Digital Program

Stupid F##cking Bird

By Aaron Posner
Directed by Dmitry Troyanovsky
Scenic Design by Cameron Anderson

The Laurie Theater, Spingold Theater Center
April 28–30, 2023
8 p.m. Friday & Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday & Sunday
Runtime: 2 hours

Content Warning: Self harm, discussion of suicide, child loss and sexual themes, gun shot.

Cast

Artistic Team

Electricians

  • Lawrence Ware

  • Daniel Poole

  • Jack Culton

Costume Shop

  • Liam Delaney
  • Sabrina Goldsmith
  • Ofri Levinson
  • AJ Pesaro
  • Anna Sewald

Shop Carpenters

  • Arryn Clanaugh
  • Elianna Gerut
  • Harvey Sugiuchi
  • Kory Wibberly
  • Yijia Yu

Student Run Crew

  • Liam Delaney
  • LaNaya S.K. Grovell
  • Nick Kanan
  • Nico Miller
  • Jess Umanoff
  • Jessie Yang

Cast Bios

Omer Barash
Trig
Omer Barash ’25
Pronouns: he/him

Omer is currently a sophomore at Brandeis University, majoring in Economics and Business. He has previously appeared in “In the Empty” with the Brandeis Theater Department, and “Rumors” with the UTC. Omer is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with such a terrific department, actors, and production staff to help create this beautiful production. He would like to thank you all for coming and tell you to enjoy the show!

Emily Bial
Nina
Emily Bial ’25
Pronouns: she/her

Emily is a sophomore from Lawrence, Kansas and is double-majoring in Theatre Arts and American Studies. This is her first show with the Brandeis Department of Theater Arts, and she couldn’t be more excited! Her recent performing credits include Sally Bowles in “Cabaret” and #00 in The Wolves, both with the UTC. Outside of theater, she is a member of the Brandeis Starving Artists a cappella group. She is incredibly grateful to the whole cast and crew for making her first department show such an awesome experience.

Lucie Blau
Emma
Lucie Blau ’24
Pronouns: she/her

Lucie is a Junior from Manhattan, New York and is double majoring in Theater and HSSP. She is grateful to be a part of the incredibly talented cast of Stupid F##king Bird. Some past credits include Constance in Lizzy Hilliard’s “The Pocket Girls”,Queen Elizabeth in Brandeis University’s Orlando, #46 in “The Wolves” and Ensemble in “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon” with Brandeis’ Undergraduate Theater Collective; Before Brandeis Lucie was Natasha in Anton Chekhov’s “Three Sisters” at The Stella Adler Conservatory of Acting. Lucie is very thankful for the production team and cast members of Stupid F##king Bird, who worked tirelessly to ensure the success of this show!

Anika Hahn
Mash
Anika Hahn ’25
Pronouns: they/them

Anika is thrilled to be playing Mash in Stupid F##king Bird. This is their fifth show at Brandeis. They have previously appeared in two shows through the Brandeis Theater Department (In The Empty (Ensemble/Dance Captain) and Spring Awakening (Otto/Dance Captain) and done two student theater productions (Our Day Will Come (Rosemary Blake) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hermia). Anika is a dancer, actor, and singer from Minneapolis, Minnesota. They would like to thank their parents and brother for their love and support.

Noah Leikind
Sorn
Noah Leikind ’24
Pronouns: he/him

Noah is so excited to return to the Brandeis stage after studying abroad at the British American Drama Academy in London last semester. He is a junior studying theater arts with a minor in creative writing. Other Brandeis acting credits include No Exit (UTC), Macbeth (HTP), and Orlando (Dept. of Theater Arts). Non-Brandeis credits include Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet (Commonwealth Shakespeare Company) and various roles in Julius Caesar (BADA). He is currently working on an original play that will appear in next spring’s Senior Thesis Festival. Many thanks to his friends and family for their continuous support. For Grandma.

Greg Roitburd
Dev
Greg Roitburd ’26

Greg is a First Year majoring in Physics and minoring in Creative Writing and Theater Arts. This is his first show with the Department of Theater Arts at Brandeis, but is a part of Brandeis’ Premiere Sketch Comedy group, Boris’ Kitchen! Though a fan of comedy, he is excited to dig back into dramatic theater by playing Dev in “Stupid F##king Bird”. Past credits include “Almost, Maine” and “The Laramie Project”. Outside of the Theater, Greg is a ballroom dancer and enjoys writing poetry in his spare time. Greg is extremely excited to be a part of this production and would like to thank his family, friends, and the cast and crew for all of the support over the course of this production.

