Stupid F**king Bird
By Aaron Posner
May 19 - Jun 19, 2016Low-priced Previews May 19 - May 27, 2016
In this irreverent, contemporary, and very funny remix of Chekhov’s The Seagull, award-winning playwright Aaron Posner wages a timeless battle between young and old, past and present, in search of the true meaning of it all. An aspiring young director rampages against the art created by his mother’s generation. A nubile young actress wrestles with an aging Hollywood star for the affections of a renowned novelist. And everyone discovers just how disappointing love, art, and growing up can be. With music, meta-theatricality, and mad humor, playwright Aaron Posner beats The Seagull to a bloody pulp.
“Bitterly sardonic…Ferociously funny” – Stage and Cinema
Study Guide
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Cast
Ro BoddieRo Boddie
ConRegional: Blueprints to Freedom (Martin Luther King Jr, La Jolla Playhouse and Kansas City Repertory Theatre co-production); The Whipping Man (John, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre); Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Horatio, American Players Theatre); Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Sylvester, CENTERSTAGE and Philadelphia Theatre Company co-production); Dirt (Studio Theatre); Angel’s in America (Belize, Helen Hayes Nomination); Seven Guitars (Floyd Barton, Helen Hayes Nomination). TV/Film: The Good Wife, Person of Interest, Unforgettable. Education: University of the North Carolina School of the Arts. www.roboddie.com.
Karole ForemanKarole Foreman
EmmaRecently appeared as The Beggar Woman in Ensemble Theatre Co. of Santa Barbara’s production of Sweeney Todd. Earlier in their season she starred as Esther in that company’s production of Intimate Apparel. Other roles include: Rose in Fences at International City Theater, Julia Augustine in Antaeus’ production of Wedding Band and Diana Goodman in Next to Normal with Cal REP. Other Productions: Long Beach Opera: Difficulty of Crossing a Field and Queenie Pie. PCPA: Caroline or Change (Caroline). Alliance Theatre: Jelly’s Last Jam (Anita). Mandalay Bay: Tanya in MAMMA MIA! Worked with L.A. Women’s Shakespeare Co., two seasons with Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and performed in numerous regional theaters across the country. Awards: Stage Raw Nomination for Best Actress in Wedding Band, OC Weekly 2014 Best of Award for Next to Normal. Suzi Bass for Jelly’s Last Jam, Garland for As Bees in Honey Drown, Robby Nomination for Carla, Drama Logue Awards for Minamata, The Illusion, and Whole World is Watching. TV: Adam Ruins Everything, Gortimer Gibbons, Switched at Birth, Rizzoli & Isles, Murder in the First, The Kroll Show, Pretty Little Liars, See Dad Run, Grey’s Anatomy, Bones, Medium, Law & Order, Third Watch, The Bold and the Beautiful. Film: 42, Rebirth, and Buddy Solitaire. www.karoleforeman.com.
Francis GerckeFrancis Gercke
TrigFrancis has appeared in theatre productions throughout San Diego including: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Desire Under the Elms, Our Town, The Glass Menagerie, True West, Fool for Love (Cygnet Theatre); Suzette Who Set To Sea, Accomplice (La Jolla Playhouse); Proof, The Merchant of Venice, In the Next Room, (San Diego Rep); A Life in the Theatre, Time Stands Still (North County Repertory Theatre); Hurlyburly, Grace, Shining City (ion Theatre); The Pride (Diversionary Theatre); True West, Orphans, Playboy of the Western World (New Village Arts); I Hate Hamlet, Oleanna, Macbeth (Intrepid Shakespeare Company). He is co-founder and former Artistic Director of New Village Arts and a Resident Artist with Cygnet Theatre. He is a recipient of the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Award for his work as an actor and as a director. He has been a faculty member at Palomar College, University of San Diego, and California State University San Marcos and is the founder of ActorsApproach, a weekly acting class. He is a graduate of the Actors Studio Drama School at the New School for Social Research in New York.
