Go On the Fantastical and Farcical Journey of Regretfully, So the Birds Are With New Photos

Featured Shows

Photo Features Go On the Fantastical and Farcical Journey of Regretfully, So the Birds Are With New Photos

Making its world premiere Off-Broadway, Julia Izumi's play follows three adopted Asian American siblings trying to discover who they are.

By Leah Putnam

March 29, 2023

Go inside the world premiere of Julia Izumi's Regretfully, So the Birds Are at Off-Broadway's Playwrights Horizons with new production photos. The play follows three adopted Asian American siblings—Mora, Neel, and Illy—on fantastical journeys to discover "who they are." As the Whistler siblings navigate the unhinged reality of contemporary American life, they face a host of problems including arson, affairs, incest, and murder.

Presented by WP Theater and Playwrights Horizons, previews began March 22 for the run which will open in the Peter Jay Sharp Theater April 11 and continue through April 30.

Starring are Sasha Diamond (Significant Other, Peerless) as Illy, Shannon Tyo (The Far Country, peerless) as Mora, Sky Smith (The Lucky Star) as Neel, Gibson Frazier (Mr. Burns, Tumacho) as Cam the Snowman, Kristine Nielsen (Gary, Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike) as Elinore, and Pearl Sun (Come From Away, If/Then) as Srey.

Sasha Diamond, Shannon Tyo, and Sky Smith Chelcie Parry

Izumi said in an earlier statement, “I was feeling like a lot of plays being produced were positing, ‘what if the consequence of being a marginalized voice or body in this country is the worst thing that happens to you?’ I wanted to write characters for whom that’s not the worst thing that happens—what if there are also other things on top of that, as often many people have? What if, yes, you live in this body, but also your mom killed your dad and your siblings are in love with each other and your dad is kind of a gross person? I wanted to give my characters room to be messy—which I don’t think is often granted particularly to Asian American women characters—as well as charismatic, strange, funny.”

Jenny Koons (Oedipus, Hurricane Diane) serves as director for the production which features scenic design by You-Shin Chen (The KILL ONE Race), costume design by Alicia J. Austin (You Will Get Sick), lighting design by Stacey Derosier (Fat Ham), and sound design by Megumi Katayama (Tambo & Bones).

Visit PlaywrightsHorizons.org.