FLINT REPERTORY THEATRE
Flint Rep on the Road presents THE BIRDS
IN-PERSON AUDITIONS 

AEA AND NON-UNION CONTRACTS AVAILABLE

THE BIRDS
By Aristophanes
Director: TBD
Rehearsals: September 22 – October 26, 2025
Performances: October 27 – November 7, 2025; February 16 – 27, 2026
Touring Production

This season, Flint Repertory Theatre is launching our first ever touring production. This professional production will be designed and rehearsed specifically to be brought out into the community. Two week tours in the fall and the spring will see The Birds pop up in Genesee county high schools, community centers, and beyond.

Lamenting the unwholesome state of human affairs, a pair of adventurers turn their backs on civilization as they know it and unite with the birds to found an idyllic city in the clouds. Among the earliest existing portrayals of a utopian society, this sparkling fantasy by one of antiquity’s most brilliant and popular playwrights offers modern audiences and readers a vision of ancient Greek theater at its very finest. The Birds resounds with comic vitality, combining witty dialog, interludes of exquisite lyricism, and clever staging for an extravaganza as appealing to contemporary audiences as it was to Athenians of more than 2,000 years ago.

SEEKING:
A dynamic ensemble of 7 – 9 performers of all ethnicities, backgrounds, gender identities, body types, and abilities to portray the many characters that make up the world of The Birds, including, but not limited to those listed below. Performers should be comfortable with classical text. Please note any special skills (proficiency with an instrument, movement training, circus training, etc)

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN

PISTHETAERUS Pisthetaerus is a middle-aged Greek man who leaves Athens to seek a new home. He is tired of the taxes and power of Athens.

BASILEIA Basileia is Zeus’s maid and a princess. She is promised to Pisthetaerus after he negotiates with Zeus’s ambassadors.

THE CHORUS LEADER The chorus leader is a bird who speaks for the rest of the flock. He initially wants to attack Pisthetaerus and Euelpides before hearing their idea of a bird city.

EPOPS Epops is the former king named Tereus. He is transformed into a large bird called a Hoopoe.

EUELPIDES Euelpides is the traveling companion and friend of Pisthetaerus. He is also tired of Athens life.

HERACLES Heracles is the bastard son of Zeus and is portrayed as being a bit stupid and clueless. He is convinced by Pisthetaerus to give up Zeus’s scepter and the throne.

IRIS Iris is the Greek goddess of the rainbow and the messenger between the gods and humanity. She is caught spying in the city and is brought to Pisthetaerus.

PARRICIDE Parricide is the man who wants to join the bird city so he can beat his father to death. Parricide is a Greek word that means to kill a parent.

PHOENICOPTERUS Phoenicopterus is a brightly colored, pink flamingo. He joins the council of birds and votes to establish the new city.

POSEIDON Poseidon is the god of the sea in Greek mythology. He is angry and vengeful and is one of the ambassadors Zeus sends to meet with Pisthetaerus.

THE PRIEST The priest is an unnamed man who makes sacrifices to the birds after the establishment of the bird city.

PROMETHEUS Prometheus is the god of fire. He secretly enters the city to tell Pisthetaerus about Zeus’s desire to negotiate.

TRIBALLUS Triballus is lumbering and awkward. He is the god of the tribe of barbarians called the Triballians and is sent by Zeus to talk about a treaty with Pisthetaerus.

TROCHILUS Trochilus is a loud and rather annoying wren. He is the servant to Epops and is the first to engage with Pisthetaerus and Euelpides.

ZEUS Zeus is the ancient Greek god of the sky, lightning, and thunder. He is the head god who sits on Mount Olympus and holds a scepter.