Eran Zelixon
Con
Eran Zelixon ’23
Pronouns: he/him

Eran is a senior at Brandeis studying Theater Arts and Russian. His Brandeis credits include “Alone | Together” (Tuck), “Welcome Home” (2022 Senior Festival Thesis), and Brutus/Ensemble in “Julius Caesar” during his semester at the British American Drama Academy. Eran previously studied at Berklee College of Music, where he appeared in “Parade” (Ensemble) and stage managed a new work, “Stone and Sparrow.” In 2019, he appeared on Broadway as a Jimmy Awards nominee. He performs as a tenor with choirs including Boston’s Cantata Singers. Eran extends his gratitude to his wonderful parents, mentors, and all those who support him.

Artistic Team

Cameron Anderson
Scenic Design

Cameron Anderson is an internationally acclaimed scenic and projection designer and has designed extensively at the world's leading theatre and opera companies. Recent projects include the world premiere of the operas The Leopard (South Miami Dade Cultural Center) and RUR: A Torrent of Light (Tapestry Opera, Toronto). Other recent highlights include West Side Story (Kilden Performing Arts Center, Norway, and Vancouver Opera), and Simon Boccanegra (Teatro Colon, Argentina), Byhalia Mississippi (The Kennedy Center), The Niceties (Manhattan Theatre Club), The Niceties, Yerma, Becoming Cuba, and Sweat (Huntington Theater), Fille du Regiment, The Consul, Vinkensport, The Merry Widow, and Rocking Horse Winner (Opera Saratoga), Photograph 51 (South Coast Repertory), and Madame Butterfly (Pacific Symphony). Other select opera credits include Glimmerglass Festival, San Francisco Opera, Seattle Opera, Central City Opera, Minnesota Opera, Opera Theater of St. Louis, Gotham Chamber Opera, and On Site Opera. Select Off-Broadway credits include Roundabout Theatre Company, Playwrights' Horizons, New Georges, LAByrinth Theater Company, Naked Angels, Ars Nova, and Brooklyn Academy of Music. Upcoming projects include Semele (Wolf Trap Opera), Cat Kid Comic Club (TheaterWorksUSA, Lucille Lortel and national tour), and Charlie Puth’s national tour. Cameron is an Associate Professor of Theater Arts and she joined the faculty in 2012.

Dara Anhouse
Dramaturg

Dara is a junior majoring in History and HSSP, with a minor in East Asian Studies. She is the production manager and treasurer for Freeplay Theatre Cooperative, and worked as a dramaturg on Freeplay's production of “Cabaret.” Acting experience from her first year at Brandeis, including Anton Pavlovich’s “Garden Club” (Trofimov) and “10, 9, Too Late, Blast Off!!” (Vladimir Mayakovsky), sparked her interest in Russian theater and Chekhov in particular. She is thankful for this opportunity to work with the theater department, and wishes the best for the cast and crew!

Erika Bailey
Voice Coach

Erika Bailey is the Head of Voice and Speech at American Repertory Theater and a faculty member at Harvard University.  She has coached theater productions across the country and on Broadway. Here in Boston area she has worked with Nora Theater Company, Gloucester Stage Company,  and Central Square Theater among others.  She holds a B.A. from Williams College and an MFA in Acting from Brandeis University. 

Dewey Dellay
Composer/Sound Designer

Dewey Dellay is happy to be back designing at Brandeis Theater Arts. Some of his last shows here were “The Bacchae and Alone/Together.” Some other shows he has worked on in the area are “The Little Foxes,” “Be Here Now “(Lyric Stage Company); “The Merchant of Venice,” “Seven Guitars” (Actor’s Shakespeare Company); “Constellations” (Underground Railway Theater), The Inheritance (SpeakEasy Stage). In past years he has received an Elliot Norton award for Outstanding Design and an IRNE for Best Sound Design. His television credits include original music for Emmy nominated National Geographic's “China's Mystery Mummies,” and he has composed music for five seasons of “Our America with Lisa Ling” (OWN Channel.) Dewey is presently composing music for digital children’s books produced by Live Oak Media.

Payton Gunner
Production Stage Manager

Payton Gunner is a junior and an Atlanta Posse Scholar at Brandeis University. She works as a community advisor on campus and majors in Theater Arts with a concentration in Stage Management and a minor in English. This is her sixth production on campus, having previously assistant stage managed for “Disconnecting the Dots” (senior thesis), a student-written production entitled, Our Day Will Come, the department shows “Orlando” & “Spring Awakening” and others. She continues her passion as the stage manager on this production of “Stupid F##king Bird.” This is Payton’s first time as the department stage manager; she hopes you enjoy the show!

Anna Krechevsky
Assistant Stage Manager

Anna Krechevsky is a 22-year-old theatre artist living in Wellesley, MA. She graduated from Skidmore College in May of 2022 with a B.S. in Theatre and an Arts Administration Minor. Anna has worked as an Assistant Director for “Wellesley Theatre Project “in her hometown, has written and directed her play Compatible, performed as her senior project at Skidmore, and led Skidmore’s all inclusive theater group for 3 years. Her experience spans Directing, Playwriting, Acting, Sound Design, Arts Administration/Marketing, Stage Management, and now props. She hopes to continue gaining experience in her desired fields.

