Atlantic's AGES OF THE MOON Extends Through March 21

Atlantic Theater Company (Neil Pepe, Artistic Director; Jeffory Lawson, Managing Director) is proud to announce an extension of the American premiere production of Pulitzer Prize winner Sam Shepard's AGES OF THE MOON through Sunday, March 21, 2010.

Directed by Jimmy Fay and starring Academy Award®, Golden Globe Award® and Tony Award® nominee Stephen Rea (The Crying Game, Someone Who'll Watch Over Me) and Sean McGinley (the film On a Clear Day) reprising roles originated in The Abbey Theatre production, AGES OF THE MOON began previews January 12 and officially opened January 27, 2010 Off-Broadway at Atlantic Theater Company's Linda Gross Theater (336 West 20 Street).

The limited engagement was originally scheduled through Sunday, March 7, 2010.

AGES OF THE MOON is a gruffly poignant and darkly funny play. Byron (McGinley) and Ames (Rea) are old friends re-united by mutual desperation. Over bourbon on ice, they sit, reflect and bicker until fifty years of love, friendship and rivalry are put to the test at the barrel of a gun.

The creative team for AGES OF THE MOON features scenic design by Brien Vahey, costume design by Joan Bergin, lighting design by Paul Keogan and sound design by Phillip Stewart.

AGES OF THE MOON had its critically acclaimed sold out world premiere engagement at Ireland's famed Abbey Theatre in March 2009 and returned by popular demand for a limited two week engagement in November 2009.

"Those Shepard boys are still tearing down the house... A poignant and honest continuation of themes that have always been present in the work of one of this country's most important dramatists."- Ben Brantley, The New York Times

"The dialogue is tangy and twangy, particularly as delivered by two fine actors, Stephen Rea and Sean McGinley...Not only is the talk spot on, so are the silences, which pepper the spasms of conversation." - Michael Kuchwara, Associated Press

"Highly entertaining, thanks to generous doses of sly humor and the wonderful performances by both actors." - Frank Scheck, New York Post

Stephen Rea and Sean McGinley are appearing with the permission of Actors' Equity Association. The Producers gratefully acknowledge Actors' Equity Association for its assistance of this production.

AGES OF THE MOON plays Tuesday through Friday at 8p, Wednesday at 2p, Saturday at 2p and 8p and Sundays at 3p.

Tickets for main stage productions are $65.00 and available by calling Ticket Central at 212-279-4200 (ticketcentral.com).

AGES OF THE MOON is a gruffly poignant and darkly funny play. Byron (McGinley) and Ames (Rea) are old friends re-united by mutual desperation. Over bourbon on ice, they sit, reflect and bicker until fifty years of love, friendship and rivalry are put to the test at the barrel of a gun.

GABRIEL is set around a largely forgotten moment in British history - the German occupation of the Channel Islands during World War II. A naked young man washes up on a Guernsey beach. Unnervingly handsome, he's fluent in both German and English but has no recollection of who he is. Patriot or Nazi...innocent or madman...or does it depend entirely on your point of view? GABRIEL explores the heart of memory, identity and imagination, as well as the lies people tell themselves and each other to make the darkness light again.

The 1997 world premiere production of GABRIEL was awarded the UK's prestigious LWT (London Weekend Television) Plays on Stage Award and the Meyer Whitworth Award.

Stephen Rea achieved international fame and an Academy Award® and a Golden Globe Award® nomination for his performance in Neil Jordan's film The Crying Game. Previously, Rea worked with Jordan on Angel (aka Danny Boy), his feature film debut and Company of Wolves. They have since collaborated on the films Interview with a Vampire, Michael Collins, The Butcher Boy, In Dreams, End of the Affair, Breakfast on Pluto and Ondine. He starred in the world premiere production Ages of the Moon at The Abbey Theatre in Ireland in January and returns to New York after starring in Sam Shepard's Kicking a Dead Horse at The Public Theater, as well as The Abbey Theater staging. He will star in Sebastian Barry's play Tales of Ballycumber at The Abbey this fall. Rea was nominated for a Best Actor Tony Award® for his performance in Frank McGuiness' Someone Who'll Watch Over Me in 1993. Other film: Mike Leigh's Life is Sweet, Robert Altman's Pret a Porter, Still Crazy, Guinevere, Bruce Beresford's Evelyn, Ulysses, Tara Road, V for Vendetta, Spies ,The Reaping, Sisters, Sixty Six and Till Death. Upcoming films include Neil Jordan's Ondine, Devil's Mercy and The Heavy. He has starred in numerous theatre productions in Dublin and London's West End as well as several teleVision Productions for the BBC, Channel 4 and HBO. Rea trained at Ireland's Abbey Theatre School and divided his time in the 1970's and 1980's between fringe theatre, major stage productions, television and film. He also starred in or directed all of the productions of the Field Day Theatre, a group he formed with playwright Brian Friel in 1980. 

