Continuing its 2026 season, The Cabrillo Playhouse presents The Birds, running April 10 through May 3, a gripping and unsettling adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s short story that explores what happens when the familiar world begins to fracture. Set inside an isolated cabin under siege, the play strips away comfort and certainty, leaving four strangers to confront not only the threat outside, but the growing unease within.
At the center of the story is Nat, played by Zack Mallgrave, making his Cabrillo Playhouse debut. Mallgrave brings a grounded intensity to the role, shaped by a range of regional and university performances including A Christmas Carol, Richard III, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and The Spitfire Grill. A graduate of Boston University’s BFA program, he anchors the production with a steady presence as the world around him becomes increasingly unstable.
Opposite him is Diane, portrayed by Lauren Belt, returning to Cabrillo after appearing in Breaking Up Is Hard To Do. Belt’s recent work includes roles in Jekyll & Hyde, Beauty and the Beast, Into the Woods, and A Christmas Carol. Her Diane is perceptive and resilient, navigating fear and uncertainty with a strength that is tested as tensions rise.
Mimi Franks makes their Cabrillo debut as Julia, a character whose arrival shifts the emotional balance of the group. A graduate of AMDA in Los Angeles with a degree in Music Theatre, Franks brings both vulnerability and edge to a role defined by suspicion, instinct, and the search for safety in an increasingly unpredictable environment.
Rounding out the cast is Jae LaRosa as Tierney, returning to Cabrillo following performances in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Much Ado About Nothing. A CSUF graduate in Directing and Playwriting, LaRosa’s past roles range from Oberon and Dogberry to performances in Spamalot, Cabaret, and Seussical. Their Tierney brings a sharp perspective to the group dynamic as the play’s tension continues to build.
Directed by Eric Modyman, whose previous Cabrillo credits include Every Brilliant Thing, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Puffs, this production leans into a darker, more grounded tone. “This isn’t simply a story of bird attacks,” Modyman explains. “It’s about the horror of a collapsing society and what emerges when the mask of civility slips.”
With its intimate cast and escalating sense of unease, The Birds offers a stark and timely look at how quickly the world can change, and how fragile our sense of normal can be. The Birds runs April 10 through May 3 at The Cabrillo Playhouse.