ForImmediateRelease:April15,2016
Contact:ToniRobin,(858)483-3918
[email protected]
CYGNET THEATRE CLOSES SEASON 13 WITH HILARIOUS
CONTEMPORARY CHEKHOV REMIX
Associate Artistic Director Rob Lutfy to Direct STUPID F**KING BIRD
“A staggering work of heartbreaking, stupid fu**ing genius.”
-TIMEOUTCHICAGO
"...a funny, moving slugfest, a ripe mashup of mock and awe."
-THEWASHINGTONPOST
SANDIEGO,CA–CygnetTheatrewillcloseitssuccessful13thseasonwith…pardonourFrench,STUPID
F**KING BIRD ( dir. Lutfy),ahilarious“sort-ofadaptation”ofAntonChekhov’sThe Seagull.Playwright
AaronPosner’s(My Name is Asher Lev, The Chosen -adapted)smartlywritten,irreverentand
contemporaryremixissuretorufflesomefeathers.AsmashhitontheEastCoast,it’sbeencalled,“a
staggeringworkofheartbreaking,stupidf**kinggenius.”
Despitethemarquee-challengingname,STUPID F**KING BIRDhasbeenoneofthemostproduced
playsacrossthecountryandismakingitsSanDiegoPremierethisspring.Posner’sso-called“irreverent
adaptation,”beginspreviewsMay19andrunsthroughJune19.OpeningnightformediaisMay28.
WinneroftheHelenHayesAwardforBestNewPlayin2013,Posner’sSeagullrebootminesChekhov’s
signatureblendoflaughterandtears.AccordingtoTheNewYorkTime’sCharlesIsherwood,“Mr.
Posner’sbitinglyfunny,bruisinglysad‘sortof’adaptationofThe Seagullcomescloserthanmany
productionsoftheoriginaltocapturingthefullcomplexityoffeelingintheplay.”ThiswryriffonThe
SeagullscoopsupChekhov’staleofunrequitedlove,missedopportunities,andmisplaceddreamsand
setsitdownsquarelyinthebustleof21stcenturylife.Posnerregularlycrashesthroughthefourthwall
andremindstheaudiencethatwhattheyarewatchingisnotactuallyfixed.
“IhavealwaysfeltthatmostaudiencesfeellikeChekhovisimpenetrablebecausehisplaysareover100
yearsold,”explainedDirectorRob Lutfy.“ChekhovconsideredThe Seagulltobeacomedybecausehe
hadanamusedviewofhumanweaknessandhisplaysoftenprovoke‘laughterthroughtears.’With
Posner'sadaptationIfoundmyselfsaying:Whoarethesepeople?Ilikethesepeople.Iamthese
people.”
Lutfy,whodirectedthecriticallyacclaimedmountingofThe Motherf**ker with the Hat, aswellas Sons
of the Prophet, Hay Fever and When the Rain Stops Falling, wasthe2014-2015NationalNewPlay
NetworkProducer-in-ResidenceatMarinTheatreCompany.Hehasworkedonplaysindevelopmentat
TheKennedyCenter,TheO’NeillTheatreCenter,andWoollyMammothTheatreCompany.Hewasthe
2012-13WilliamR.Kenan,Jr.DirectingFellowatTheJohnF.KennedyCenter.Robisagraduateofthe
directingprogramattheUniversityofNorthCarolinaSchooloftheArtsSchoolofDrama.
Incastingthiscontemporarycomedyofunrequitedpassionandunfulfilledpromise,Luftylookedfor
actorswhocouldfilltheshoesoftheseiconictheatrecharactersandbringamodernperspective.The
seven-personcastcleverlyportraycharacterscaughtupinthesnaresoflovingthewrongpersonor
beinglovedbythewrongperson.PlayingthecomicallyfamousactressEmmawillbeKarole Foreman
(Merchant of Venice,SanDiegoRep)withRo Boddie(Blueprints to Freedom,LaJollaPlayhouse)playing
herpretentiousplaywrightsonConrad.Rachel Esther Tate,takesontheroleofleadingladyNina.All
threearemakingtheirCygnetTheatredebut.Jacque Wilke (Mistakes Were Made, The Importance of
Being Earnest, Travesties)bringshercomictouchtoMash.DevisportrayedbyBrian Rickel, afaculty
memberatGrossmontCollege, whileWalter Murray, ExecutiveDirectoroftheSanDiegoBlack
EnsembleTheater,takesontheroleofretireddoctor,Sorn.CygnetResidentArtistFran Gercke (Cat on
a Hot Tin Roof,Desire Under the Elms,OurTown,The Glass Menagerie, True West, Fool for Love)plays
Trig.
