The University of Nevada, Reno's Department of Theatre and Dance will unveil "Stupid F**king Bird" this week, a play written by Aaron Posner. "Stupid F**king Bird" is a compassionate, cutting and modern adaptation of Chekhov’s "The Seagull."

An aspiring young playwright rampages against the art created by his mother's generation. A nubile young actress wrestles with an aging Hollywood star for the affections of a renowned novelist. And everyone discovers just how disappointing love, art and growing up can be. The production asks deeply insightful questions like: How do we live with people we love? How can we cope with our lives? What makes art good for anything? And what obligation does a production owe to its prop gun?

“I don’t have a lot to say about 'Stupid F**king Bird' by way of analysis. Like it’s source material, it is a play about the guts of life. It’s a beating, bleeding heart of a play,” says director Rosie Brownlow-Calkin. “It’s a play about love, art, passion and youth, and what happens after youth.”

Featuring a cast of seven talented University students, this "Stupid F**king Bird" is realistic (the people in the play talk like real people), deeply emotional and darkly funny. It has an experimental streak, too: don’t be surprised if a character tosses a line or two your way and expects you to talk back.

"Stupid F**king Bird" will be held in the Studio Theater in the Church of Fine Arts Building on the University campus at 7:30 p.m. March 31 and April 1, 7, and 8, and at 2:30 p.m. April 2 and 9. Additionally, there will be a 20-minute talkback following the show on April 1. The play is recommended for ages 13 and up, as some material is not suitable for young children.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $12 for seniors, non-UNR students, University faculty and staff, and $5 for University students with ID. Advance tickets are available online or at the CFA Box Office one hour prior to the show.

Theatre and dance have a long and rich history at the University of Nevada, Reno. The Department of Theatre and Dance is committed to the multidisciplinary nature of theatre and dance through rigorous study – from historical legacies to contemporary challenges and global traditions to individual identity – which fosters growth and prepares students for professional opportunities, supports faculty as artists and scholars and actively engages audiences.