Sean McGinley was a member of the Druid Theatre Company from 1977-1989 and appeared at the company in The Glass Menagerie, Loot, Private Dick, The Playboy of the Western World and the Corsican Brothers. He has become a dominant force on the Irish stage, winning awards for Whistle in the Dark (Abbey and Royal Court Theatres), Much Ado About Nothing (Druid), The Shaurgraun (Abbey Theatre) and The Hackney Office (Druid). He recently starred on television as "Malachy Doyle" in the CBC series "Republic of Doyle." Other television includes the ITV series "Lewis," "Gently's Last Case," Granada Television's "The Street" by Jimmy McGovern, "Bleak House," "Taggart," "Pure Mule," "Trial and Retribution VIII," the BBC series "Waking the Dead IV" and "Pulling Moves" and RTE's series "On Home Ground," "The Vice V," television adaptation of Marian Keyes successful novel "Watermelon," "The Hanging Gale," "Murder Rooms," "Making the Cut," "The Ambassador," "Cold Feet III" and "Midsomer Murders." Recent film work includes The Running Mate, The Wind that Shakes the Barley directed by Ken Loach, 66 directed by Paul Weiland and On a Clear Day for which he won an Irish Film and Television Best Supporting Actor Award. Other film work includes Braveheart, Michael Collins, The Butcher Boy, The General, Simon Magus, Angela's Ashes, The Closer You Get, The Claim, Gangs of New York, Dead Bodies, Conspiracy of Silence and Freeze Frame. Upcoming films include Shrooms directed by Paddy Breathnach, A Tiger's Tale for John Boorman and Closing the Ring for Richard Attenborough. He was born in Donegal and graduated from University College Galway.

Moira Buffini (Playwright). Theatre includes Dinner (2002), which was commissioned by the National Theatre, nominated for an Olivier Award® for Best New Comedy and has recently enjoyed a revival at the Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbour, New York. Other theater credits include Loveplay (2001) for the Royal Shakespeare Company; Silence (1999), Birmingham Rep and Plymouth Theatre Royal, winner of the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize; and Blavatsky's Tower (Fringe). Jordan was co-written with Anna Reynolds and won Writers' Guild Award for Best Fringe Play. Most recently Moira wrote Dying For It, a free adaptation of The Suicide by Nickolai Erdman, which premiered at The Almeida Theatre in Spring 2007. She also wrote A Vampire Story for the National Theatre's Connections 2007-2008 festival and a new play for the RSC. Moira has also written a screen adaptation of A Vampire Story for Number 9 Films and her screenplay Dibbuk Box is being developed for Ghost House and Mandate Pictures. She recently wrote an adaptation of Jane Eyre for BBC and Ruby Films for theatrical release. Her screen adaptation of Tamara Drewe for Ruby Films will begin shooting in September.

Sam Shepard (Playwright). was first produced in New York in 1963 at Theatre Genesis and many times at La MaMa and Café Cino. Eleven of his plays have won Obie Awards including The Tooth of Crime (1972) and Curse of the Starving Class (1976). He was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for his play Buried Child (1979). The critically acclaimed production of True West, starring Jon Malkovich and Gary Sinise opened Off-Broadway in 1982. Fool For Love (1982) starring Ed Harris received Obie Awards for Best Play and Direction. A Lie of the Mind (1985) won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award and the Outer Critic's Circle Award for Outstanding New Play. Simpatico opened at The Royal Court Theatre after its New York premiere at The Public Theater in 1994 and was made into a feature film by Matthew Warchus starring Nick Nolte and Sharon Stone. A revised Buried Child under the direction of Gary Sinise opened on Broadway in 1996 and was nominated for a Tony Award. Several new plays opened over the next decade in the United States and in London, most notably The Late Henry Moss and The God of Hell. MR. Shepard recently began a fruitful collaboration with The Abbey Theatre in Dublin, Ireland where Ages of the Moon had its world premiere in March, and where Kicking a Dead Horse starring his friend Stephen Rea also premiered. As an actor he is perhaps best known for his roles in Days of Heaven, The Right Stuff and Frances. His third book, Day Out of Days will be published by Knopf early next year.

Atlantic Theater Company AT THE LINDA GROSS THEATER is located at 336 West 20th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues). Tickets for main stage productions are $65.00 and available by calling Ticket Central at 212-279-4200 (ticketcentral.com).

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Stephen Rea photo by Robert Doyle