Ro Boddie
Regional: Blueprints to Freedom (Martin Luther King Jr, La Jolla Playhouse and Kansas City Repertory Theatre co-production); The Whipping Man (John, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre); Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Horatio, American Players Theatre); Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Sylvester, CENTERSTAGE and Philadelphia Theatre Company co-production); Dirt (Studio Theatre); Angel’s in America (Belize, Helen Hayes Nomination); Seven Guitars (Floyd Barton, Helen Hayes Nomination). TV/Film: The Good Wife, Person of Interest, Unforgettable. Education: University of the North Carolina School of the Arts. www.roboddie.com.
Karole Foreman
Recently appeared as The Beggar Woman in Ensemble Theatre Co. of Santa Barbara’s production of Sweeney Todd. Earlier in their season she starred as Esther in that company’s production of Intimate Apparel. Other roles include: Rose in Fences at International City Theater, Julia Augustine in Antaeus’ production of Wedding Band and Diana Goodman in Next to Normal with Cal REP. Other Productions: Long Beach Opera: Difficulty of Crossing a Field and Queenie Pie. PCPA: Caroline or Change (Caroline). Alliance Theatre: Jelly’s Last Jam (Anita). Mandalay Bay: Tanya in MAMMA MIA! Worked with L.A. Women’s Shakespeare Co., two seasons with Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and performed in numerous regional theaters across the country. Awards: Stage Raw Nomination for Best Actress in Wedding Band, OC Weekly 2014 Best of Award for Next to Normal. Suzi Bass for Jelly’s Last Jam, Garland for As Bees in Honey Drown, Robby Nomination for Carla, Drama Logue Awards for Minamata, The Illusion, and Whole World is Watching. TV: Adam Ruins Everything, Gortimer Gibbons, Switched at Birth, Rizzoli & Isles, Murder in the First, The Kroll Show, Pretty Little Liars, See Dad Run, Grey’s Anatomy, Bones, Medium, Law & Order, Third Watch, The Bold and the Beautiful. Film: 42, Rebirth, and Buddy Solitaire. www.karoleforeman.com.
Francis Gercke
Francis has appeared in theatre productions throughout San Diego including: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Desire Under the Elms, Our Town, The Glass Menagerie, True West, Fool for Love (Cygnet Theatre); Suzette Who Set To Sea, Accomplice (La Jolla Playhouse); Proof, The Merchant of Venice, In the Next Room, (San Diego Rep); A Life in the Theatre, Time Stands Still (North County Repertory Theatre); Hurlyburly, Grace, Shining City (ion Theatre); The Pride (Diversionary Theatre); True West, Orphans, Playboy of the Western World (New Village Arts); I Hate Hamlet, Oleanna, Macbeth (Intrepid Shakespeare Company). He is co-founder and former Artistic Director of New Village Arts and a Resident Artist with Cygnet Theatre. He is a recipient of the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Award for his work as an actor and as a director. He has been a faculty member at Palomar College, University of San Diego, and California State University San Marcos and is the founder of ActorsApproach, a weekly acting class. He is a graduate of the Actors Studio Drama School at the New School for Social Research in New York.
Walter MurrayWalter Murray
SornWalter Murray has appeared on stages in NY, LA and San Diego. He is co-founder and former Executive Director of the San Diego Black Ensemble Theater. Thank you Drs. Stanton, Epston and Levine.
Brian RickelBrian Rickel
DevBrian is thrilled to be making his debut with Cygnet Theatre. San Diego credits include Joe vs. the Volcano (Baw/Ensemble), Around the World in 80 Days (Ensemble), Twelfth Night (Malvolio) and You Can’t Take it With You (Main G Man) with Lamb’s Player’s Theatre. Macbeth (Malcom), All My Sons (Frank Lubey) and A Winter’s Tale (Co-Director, Polixenes, Clown) with Intrepid Theatre Company. Brian’s own adaptation of David Budbill’s play Judevine: A Solo (Various) at The Vine Theatre and San Diego International Fringe Festival. Brian holds a BA in Theatre and MFA in Acting from California State University, Fullerton. Favorite roles from graduate school include Martin Dysart in Equus, Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire and Capulet in Romeo & Juliet. For more information go to www.brianrickel.com Mr. Rickel is a proud member of the Theatre Arts Department faculty at Grossmont College.
