Stupid F*cking Bird faithfully captures the mournful spirit of Chekov’s heartbreaking comedy The Seagull, and its comic exploration of unrequited love, artistic disillusionment, and life’s absurd disappointments. Aaron Posner’s script bursts out of the confines of Chekov’s quintessential realism by shattering the fourth wall with direct address, musical numbers, dance sequences, existential ruminations, and a lot more profanity. The production is directed by award winning Isaac Byrne, long considered a “play whisperer” among the downtown theater community, heralding a score of plays from their development to critically acclaimed runs in New York City and beyond, including The Other Mozart (“strikingly beautiful,” New York Times; Drama Desk nomination), Sara Fellini's In Vestments (“wrenching and visually eloquent” New York Times), and Desiree Burch’s Tar Baby. With a superlative cast of actor/musicians, under the musical direction of Anna Stefanic this production will take James Sugg’s original music to new heights, making music a central component of the production. The cast features Conor Hamill* (Hamlet, dir Darko Tresnjak, at Harford Stage Company) Mel Mattos (SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical), Nya Bowman* (Circando Picasso, Martha Graham Dance Company), Jey Kennedy (Breaking Point, dir Jeff Celentano), Timothy Wagner* (Fool for Love, Douglas Fairbanks Theatre), Haley Rice, and Trevor Markanovic. The design team includes Joshua Rose (lighting and scenic design: Lincoln Center, Nation Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing ) and Katja Andreiev (costume design), Kat Donachie (intimacy and movement choreography), and Susan Bowyer as the assistant director. Ashley Waldron is the Production Stage Manager. *appearing courtesy of Actors Equity Association
Cast and Creative team for STUPID F#CKING BIRD at Matthew Corozine Studio Theatre
Cast
Melissa Mattos
Nina
Melissa Mattos (Nina) Born and raised in Brazil, Melissa is a multi-faceted artist who has been working as a professional dancer, singer and actress for the past 14 years. She is proud to represent the hard working immigrants that moved to this wonderful land to follow their American Dream. Melissa is thrilled to be working with THEATRE4THEPEOPLE and Isaac Byrne again. She is beyond excited to be working with some of her favorite colleagues and friends on creating something breathtaking together. Some of her recent acting credits include Danny and The Deep Blue Sea (Roberta), In The Heights (Carla), Rent (Mimi), SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical (Michael/Maid) and Eurydice (The Nasty Man). Grateful for the ones leading and holding me down on this journey. @bigredhairmel
Nya Bowman
Emma
Nya Bowman is a native New Yorker from the Lower East Side based in NYC and Barcelona, Spain. Nya is a Dancer, Actor, Educator, and Entrepreneur who has appeared in commercials, short films, on television, and NYC stage. Nya performed with the Negro Ensemble Company as one of the featured actors and the dance soloist in the production of a photograph: lovers in motion directed by Ifa Bayeza and written by Ntozake Shange, which won the 2020 AUDELCO Awards for Best Choreography and nominated for Best Ensemble. Nya danced with the Washington National Opera, The Deborah Zall Project, and the Martha Graham Dance Company where she was the first Black woman in the history of the Martha Graham Dance Company to dance Martha Graham's famous iconic solo Lamentation in their Italian production, Cercando Picasso. Beyond her artistic endeavors, Nya is a Dance Educator, teaches the Graham technique, is a licensed NYC Tour Guide who curates historical NYC tours through her own tourism and hospitality small business, NYCSTAR HOSPITALITIES, and is an elected member of the Board of Governors of the labor union American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) representing Dance Artists in the NY Region and one of the founders of AGMA's Black Caucus. @nyabow www.nyabowman.com
Conor Hamill
Connie
Conor M. Hamill (Connie) Conor was most recently seen as Jason in Under the Dragon’s Tale by Isaac Byrne. Some of his favorite shows he’s been in regionally and locally include Memphis, Hoi Polloi, Hamlet, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, Mr Marmalade, La Cage Aux Folles, Bad Jews, and Third. Some Film credits include,The Cobblestone Corridor, Hooked, The Wandering Earth II, Cold Comfort, PIP, Crossing the Line, and Removed.
Jey Kennedy
Trigorin
Jey Kennedy (Trigorin) has been an NYC-based actor for 20 years. You can see him in his earlier days over 14 seasons on All My Children as various Firemen, Detectives, Gardeners and Police Officers, over 3 seasons on Third Watch as various Firemen and Detectives, and opposite William Shatner for priceline.com. Most recent work has been in the films "Tuc Stories," "Life of Zoe," " Pocket Full Of Games 2" and "S.I.N.T.A.," He has also worked alongside Hisham Tawfiq from “The Blacklist” in several indy films, in the Showtime series "Billions” alongside Roma Maffia and Harry Lennix, and in “Breaking Point.” alongside Jill Nicolini, Tom Berenger, Busta Rhymes, Armand Assante, and Frankie Faison as a reporter. He can also currently be seen on Yankee Stadium screens and in homes around the world buying Yankees gear for MasterCard. Currently a creative producer seeking more funding to re-film the award winning short comedy "New To The City," and after years of reporters, firemen, and detectives, he is looking forward to portraying a writer for a change. In addition to studies at MCS Theater with Matthew Corozine, Jey minored in Theater at Queens Borough College, studied Soap Opera Techniques with Bob Lambert, Commercials/Soap/Sitcom with Chris McGinn, Intro To Acting With Gus Weit, Scene Study with Mario Giacalone, and has recently taken up singing study with Elizabeth Saunders.
