The Birds by Conor McPherson at Johnny Carson Theater at the Lied Center for Performing Arts

PRODUCTION TO RUN April 25, 26, 27 at 7:30pm, April 28 at 2:00pm, at the Johnny Carson Theater at the Lied Center for Performing Arts.  

OmniArts Nebraska is pleased to present a gripping, unsettling, and moving look at human relationships in the face of societal collapse: The Birds by Conor McPherson. Daphne du Maurier’s short story, also the basis for Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film, is boldly adapted by Conor McPherson in this powerful piece of theatre.

In an isolated house, strangers Nat and Diane—played by Max Antoine and Rachel Rose—take shelter from relentless masses of attacking birds. They find relative sanctuary but not comfort or peace; there’s no electricity, little food, and a nearby neighbor—the mysterious Tierney, played by Walter J. McDowell—may still be alive and watching them. Another refugee, Julia—played by Jenna Janssen—arrives with some news of the outside world, but her presence also brings discord. Their survival becomes even more doubtful when paranoia takes hold of the makeshift fortress—an internal threat to match that of the birds outside.

OmniArts Nebraska’s production of The Birds features four voiceover and foley artists, who create the sounds of the attacking birds and the world outside the house throughout the play, live at each performance. They are Danny Johnson, Chad Klein, Paige Patton, and Dana Rabe.

The production is directed by Dustin Witte, with violence and intimacy coordination by Reed Westerhoff and costume coordination by Jillian Carter. Completing the production team are two current Doane University students, Cody Lee Crist as lighting designer, and Emily Dominguez as stage manager.

This production is a psychological thriller and is intended for mature audiences.