PAT KIRKWOOD IS ANGRY Set for Brits Off Broadway at 59E59 Theaters, Begin. 6/10

59E59 Theaters will welcome the US premiere of PAT KIRKWOOD IS ANGRY, written by Jessica Walker, with Joseph Atkins at the piano, and directed by Lee Blakeley, with musical arrangements by James Holmes. PAT KIRKWOOD IS ANGRY begins performances on Tuesday, June 10 for a limited engagement through Sunday, June 29. Press opening is Sunday, June 15 at 7:30 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7:30 PM; Friday at 8:30 PM; Saturday at 2:30 PM & 8:30 PM; and Sunday at 3:30 PM & 7:30 PM. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Tickets are $25 ($17.50 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or go to www.59e59.org.

Jessica Walker stars in this hilarious and heart-breaking new play with songs about the turbulent life of the actress and singer Pat Kirkwood (whose legs critic Kenneth Tynan referred to as "the eighth wonder of the world.") Britain's first wartime star (in 1939) and Noel Coward's muse, Kirkwood's fortunes took a nose-dive after a fateful meeting with HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, the repercussions of which lasted her entire life.

For music lovers, PAT KIRKWOOD IS ANGRY features rarities from Noel Coward as well as songs from revues Kirkwood starred in, which have not been heard since the 1940s. Other musical numbers include songs from Pal Joey, Wonderful Town and Cole Porter's Beguine the Beguine.

Originally co-produced by Opera North and Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, PAT KIRKWOOD IS ANGRY marks the return of Jessica Walker, whose sublime The Girl I Left Behind Me was the sleeper hit of last year's Brits Off Broadway festival.

The lighting designer is D.M. Wood. The production stage manager is James Steele.

Jessica Walker (writer/performer) has sung roles for Opera North, Glyndebourne, Nationale Reisopera, among many others. 2013 roles/ projects included The Importance of Being Earnest (Northern Ireland Opera); Sunday in the Park with George (Châtelet); An Eye for an Eye (world premiere, Bath Festival); The Girl I Left Behind Me (Brits off Broadway 2013, published by Oberon Press, and a Original Cast Recording); Pat Kirkwood is Angry (RET Manchester, Opera North, St James Theatre, London). Other 2014/15 plans include Gloria, A Pig Tale, Bregenz Festival, ROH Linbury Theatre, and a new play currently in development with RET Manchester.

Lee Blakeley's (director) credits include: A Little Night Music, Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George (Châtelet, Paris); La Grande Duchesse De Gerolstein, The Pearl Fishers and Madama Butterfly (Santa Fe Opera); Orpheus and Euridice (Minnesota Opera); Falstaff (LA Opera); Il turco en Italia (Angers Nantes Opera); Così fan tutte (Royal College of Music); Rusalka (Wexford Festival Opera); A Night at the Chinese Opera and Die Fledermaus (Scottish Opera); and The Merry Widow (Vlaamse Opera). Upcoming: The King and I (Châtelet, Paris); Rigoletto (Santa Fe); and Sweeney Todd (US debut Houston Grand Opera).