Rachel Esther TateRachel Esther Tate
NinaRecent credits: Appropriate at Mark Taper Forum (u/s River), Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at Arena Stage (Nina). Her New York credits include working with Bedlam Off-Broadway in the critically acclaimed Saint Joan and Hamlet; as well as the World Premier of Blood Privilege and the NY Premier of Elephant’s Graveyard. She has worked regionally with The Mirror Repertory (Emily in Our Town) and Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte (Rocky Horror Show) She gives a big thank you to Cygnet for allowing her to work on her favorite play with this dream team of artists. Special thanks to A, E & R for “all the things” that led to this. www.rachelesthertate.squarespace.com.
Walter Murray
Walter Murray has appeared on stages in NY, LA and San Diego. He is co-founder and former Executive Director of the San Diego Black Ensemble Theater. Thank you Drs. Stanton, Epston and Levine.
Brian Rickel
Brian is thrilled to be making his debut with Cygnet Theatre. San Diego credits include Joe vs. the Volcano (Baw/Ensemble), Around the World in 80 Days (Ensemble), Twelfth Night (Malvolio) and You Can’t Take it With You (Main G Man) with Lamb’s Player’s Theatre. Macbeth (Malcom), All My Sons (Frank Lubey) and A Winter’s Tale (Co-Director, Polixenes, Clown) with Intrepid Theatre Company. Brian’s own adaptation of David Budbill’s play Judevine: A Solo (Various) at The Vine Theatre and San Diego International Fringe Festival. Brian holds a BA in Theatre and MFA in Acting from California State University, Fullerton. Favorite roles from graduate school include Martin Dysart in Equus, Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire and Capulet in Romeo & Juliet. For more information go to www.brianrickel.com Mr. Rickel is a proud member of the Theatre Arts Department faculty at Grossmont College.
Rachel Esther Tate
Recent credits: Appropriate at Mark Taper Forum (u/s River), Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at Arena Stage (Nina). Her New York credits include working with Bedlam Off-Broadway in the critically acclaimed Saint Joan and Hamlet; as well as the World Premier of Blood Privilege and the NY Premier of Elephant’s Graveyard. She has worked regionally with The Mirror Repertory (Emily in Our Town) and Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte (Rocky Horror Show) She gives a big thank you to Cygnet for allowing her to work on her favorite play with this dream team of artists. Special thanks to A, E & R for “all the things” that led to this. www.rachelesthertate.squarespace.com.
Jacque WilkeJacque Wilke
MashJacque is thrilled to be back working with the wonderful staff and crew at Cygnet! Selected credits: Cygnet Theatre: The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, and Mistakes Were Made; San Diego Repertory Theater: Honky (Craig Noel Award); La Jolla Playhouse: Yoke, The Car Plays; Intrepid Theater: The Winter’s Tale, All My Sons; North Coast Repertory Theatre: Unnecessary Farce, Lend me a Tenor, Mistletoe, Music, and Mayhem, and Don’t Dress for Dinner; Moonlight at the Avo: Blithe Spirit; Diversionary Theater: The Divine Sister, The Further Adventures of Hedda Gabler, Scrooge in Rouge, Next Fall, Fair Use, The New Century, Anita Bryant Died for your Sins; MOXIE: Or; New Village Arts: The Seven Year Itch, and The Heidi Chronicles; Circle Circle Dot Dot: Red Planet Respite, The Break-up Breakdown; Bang Productions: Side Man; Laterthanever Productions: He Said, She Said. Special thanks and love to Marlyn and Jake. For Johnny.
