Michigan State University’s Department of Theatre continues its 2025-26 season, Secrets & Spotlights, with two plays performed in repertory that span more than a century of theatrical storytelling. Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull, first performed in 1896, and Aaron Posner’s Stupid F**king Bird, a bold reimagining of Chekhov’s classic, will run Oct. 4-12, 2025, in the MSU Auditorium’s Arena Theatre.
Directed by Rob Roznowski, professor of acting in MSU’s Department of Theatre, these productions invite audiences to examine timeless questions of love, longing and artistic ambition through both subtle realism and contemporary irreverence.
“These two plays mirror each other in striking ways,” Roznowski said. “Chekhov’s The Seagull is full of unspoken feelings. Aaron Posner’s Stupid F**king Bird takes some of the same characters but pushes all that subtext right to the surface.”
Chekhov’s The Seagull marked a turning point in theatrical realism at the Moscow Art Theatre in 1898. More than a century later, Posner’s Stupid F**king Bird, which premiered in 2013, offers a uniquely humorous perspective on Chekhov’s original. Performed in repertory, the productions allow audiences to witness two interpretations of similar characters and conflicts back to back.
“At the heart of both stories are two familiar struggles: unrequited love and the artist’s restless search for meaning,” Roznowski said. “These characters long for connection and fulfillment today as they did when first performed in 1896. Seeing these plays side by side lets us compare two approaches to the same questions: one rooted in subtlety, the other in bold confrontation. Together they remind us that, across more than a century, we’re still wrestling with love, art and the need for some form of recognition.”
Both plays run about two hours, including a 10-minute intermission. Because of mature themes and language, the productions carry a content notice for depictions of adult situations, gun violence and suicide.
Recognizing the weight of this material, the Department of Theatre has partnered with Jonathan Ritz, director of student wellness in the College of Arts & Letters, to support the cast and crew with de-roling practices and wellness resources throughout the rehearsal process. Additionally, a special community discussion is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 12, at 4 p.m., following the final repertory performances. Hosted in collaboration with MSU’s Counseling and Psychiatric Services, or CAPS, the talkback will feature CAPS experts Christian Gibson and Olivia Scott, using the plays as a springboard to discuss suicide awareness and ways to support mental health.
Performance dates
The Seagull:
- Saturday, Oct. 4, 2 p.m.
- Sunday, Oct. 5, 2 p.m.
- Tuesday, Oct. 7, 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Oct. 12, 1 p.m.
Stupid F**king Bird:
- Saturday, Oct. 4, 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Oct. 5, 7:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Oct. 12, 6:30 p.m.
Tickets
Tickets are on sale and can be purchased online at whartoncenter.com, in person at the Wharton Center Ticket Office or by calling 517-432-2000 or 1-800-WHARTON.
Ticket pricing:
- General admission – $27.50
- Students and youth – $16.50
More information
For more information on this show and other MSU Department of Theatre productions, visit whartoncenter.com/events/category/dept-of-theatre.
“Seeing these plays side by side lets us compare two approaches to the same questions: one rooted in subtlety, the other in bold confrontation. Together they remind us that, across more than a century, we’re still wrestling with love, art, and the need for some form of recognition.” - Rob Roznowski, Director and Professor of Acting
