Official: Tony Winner Alice Ripley to Lead Irish Rep's A CHRISTMAS MEMORY; Cast Announced!

Off-Broadway's award-winning Irish Repertory Theatre has announced the cast for this season's annual holiday offering. Tony Award winner Alice Ripley will lead the cast of the New York premiere of A CHRISTMAS MEMORY, a musical based on the classic Truman Capote short story.

The cast also features Samuel Cohen (ONCE, Irish Rep's DONNYBROOK!), Nancy Hess (CHICAGO), Taylor Richardson (ANNIE), Ashley Robinson (Steve Martin's BRIGHT STAR; the Old Globe, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG; West End), Virginia Ann Woodruff (VIOLET, THE COLOR PURPLE), and 10-year old Silvano Spagnuolo, making his Off-Broadway debut. Directed by Charlotte Moore, A CHRISTMAS MEMORY has a book by Duane Poole, lyrics by Carol Hall, and music by Larry Grossman. Previews begin Tuesday, November 25th, 2014. The Opening Night is schedule for Thursday, December 4th. The engagement will end on Sunday, January 4th, 2015. Tickets are now on sale through the Irish Rep box office at 212-727-2737 or online at www.irishrep.org.

Due to a theatre renovation currently taking place at its home base, The Irish Rep's current season is being presented at the DR2 Theatre (103 East 15th Street in Union Square).

A CHRISTMAS MEMORY is an elegant, old-fashioned musical celebration of a traditional Southern Christmas. A CHRISTMAS MEMORY, set in Alabama in 1955 (with flashbacks to 1933), tells the story of Young Buddy, who is being raised by three eccentric cousins, and their last, precious, Christmas together at home. As Buddy and Aunt Sook gather ingredients for their "World Famous Christmas Fruitcake"(one that will go "directly to the Roosevelts in the White House!"), we are drawn back into a sweetly innocent world filled with a warmth and emotion that has all but disappeared.

A CHRISTMAS MEMORY has musical direction by Aaron Gandy and choreography by Barry McNabb. A CHRISTMAS MEMORY has scenic design by James Noone, costume design by David Toser, and lighting design by Brian Nason. Hair design is by Robert Charles Vallance, and Properties are by Deirdre Brennan. The dialect coach is Stephen Gabis. Elis C. Arroyo is the production stage manager and Karen Evanouskas is the assistant stage manager.

A CHRISTMAS MEMORY was originally produced by TheatreWorks, Palo Alto, CA; Robert Kelley, Artistic Director and Phil Santora, Managing Director. A CHRISTMAS MEMORY was originally produced in association with Jayson Raitt and Brannon Wiles.

Co-founded by Producing Director Ciarán O'Reilly and Artistic Director Charlotte Moore, Irish Repertory Theatre opened its doors in September 1988 with Sean O'Casey's THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS. The Irish Rep is currently the only year-round theatre company in New York City devoted to bringing Irish and Irish American works to the stage. Recognized with the Jujamcyn Theatres Award, a special Drama Desk Award for "Excellence in Presenting Distinguished Irish Drama," an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Achievement, and the Lucille Lortel Award for "Outstanding Body of Work," the Irish Rep has celebrated the very best in Irish theatre for over twenty-five years, from the masters to the new generation of Irish and Irish American writers who are transforming the stage. Nearly 38,000 audience members annually attend productions at our theatre located in the heart of New York's Off Broadway community. Once here, they witness the Irish Rep's engaging perspective on the Irish and their unique contributions to the world of drama.