For birds, new and old

Attention all movie buffs: if you want to find out what it's like being attacked by ravenous gulls and crows, head across the Occoquan River on Saturday evening to the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center.

Actress Tippi Hedren will be on hand for a screening of the famed Alfred Hitchcock classic "The Birds," the 1963 movie that launched her cinematic career, which also included the Hitchcock thriller "Marnie."

Those who want to get cozy with the actress can pay $125 for an exclusive private event featuring a wine reception, paparazzi party and private meet-and-greet. For the non high-rollers, stick around after the movie for a question-and-answer session.

Now 79, Hedren was born in Minnesota and eventually moved to New York City to become a model before Hitchcock discovered her doing a television commercial for a diet cola. Playing Melanie Daniels in "The Birds" may have made her a star but Hedren wasn't always happy on set.

In fact, she told the media she experienced "nightmares filled with flapping wings" after Hitchcock surprised her by using live gulls, crows and ravens to "attack" her in the climactic bedroom scene.

Hedren has acted well into her 70s, appearing in the 1990 thriller "Pacific Heights" with daughter Melanie Griffith and more recently in the 2004 drama "I Heart Huck-abees."

Her real-life experiences with African lions in the 1981 box office bust "Roar" inspired her to get involved with the non-profit Roar Foundation and the Shambala Preserve, located at the edge of the Mojave Desert in California. Shambala currently houses some 70 animals, including African lions, Siberian and Bengal tigers, leopards, servals, mountain lions and bobcats.

Hedren lives on the Shambala site and conducts monthly tours of the preserve for the public. She came to the Washington, D.C., area this week to stump on Capitol Hill for the Shambala Preserve, said Public Relations & Events specialist Camela Speers. When they found out Hedren was com-ing, Arts Center staff invited her to speak during their ongoing film festival.

During the event, staff will present her with the Workshop's first lifetime achievement in the arts award.

Bringing in a star like Hedren is part of the Center's overarching goal of attracting big names from the arts industry as it tries to make a name for itself, Speers said. Later this year, the Center plans on bringing in some big name jazz musicians for its Art, Wine & All That Jazz event in September.

The Center has been open less than a year and features, among other things, an art gallery, a theater camp and lifestyle center for activities like yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates.

Staff writer Kipp Hanley can be reached at 703-878-8062.

WANT TO GO?

» WHAT'S UP: Actress Tippi Hedren will be on hand for the screening of "The Birds."

» WHEN: Reception starts at 6 p.m.; movie at 7 p.m. followed by a question and answer session.

» WHERE: 9601 Ox Road in Lorton

» TICKETS: Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door and $125 for the VIP reception

» INFO: www.workhousearts.org or call 703-495-0001