Jacque Wilke
Jacque is thrilled to be back working with the wonderful staff and crew at Cygnet! Selected credits: Cygnet Theatre: The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, and Mistakes Were Made; San Diego Repertory Theater: Honky (Craig Noel Award); La Jolla Playhouse: Yoke, The Car Plays; Intrepid Theater: The Winter’s Tale, All My Sons; North Coast Repertory Theatre: Unnecessary Farce, Lend me a Tenor, Mistletoe, Music, and Mayhem, and Don’t Dress for Dinner; Moonlight at the Avo: Blithe Spirit; Diversionary Theater: The Divine Sister, The Further Adventures of Hedda Gabler, Scrooge in Rouge, Next Fall, Fair Use, The New Century, Anita Bryant Died for your Sins; MOXIE: Or; New Village Arts: The Seven Year Itch, and The Heidi Chronicles; Circle Circle Dot Dot: Red Planet Respite, The Break-up Breakdown; Bang Productions: Side Man; Laterthanever Productions: He Said, She Said. Special thanks and love to Marlyn and Jake. For Johnny.
Creative Team
Michael R. Glover
Assistant Lighting Designer
Peter Herman
Wig & Makeup Designer-
Andrew Hull
Scenic Designer
Michael R. Glover
Michael R. Glover is an aspiring lighting designer in the Bachelor’s of Arts program at San Diego State University for Design and Technology for the Theatre. Recently he designed a student production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) on the SDSU Experimental Theatre stage and Guys and Dolls at Westminster Theatre in Point Loma. Graduating this spring, Michael looks forward to continuing his career in the lighting field and is excited to have received the Fellowship, to assist Craig Wolf and to be apart of this team.
Peter Herman
Cygnet Theatre: Costumes and Wig/Makeup Design for Shakespeare’s R&J, Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Wigs/Makeup Design for Hay Fever, The Vortex, Dogfight, My Fair Lady, Sons of the Prophet, Pageant, Fool for Love, True West, The Motherf**ker with the Hat, Spring Awakening, Maple and Vine, The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, Company, Assassins, A Christmas Carol, Gem of the Ocean, Mistakes Were Made, Man of La Mancha, Dirty Blonde, Parade, A Behanding in Spokane, The Glass Menagerie, Little Shop of Horrors, Our Town, Cabaret, The Norman Conquests, Private Lives, Sweeney Todd. Elsewhere: Peter has designed hair and wigs for over 300 productions, including the La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego Rep, San Diego Opera, Disneyland, and various film and television projects. Film: Costume design for Ready? OK!. Peter currently teaches wigs and makeup at SDSU.
Andrew Hull
Cygnet Theatre: The Rocky Horror Show, My Fair Lady, A Christmas Carol, The Motherf*cker with the Hat, Gem of the Ocean, The Glass Menagerie, Private Lives, Bed and Sofa, The History Boys. Elsewhere: Hello Dolly (Arrowrock Lyceum Theatre), Hay Fever (Black Hills Playhouse), Into the Woods, The Good Person of Szechwan, Desire Under the Elms (San Diego State University). Night of the Iguana, The Man who Came to Dinner, and A Piece of my Heart (Webster University). Mr. Hull is an Art Director for TV and film in Los Angeles and is currently working on the feature Nocturnal Animals. Previous credits include Straight Outta Compton, Mad Men, and Orange is the New Black.
