Theatre Extempore will present its inaugural full-length production, Stupid F**king Bird, at The MAIN (24266 Main Street) in Old Town Newhall from Friday, July 25 through Sunday, August 10, as part of the annual Santa Clarita Shakespeare Festival.
Written by Aaron Posner and “sort of based” on Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull, this sharp, darkly comedic adaptation explores love, art, heartbreak and the chaos of trying to matter. With a blend of humor, self-awareness and emotional depth, this play pulls back the curtain on a tangled web of relationships and ambition. Please note: This production is recommended for audiences 16-years and older.
Con, an aspiring playwright and self-aware “nepo-baby,” is in love with Nina, a fame-seeking actress who’s falling for the celebrated author Trigorin—the current lover of grande dame Emma, who also happens to be Con’s mother. Add Dev, a kind-hearted schoolteacher who can’t get the time of day from Mash, Emma’s sardonic, bass-playing cook who is still hopelessly devoted to Con, and what you’ve got isn’t just a love triangle… it’s a full-blown love hexagon. On the fringes is Dr. Sorn, simply yearning for someone—anyone—to love him. As these characters chase meaning, redefine art and search for connection, they make the kinds of messy, misguided decisions that only love can inspire, sometimes with tragic consequences.
Directed by Jeremy D. Thompson, the production features a talented cast of Santa Clarita-based and regional performers, including Brock Birkner, Bridgett Mistrot, Natalie Valentine, Peter Schiavelli, Bethany Koulias, Ángel Miguel López, Caroline Buddendorf and Cole Koehler.
Stupid F**king Bird is a co-production with the Santa Clarita Shakespeare Company as part of their 2025 Summer Theatre Festival, an annual series of free Shakespeare performances, special theatrical events and the Summer High School Apprentice Program for the entertainment of our community and the Northern LA region.
To learn more about Stupid F**king Bird and to purchase tickets, please visit AtTheMAIN.org.
