Photo Flash: First Look at Griffin Theatre's THE BIRDS

Following 15 Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations for its 2014-15 productions of Balm in Gilead, Titanic and Men Should Weep, Griffin Theatre Company is pleased to present its summer 2015 production: the Chicago premiere of the heart-pounding thriller THE BIRDS, adapted by acclaimed Irish playwright Conor McPherson from the short story by Daphne du Maurier and directed by ensemble member Kevin Kingston. THE BIRDS will play June 6 - July 19, 2015 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.theaterwit.org, in person at the Theater Wit Box Office or by calling (773) 975-8150. The press performance is Sunday, June 14 at 7 pm.

THE BIRDS will feature Jodi Kingsley, David Krajecki, Keith Neagle and Emily Nichelson.

The Chicago premiere of Conor McPherson''s suspenseful, atmospheric look at the end of the world and the lengths people will go to protect themselves and those they care about. Based on Daphne du Maurier''s terrifying short story (on which Hitchcock''s famed 1963 thriller was based), the play follows a small group of strangers who take refuge in a remote cabin after mysterious masses of birds have begun to violently attack at high tide. As the situation becomes increasingly dire and the tension between the survivors inexorably grows, it isn''t long before they discover that the horror hovering outside is nothing compared to that which lurks within.

THE BIRDS premiered to wide critical acclaim at the Gate Theatre in Dublin, Ireland in 2009.

The production team for THE BIRDS includes: Greg Pinsoneault (scenic design), Rachel Sypniewski (costume designer), Eric Vigo (lighting design), Stephen Ptacek (sound design), Katie Messmore (stage manager) and Shannon Rourke (asst. stage manager).

Photos by Michael Brosilow