Rob Lutfy
Rob Lutfy is the Associate Artistic Director at Cygnet Theatre. He was the 2014-2015 National New Play Network Producer-in-Residence at Marin Theatre Company. Cygnet Theatre: Sons of the Prophet, The Motherf**ker with the Hat Elsewhere: Clown Play, NYC International Fringe Festival; The Gin Game, Anacostia Playhouse; The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Threshold Repertory; The Sunset Limited, 3M Productions;Time Stands Still, Collaborative Arts. He has worked on plays in development at The Kennedy Center, The O’Neill Theatre Center, Burning Coal Theatre, The Hub Theatre and The Rensing Center. He has assisted directors at Shakespeare Theatre Company, Folger Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Arena Stage, The Kennedy Center and Marin Theatre Company. He was the 2012-13 William R. Kenan, Jr. Directing Fellow at The John F. Kennedy Center. Rob is a graduate of the directing program under Gerald Freedman at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.<
Hannah May
Hannah is excited to premier in her first production at Cygnet. Hannah graduated from SDSU with a BA in Theatre Design and Technology, and currently works as a Stage Manager serving the greater San Diego area. Production credits include: The Old Globe’s The Last Match, Globe For All 2015, Full Gallop, Rich Girl, and Buyer and Cellar. SDSU’s Les Misérables in Concert, Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser, and Pal Joe.
Veronica Murphy
Cygnet Theatre: The Turn of the Screw, Bug, Yellowman, Fences, A Number, Sons of the Prophet; Lamb’s Players Theatre: The Sneeze, Tartuffe, Amadeus, Flight, Oklahoma Rigs, Lettice & Lovage, The Diviners, Becoming Memories, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Boys Next Door, The Diary of Anne Frank, Much Ado About Nothing, Barefoot in the Park and a host of others. Veronica is the Artistic Director and Co-Founder, with partner Walter Ritter, of Write Out Loud. She is the 2013 recipient of the Deborah Salzer Excellence in Arts Education Award and a 2015 10News Leadership Award.
Taylor Ray Pilevsky
Taylor is a sound designer and audio mixer currently studying at San Diego State University. Highlights of his sound design career include The Complete Works of William Shakespeare [Abridged] (SDSU DATA), Agamemnon (University of Pittsburgh Stages), and The Diviners (TP Players) and assistant designing Dogfight (Cygnet Theatre) and Trouble in Mind (Moxie Theatre). Favorite mix credits include A Christmas Carol (Cygnet Theatre) and Man of La Mancha (TP Players). Taylor was privileged to spend his past two summers in the sound shop at the La Jolla Playhouse.
Aaron Posner
Aaron Posner is a Helen Hayes and Barrymore Award-winning director and playwright. He is a founder and former Artistic Director of Philadelphia’s Arden Theatre, is an Associate Artist at both the Folger Theatre and Milwaukee Repertoy Theatre, and has directed at major regional theatres from coast to coast including the Folger, Seattle Rep, Portland Center Stage, The Alliance, Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, Arizona Theatre Company, Milwaukee Rep, California Shakespeare Theatre, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Roundhouse Theatre, Studio Theatre, Signature Theatre, Theatre J, American Player’s Theatre and many more. His adaptations include Chaim Potok’s The Chosen and My Name is Asher Lev (both of which has enjoyed successful runs at more than 50 other theatres across the country), Ken Kesey’s Sometimes a Great Notion, Mark Twain’s A Murder, a Mystery and a Marriage, an adaptation of three Kurt Vonnegut short stories, entitled Who Am I This Time? (and Other Conundrums of Love) and Stupid Fucking Bird, a variation on Chekhov’s Seagull. Aaron was raised in Eugene, Oregon, graduated from Northwestern University, is an Eisenhower Fellow, and lives near Washington, DC.
Dean Remington
Dean is thrilled to return to the Cygnet, having just completed its successful run of When the Rain Stops Falling. National Tours include The Lion King and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and in the United Kingdom he was delighted to work with Cameron Mackintosh on his musical, Hey, Mr. Producer! Other highlights include Outside Mullingar at San Diego REP as well as international productions of Grease, 42nd Street, Anything Goes, A Chorus Line, Dreamgirls, and Meet Me in St. Louis. Dean has also enjoyed working in Film and Television on numerous projects as a Production Coordinator.
