. “The time period is set in like the ‘90s, ‘80s sets… And the music that plays throughout is a band called Depeche Mode… It’s something that takes something very old and makes it quite modern and accessible to everybody.” This twist makes the timeless themes of generational conflict and ambition resonate strongly with younger audiences, including the high school students the program invites to see the show.

In the final, grueling weeks leading up to the production, the real work is often the invisible management. Both leaders prioritize morale and time management. The director’s primary technique is respecting students’ time, especially during the stressful finals season. “I always want to make sure that I’m using their time wisely,” Bonetti says. By being considerate of their schedule, he finds that the cast gives their best when they are called to rehearse.

Complementing this efficiency is a focus on community and encouragement, led by the stage manager. Adams views their role as a form of support. “It can be very easy as an artist and as a creative to beat yourself up,” Adams explains. “I think it’s very important for someone in my position to be that person for them that encourages them and keeps their head up.” He strives to build a working relationship that fosters a strong community.

While director Bonetti worried about coordinating the projections with the set made of wooden pallets, Adams revealed a more ambitious plan that would define the audience experience, “There’s literally an extension of the stage that’s built out over the first three rows of the audience,” Adams notes. This will make this a very immersive experience for the audience.

What happens behind the curtains during a quick scenery change? According to Adams, the atmosphere is a mix of stress and goofiness. “For as seriously good as these actors are, they are literally the biggest goofballs I’ve ever met,” he recounts. Backstage is a melting pot of serious art forms produced by funny students.

Beyond ticket revenue, the production’s success is measured by its impact on its participants and the reputation of the theater program. For the students, the most important non-academic skill is the human connection. Bonetti states, “The hope is that the friendships that they make on this show can last decades.”

Rutgers-Camden students are eligible for two free tickets. Check the official box office for showtimes.