Ofri Levinson
Assistant Director

Ofri Levinson is a sophomore majoring in Theater arts and Multimedia Storytelling & Design. In her role as assistant director, she is grateful for the opportunity to learn from professor Troyanovsky about the theatrical progress, directing methods, and working on ensemble pieces. It is a pleasure for her to be involved in the “Stupid F##king Bird” production and contribute to the creative process.

Christopher Ostrom
Lighting Designer

Christopher Ostrom's credits include productions for Odyssey Opera, Opera San Jose, Tulsa Opera, Arizona Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Mobile Opera, Hawaii Opera Theater, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Kentucky Opera, Opera Boston, Syracuse Opera, New England Conservatory, Opera Providence, Boston Conservatory, The Toronto Symphony, Macau International Music Festival, Curtis Institute of Music, Boston Early Music Festival, New Repertory Theatre, Stoneham Theatre, Boston Ballet, Snappy Dance Theatre, Boston’s Christmas Revels, Brandeis University, and Bard College. Christopher is the Producing Artistic Director at Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, where he has designed or directed over 70 productions since 1997. Member: United Scenic Artists Local USA-829 of the IATSE.

Ani Poghosyan
Assistant Stage Manager

Ani Poghosyan is a first year at Brandeis University and this is her first time working on a department production. She has previously stage managed throughout high school and for the Undergraduate Theater Collective last semester here at Brandeis. She is very excited for everyone to see the production and all the hard work the cast and crew have put in over the last two months. Enjoy the show!

Milo Rosengard
Music Director/Arranger

Milo Rosengard is a music director, pianist, singer, and arranger based in New York City and Boston. A recent graduate of Brandeis ('22), this is his second show with the Department of Theater Arts after assistant music directing Spring Awakening this past fall. He also music directed several student productions while still an undergraduate, including “Cabaret,” “Mamma Mia!,” and “Our Day Will Come” (new work). Milo is proud to be music directing “Stupid F##king Bird,” and he would like to extend thanks to his parents and friends for their love, wisdom, and support.

Mitsu Salmon
Movement Choreographer

Mitsu Salmon creates original performances and visual works which fuse multiple disciplines. She has presented at places such as the Chicago Cultural Center, Highways, Performance Space 122, and internationally at Hebbel Am Uffer in Berlin, London Performance Art Festival, and Urbanguild in Kyoto, Japan. She has participated in artist residencies at the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei Artist Village, Guildhall, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, and Oxbow. Salmon received her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2014. In 2005 she graduated from NYU. She was a member of the Butoh company, Ima Tenko and Kiraza, in Kyoto from 2008 to 2010. She has taught at Brandeis University, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Weber State University. She has led Butoh workshops nationally and internationally in places such as Taiwan, Japan, England, Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles. She has been awarded the best collaborative multi-disciplinary performance by Newcity, Chicago City Grant, Midwest Nexus Touring Grant, Chicago Dancemaker's Forum Grant, and Utah Performing Arts Fellowship.

Ariel Schultz
Assistant Director

Ariel Schultz is a sophomore from Brooklyn, New York, and is majoring in American Studies and Theater Arts. This is his first time assistant directing and his first show with the Brandeis Department of Theater Arts. He has most recently acted in “Cabaret” as Ernst Ludwig and a “Midsummer Night's Dream” as Lysander. Outside of theater, he is on the Chabad at Brandeis and BIPAC student board. In his spare time he enjoys playing sports and learning torah.

Brooke Stanton
Costume Design

Brooke Stanton is a costumer who has worked in theatre, film, and television. During her five years with George Lucas’ ILM, she built creatures for the Star Wars Special Edition Trilogy and The Phantom Menace. She has toured internationally and nationally designing for Peter Sellars. Other clients include Disney, Columbia Pictures, CBS, American Repertory Theatre, American Conservatory Theatre, Aspen Music Festival, Berkshire Opera Festival, Boston Symphony Youth Orchestra, Commonwealth Shakespeare, Santa Fe Opera, S.F. Shakespeare, New England Conservatory, and Odyssey Opera. She costumed three films with Robin Williams after studying Costume Design at NYU and Textiles at California College of the Arts.

Dmitry Troyanovsky
Director

Dmitry Troyanovsky stages productions, teaches, workshops, adapts and develops new theatrical material at national and international institutions. Dmitry work has been seen at Shanghai Drama Arts Center, Asolo Rep Theater, American Repertory Theatre, Opera Idaho, Bard Music Festival, Boston Playwrights' Theater, Actors' Shakespeare Project in Boston, Baryshnikov Arts Center, Shanghai Theatre Academy, Asolo Rep (FL), SpeakEasy Theater, Moscow Art Theatre School, 92 Street Y, New York University, Pushkin Theater (Moscow), and Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center. Dmitry is a proud graduate of Brandeis University class of 1998. He has an MFA from the A.R.T./MXAT Institute for the Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University.

General Information