David Scott
David received a B.A. in Theatrical Design and Technology from San Diego State University, and is currently working towards an MFA in Sound Design and Electro-Acoustic Composition at SDSU. Credits: The Drowsy Chaperone (SDSU), The Seagull (USD/The Old Globe), Outside Mullingar (San Diego Repertory Theatre), The Watson Intelligence (Moxie Theatre), Dogfight (Cygnet Theatre), Eternally Bad ‘Projections Design’ (Moxie Theatre), Clybourne Park (USD/The Old Globe), Water by the Spoonful (SDSU), Romeo & Juliet, The Laramie Project, The Baghdad Zoo (Film Adaptation), Hay Fever, Lysistrata, Crimes of the Heart, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Syd Stevens
Syd is a multitalented fine artist, photographer, filmmaker and multimedia designer. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cinema and Photography from Southern Illinois University. Syd has contributed to numerous theatre productions, music videos, television productions, TV commercials and has worked both behind the scenes and in front of the camera on motion picture film productions. Syd is an accomplished fine artist and has had many public art, photography and digital multimedia exhibitions. He is also a community activist and covers current local events as a photojournalist and blogger. Other theatres include: Bailiwick Theater, Diversionary Theatre, J*Company Youth Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Mo’olelo Performing Arts Company, Moxie Theatre, Northwestern University Theater Department, The Old Globe, San Diego Jr. Theatre, SDSU Department of Theatre, UCSD Department of Theatre & Dance. Syd has two National Youth Theatre Awards for Outstanding Set Design.
R. Craig Wolf
R. Craig Wolf has taught and designed lighting nationwide for both theatre and dance. Credits include designs for New York’s Dance Theatre Workshop, Theatre Artaud in San Francisco, Japan America Center in Los Angeles, SRT in Santa Rosa, and the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. In addition, Craig is resident designer for Native Voices at the Autry and senior designer for Mountain Light Company in Denver, CO. Former Head of the Design Area and Professor Emeritus of Stage Design at San Diego State University, Mr. Wolf is the co-author of Scene Design and Stage Lighting, now in its tenth edition. Craig is pleased to be designing for Cygnet Theatre again this season.
Taylor Wycoff
Taylor is delighted to be continuing her work as dramaturg for the Cygnet Theatre. Previous dramaturgical credits include Hay Fever, The Vortex, Dogfight, The Whale, My Fair Lady, Sons of the Prophet, True West, Fool For Love, Pageant, The Motherf**ker with the Hat, Spring Awakening, Maple & Vine, A Christmas Carol, Playwrights in Process, The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, Company, Shakespeare’s R&J, Assassins, Gem of the Ocean (Cygnet); Red Planet Respite (Circle Circle dot dot); Kita y Fernanda, Yellow Face (Mo’olelo). She has presented at multiple conferences and has work published in Praxis: The Journal for Theatre, Performance Studies, and Criticism. She has taught for Playwrights Project and Kids Act, and is a graduate of Young Audience’s Teaching Artist Institute. Taylor received her BA in Theatre and International Relations from the University of San Diego and is a proud member of the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas.
Taylor Wycoff
Taylor is delighted to be continuing her work as dramaturg for the Cygnet Theatre. Previous dramaturgical credits include Hay Fever, The Vortex, Dogfight, The Whale, My Fair Lady, Sons of the Prophet, True West, Fool For Love, Pageant, The Motherf**ker with the Hat, Spring Awakening, Maple & Vine, A Christmas Carol, Playwrights in Process, The Importance of Being Earnest, Travesties, Company, Shakespeare’s R&J, Assassins, Gem of the Ocean (Cygnet); Red Planet Respite (Circle Circle dot dot); Kita y Fernanda, Yellow Face (Mo’olelo). She has presented at multiple conferences and has work published in Praxis: The Journal for Theatre, Performance Studies, and Criticism. She has taught for Playwrights Project and Kids Act, and is a graduate of Young Audience’s Teaching Artist Institute. Taylor received her BA in Theatre and International Relations from the University of San Diego and is a proud member of the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas.
April 2024