CSULB Theatre Arts Department's University Players to Present BIRD IN THE HAND, 4/8-19

CSULB Theatre Arts Department's University Players presents Bird in the Hand by Jorge Ignacio Cortiñas, directed by Shanti Pillai and Marc Gomes. A wry comedy blending theatre, dance, visual art, and original composition, Bird in the Hand plays April 8th through April 19th in the Studio Theatre on the CSULB campus.

A New York Times Critic's Pick, Bird in the Hand follows a young man, Felix, as he recounts the events of his senior year of high school. Looking back at working at his father's Miami-based theme park dedicated to tropical birds, he daydreams about the choices he made and how they could have happened differently. A son of Cuban immigrants, Felix feels caged, much like the prized Macaw at the theme park, and struggles to find freedom while reflecting on his culture and sexual identity. Pillai hopes that students will clearly identify with "the theme of the being a second generation immigrant, as well as the universal themes of nostalgia, class, and identity." Pillai is working with undergraduate students to incorporate Indian theatre techniques, "though it doesn't look like Indian theatre. I am working with students who I want to have a unique experience towards their orientation to the stage. I think it is valuable for them to have."

Shanti Pillai is Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts at CSULB. From 2006-2014 she lived and worked in Havana, Cuba where she collaborated with dancers, actors, musicians, and visual artists in creating several original works for the stage and gallery spaces. Her primary interest as an artist is to investigate the application of principles and techniques from traditional Indian theater for contemporary performance.

Marc Gomes enjoys a prolific career as an actor, writer and director, on stage, and in film and television. On stage in notable productions of As You Like It, A Slow Dance On the Killing Ground, A Taste of Honey, and the North American premiere of The Emperor. He has had starring roles in several television series, most recently the new series, Trial, for Amazon. His screenplay of the Caribbean novel, Corentyne Thunder, received a UNIDO Cinematic & Entrepreneurial Motivation Award (CEMA). Marc is a member of the MFA Acting program at CSULB with a focus in pedagogy.

Jorge Ignacio Cortiñas is a New York based theatre-maker, Artistic Director of the Obie-winning company Fulcrum Theater, and a Usual Suspect at New York Theatre Workshop. His play Blind Mouth Singing, another New York Times Critics' Pick was a part of the 2013-14 season at CSULB. Cortiñas' many awards include fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York Foundation for the Arts, a Writers Community Residency from the YMCA National Writer's Voice, and the Robert Chesley Award. His playwright commissions include the Mark Taper Forum, South Coast Repertory, and Playwrights Horizons.

Bird in the Hand opens Friday, April 8th, and closes Sunday, April 17th. Performances run Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8pm, with additional matinees Saturdays at 2pm, and a closing performance on Sunday April 17th at 2pm. This production will be presented in the Studio Theatre on the CSULB Campus, accessible via West Campus Drive. Tickets are $17 for general admission and $14 for students, seniors, and military (with valid ID). Convenient parking is available next to the theatre for $5. There will be a panel discussion and reception on Saturday April 9th after the matinee performance with community members that is open to the public. For tickets and additional information please call (562) 985-5526 or visit calrep.org.

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