TheproductionteamincludescostumedesignbyVeronica Murphy,setdesignbyAndrew Hull,lighting
designbyR. Craig Wolf,sounddesignbyDavid Scott,andpropertiesdesignbySyd Stevens.Dean
Remington willstagemanage.
PerformancesareMay 19 – June 19.ShowtimesareWednesdaysandThursdaysat7:30pm,Fridaysat
8:00pm,Saturdaysat3:00pm,and8:00pm,andSundaysat2:00pmand7:00pm.
Formoreinformationregardingtickets,pleasecontacttheboxofficeat619-337-1525orvisit
www.cygnettheatre.com.Ticketsmaybepurchasedinpersonattheboxofficelocatedat4040Twiggs
Street.Discountsareavailableforstudents,active-dutymilitary,seniorsandgroups.
FACT SHEET
WHAT:
WHERE:
WHO:
CAST:
CygnetTheatrepresentsStupid F**king Bird
CygnetTheatre
4040TwiggsSt.inOldTownSanDiegoStateHistoricPark
WrittenbyAaron Posner
Director:Rob Lutfy
OriginalMusic: James Sugg
ScenicDesigner:Andrew Hull°
CostumeDesigner:Veronica Murphy°
LightingDesigner:R. Craig Wolf
SoundDesigner:David Scott
PropertiesDesigner:Syd Stevens
StageManager: Dean Remington*
Mash–JacqueWilke
Dev–BrianRickel Con–RoBoddie* Nina–RachelEstherTate*
Sorn –WalterMurray
Emma –KaroleForeman* Trig–FranGercke*°
*MemberofActors'EquityAssociation°ResidentArtist
DATES:
Previewsbegin:Thursday,May19,2016
PressOpening:Saturday,May28,8:00pm
Closes:Sunday,June19,2016
Performance Schedule
Wednesday-Thursdayat7:30pm
Fridayat8:00pm
Saturdayat3:00pmand8:00pm
Sundayat2:00pmand7:00pm
CYGNETURE EVENTS
● 5/24DesignerShowcase
● 5/27SocialMediaNight
● 5/28OpeningNight
● 6/1OutNight
● 6/3TheatreonTap/FridayForum
● 6/9WineNight
● 6/1,6/15StageChat–Pre-show
● 6/4,6/11,6/18StageChat–Post-show
AGE RECOMMENDATION: RatedRforsuggestivethemes,stronglanguage,sexualcontentandnudity
PRICES:
Pricesstartat$36
(Discountsareavailableforpreviewperformances,children,seniors,students,active-duty
military,under30&groups)
HOW:
Phone:(619)337-1525
Online:www.cygnettheatre.com
InPerson:4040TwiggsSt.,SanDiego,CA92110
ABOUTCYGNETTHEATRE
Cygnet Theatre Company produces a year-round season of professional Off-Broadway-style theatre as
well as thought-provoking and engaging educational programming. Cygnet is committed to maintaining
high standards of artistic and fiscal integrity, and serves more than 40,000 patrons annually from San
Diego and beyond. Cygnet performs its mainstage productions at the state-of-the-art theatre in Old
Town San Diego State Historic Park. An active member of the San Diego community, Cygnet has outreach
programs serving tens of thousands of students and community members annually. For more
information, visit www.cygnettheatre.com. Formoreinformation,visitwww.cygnettheatre.com.
CYGNETTHEATREMISSIONSTATEMENT
Believinginthepoweroftheatretostartlethesoul,stirdebateandembracethewidediversityofthe
communityitserves,CygnetTheatreCompanyisfearlesslycommittedtothedissection,examination
andcelebrationofthehumanstorythroughthemediumoflivetheatre.
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