Stupid F#@king Bird

Sep 15 – Oct 16, 2016

 

By Aaron Posner, sort of adapted from The Seagull  by Anton Chekhov

With original songs by James Sugg

Directed by Aaron Posner on the F. Otto Haas Stage

Runtime: 2 hours and 20 minutes, with one intermission.

Contains strong language. Contains brief nudity.

 

In this irreverent, contemporary, and very funny remix of The Seagull, Arden co-founder Aaron Posner scoops up Chekhov’s tale of unrequited love, missed opportunities, and misplaced dreams and sets it down squarely in the bustle of 21st century life. This new play has been showered with awards and critical acclaim and is one of the most produced plays in the country – now it comes to Philadelphia.

“In Aaron Posner’s exquisitely clever adaptation of the play – in a production at Arden Theatre Company that can’t be beat – you get the laughs, too. Lots of them.”

Arden Theatre’s cofounder returns with kind-of Chekhovian ‘Bird’

(Posner) has a taste for redoing the classics, but (Stupid Fucking) Bird is a jumbled, highly personalized rewrite of Chekhov. It became a way for Posner to look at events in his own life (the birth of a daughter) and his surroundings (politics, his life as an artist) and spin Seagull into autobiography.

(Producing Artistic Director Terrence J.) Nolen says he was ” struck by his old friend’s deconstructionist view, one that captures Chekhov brilliantly, but is very much a new Posner work.”

—The Philadelphia Inquirer

Read More

“Even if you have never seen The Seagull or pondered the meaning of performance art, Stupid Fucking Bird will captivate you with its unexpected insights into the human capacity for love, misery, and creative self expression. If you are a lover of Chekhov or a student of the theater it just might blow you away.”

—Talkin Broadway

Read More

“The bird may be stupid, but this is one smart play.”

Alex Keiper and Dan Hodge

Alex Keiper as Mash and Dan Hodge as Dev in Arden Theatre Company’s production of Stupid F**king Bird. Photo by Mark Garvin.

Cindy De La Cruz and Aubie Merrylees

Cindy De La Cruz as Nina and Aubie Merrylees as Con in Arden Theatre Company’s production of Stupid F**king Bird. Photo by Mark Garvin.

Cindy De La Cruz

Cindy De La Cruz as Nina in Arden Theatre Company’s production of Stupid F**king Bird. Photo by Mark Garvin.

Greg Wood

Arden Theatre Company’s production of Stupid F**king Bird. Photo by Mark Garvin.

Alex Keiper and Greg Wood

Alex Keiper as Mash and Greg Wood as Sorn in Arden Theatre Company’s production of Stupid F**king Bird. Photo by Mark Garvin.

Grace Gonglewski

Grace Gonglewski as Emma in Arden Theatre Company’s production of Stupid F**king Bird. Photo by Mark Garvin.

Alex Keiper

Alex Keiper as Mash in Arden Theatre Company’s production of Stupid F**king Bird. Photo by Mark Garvin.

Aubie Merrylees

Aubie Merrylees as Con in Arden Theatre Company’s production of Stupid F**king Bird. Photo by Mark Garvin.

Karl Miller

Karl Miller as Trigorin in Arden Theatre Company’s production of Stupid F**king Bird. Photo by Mark Garvin

Ensemble

(Clockwise, from bottom) Cindy De La Cruz as Nina, Alex Keiper as Mash, Aubie Merrylees as Con, Greg Wood as Sorn, Grace Gonglewski as Emma, Karl Miller as Trigorin, and Dan Hodge as Dev in Arden Theatre Company’s production of Stupid F**king Bird. Photo by Mark Garvin.

Karl Miller and Alex Keiper

Karl Miller as Trigorin and Alex Keiper as Mash in Arden Theatre Company’s production of Stupid F**king Bird>. Photo by Mark Garvin.

Dan Hodge and Alex Keiper

Dan Hodge as Dev and Alex Keiper as Mash in Arden Theatre Company’s production of Stupid F**king Bird. Photo by Mark Garvin.

Ensemble

Alex Keiper as Mash, Greg Wood as Sorn, Karl Miller as Trigorin, Aubie Merrylees as Con, Dan Hodge as Dev, and Grace Gonglewski as Emma in Arden Theatre Company’s production of Stupid F**king Bird. Photo by Mark Garvin.

Cindy De La Cruz and Aubie Merrylees

Cindy De La Cruz as Nina and Aubie Merrylees as Con in Arden Theatre Company’s production of Stupid F**king Bird. Photo by Mark Garvin.

Cast 
Cindy De La Cruz (Nina)
Grace Gonglewski (Emma)
Dan Hodge (Dev)
Alex Keiper (Mash)
Aubie Merrylees (Con)
Karl Miller (Trigorin)
Greg Wood (Dr. Sorn)

Creative
Director
Aaron Posner
Scenic Designer 
Timothy Mackabee
Costume Designer 
Katherine Fritz
Lighting Designer 
Thom Weaver
Sound Designer 
Daniel Perelstein
Choreographer 
Amy Smith
Stage Manager 
Katie Ringwood
Assistant Stage Manager 
Becca Rose