Timothy Wagner
Dr. Sorn
Timothy Wagner (Sorn) Is delighted to be part of this terrific SFB cast. The second of five siblings, Tim grew up in Cincinnati. He received his BFA in theater from NC School of the Arts in 1980 and worked professionally until 1988, performing at regional theaters in High Point (NC), Kansas City (MO), and Portsmouth (NH). He was a company member of NC Shakespeare Festival from 1979 through 1982. After 30+ years as an NYC business executive, Tim re-entered the acting world in 2021. NY credits include Romeo & Juliet (Stella Adler Studio); Tiny Demons (Wonderhorse Theater) and Fool For Love (Douglas Fairbanks Theater). Recent short films SERVED (Warden Hammer) and AWAKE (Dr. Hill) received awards on the indie festival circuit. Fran, Benno, Jules and Puja: Thanks for your love and support.
Trevor Markanovic
Dev
Born and raised near Cleveland, Trevor Markanovic is an actor and writer who fled to New York City on a whim to realize his dreams. He has studied acting at Matthew Corozine Studio since 2018 where he is now Creative Director and Administrator. He can most recently be seen in the comedy feature film "Retreat!", and the horror short film "Disrepair" which he wrote with Breathe Ent. Productions. He is excited and humbled to work with such a diversely talented team for his full-length stage debut.
Haley Rice
Mash
Haley Rice is a NYC-based creative. She most recently played The Cosmonaut in Isaac Byrne’s Letters to a Young Cosmonaut that played at the 2023 Chain Summer Play Festival and at MCS in August 2022. She is currently the Creative Producer at MCS Theatre and curated 10 new playwrights for their New Works Series. She recently directed Ryan Tofil's play reading Part One, MCS Writers' Block Showcase Scratch That, and assistant-directed Isle of Shoals production of Romeo & Juliet. Proud to be asked by the late Ted Wold to direct his 2021 production of Sunday on the Rocks. Haley is an accomplished playwright and screenwriter, her works appearing in various competitions including top 30 in Sam French Off-Off, semi-finalist in the Emerging Screenwriters Genre Screenplay Competition, and a finalist in the GenreBlast Film Festival competition. Co-Founder of Messy Stars Productions. @the_tales_of_hales
Creative Team
Isaac Byrne
Director
Isaac Byrne (director) has been awarded the New York Innovative Theatre Award for Outstanding Direction twice and productions he has directed have been nominated for a Drama Desk Award, an Off Broadway Alliance award, 29 NYIT awards, and 6 Planet Connection Awards. NYC Credits: Other Mozart (NYIT Outstanding Solo Performance), In Vestments (NYIT Outstanding Premier of a New Play), To Nineveh (NYIT Outstanding Production), Tar Baby (DR2, PS122), 52 Man Pick Up (Ars Nova, Edinburgh Fringe), AMP (NYIT Nominated for Outstanding Performance Art), I Used to Write on Walls, and Rusalka. He has taught acting at the University of the Arts, the New York Film Academy, and currently teaches at the Matthew Corozine Studio and AZAA. He is also a playwright whose work has been presented by MCS, Fusion Theater in NM, and the Weekend of New Work in Phoenix.
Susan Bowyer
Assistant Director
Susan Bowyer (assistant director) is a hapa kānaka maoli director and artist, from Waiʻanae Hawaiʻi. She began singing and acting at a young age and eventually graduated with her B.A. in Theater from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. After graduation Susan moved to New York City where she studied acting with Celia Schafer (McCaskill Studios) and Directing with Isaac Byrne (MCS). Susan is passionate about carrying on the storytelling practices of her kūpuna and highlighting indigenous voices in her work. Susan previously directed the staged reading of Blue Gum, Brooklyn by LR Savage in the MCS New Works Series, as well as the 2023 MCS Scene Showcase.
Ashley Waldron
Production Stage Manager
Ashley Waldron is a New Jersey based Stage Manager who specializes in both youth and adult theater productions. She graduated from Montclair State University, with a BFA in Production & Design/Stage Management. Some of her favorite Stage Management credits include: Reefer Madness: The Musical (Montclair State University), Always…Patsy Cline (Merry Go Round Playhouse), The Man in Room 306 (Luna Stage Company), What Stays (Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre). In 2020 Ashley also co-founded The Cove Writer’s Group, a collective of writers who came together to create and help each other via Zoom during the pandemic. When Ashley isn't working on a production, she spends her time working with children at a local NJ dance school as an administrator/dance instructor.
Kat Donachie
Intimacy Coordinator and Choreographer
Kat Donachie ( intimacy) originates from Dallas, Texas where she grew up writing, producing, and directing original theater performed by her friends, neighbors, and reluctant relatives in the formal living room. Her early theatrical career then took a back seat to ballet. After graduating from high school, Kat freelanced with ballet and contemporary ballet companies in the DFW area while attending SMU where she got two college degrees in things not even remotely related to her chosen fields. Later found herself moving to NYC to continue her contemporary ballet career dancing with companies including :Pushing Progress, Armitage Gone!, Amalgamate Artists, and others. Commercial dance credits include Marc Jacobs, Glamour Magazine, Meroka.tv, Hubert's Lemonade, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week and others. As an actress she has worked in NY Theater most recently appearing in the staged reading of Laurie Savage’s Blue Gum Brooklyn, as Wednesday in Isaac Byrne’s One.Two.Three, and in Haley Rice’s Don’t Feed the Ducks at The Tank.. Her Film and Television credits include Flesh and Bone, Stuck the Musical, Company Contract, The Call Center, and the upcoming feature Acolyte. Kat also produces indie films and has two projects currently on the festival season FUNKY and The Bargain and sits as the CFO of the Nordic International Film Festival. She is so excited to be working with this incredible team. @katdoanchie katdonachie.com
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