Paulo Szot, Max Von Essen, & More Set for Irish Rep's SOMETHING WONDERFUL! THE SONGS OF RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN, 6/10

Irish Repertory Theatre celebrates its award-winning 25th Anniversary Season with SOMETHING WONDERFUL! THE SONGS OF Rodgers & Hammerstein, an evening celebrating classic Rodgers and Hammerstein hits performed by a galaxy of Broadway stars, for one night only, Monday, June 10 at Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street). Shirley Jones, best known for her roles in "Oklahoma!" and "Carousel," returns to Broadway in the gala evening, directed by Charlotte Moore and hosted by Tom Hanks.

The night will include performances by Paulo Szot (Tony Award for South Pacific), Howard McGillin and Alexandra Silber (Olivier Award for Carousel), Max von Essen (last seen on Broadway in Evita), and Donna Kane and Ciaran Sheehan.

SOMETHING WONDERFUL! THE SONGS OF Rodgers & Hammerstein features Rodgers and Hammerstein favorites from their beloved musicals, including OKLAHOMA!, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, SOUTH PACIFIC, THE KING AND I, CAROUSEL, STATE FAIR, and FLOWER DRUM SONG.

Songs include "It's a Grand Night for Singing," "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'," "Some Enchanted Evening," "Shall We Dance?," "The Surry with the Fringe on Top," "I Cain't Say No," "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out-a My Hair," and many others.

Shirley Jones made her Broadway debut in SOUTH PACIFIC in 1953. She starred in film versions of OKLAHOMA! and CAROUSEL and won an Academy Award for performance in "Elmer Gantry." She is best known to TV audiences as Shirley Partridge in the popular series "The Partridge Family." Ms. Jones last appeared on Broadway in 2004 in 42nd STREET.

The evening's host, Tom Hanks, won Academy Awards for "Philadelphia" and "Forrest Gump," and is currently making his Broadway debut in Nora Ephron's LUCKY GUY.

Additional performers are to be announced.

Musical direction is by Mark Hartman, whose credits include AVENUE Q and SILENCE! THE MUSICAL. Irish Repertory's 2013 Annual Benefit Gala will be followed by dinner with the cast at Sardi's, the Theatre's legendary celebrity restaurant (234 West 44th Street).

Kathleen Begala is 2013 Gala Chair.

The evening celebrates the company's diverse 25th Anniversary season, which begin last October with a revival of Brian Friel's THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY, followed by Julian Sands in A CELEBRATION OF Harold Pinter; Anthony E. Palermo's adaptation of the holiday favorite IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE; Phil Coulter's THE SONGS I LOVE SO WELL; Charlotte Jones's AIRSWIMMING; Robert E. McEnroe and Johnny Burke's musical based on "The Quiet Man," DONNYBROOK!; Laoisa Sexton's FOR LOVE; Johhny O'Callaghan's WHO'S YOUR DADDY?; and its upcoming revival of Conor McPherson's THE WEIR, set to begin previews May 17.

Charlotte Moore's recent directing credits include DONNYBROOK!, NEW GIRL IN TOWN, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, Brian Friel's DANCING AT LUGHNASA and MOLLY SWEENEY, A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS IN WALES, THE IRISH... AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY, and ERNEST IN LOVE. She also directed Irish Repertory's gala concert productions of OLIVER!, CAMELOT, and BRIGADOON on Broadway.

Co-founded by Producing Director Ciarán O'Reilly and Artistic Director Charlotte Moore, The Irish Repertory Theatre opened its doors in September 1988 with Sean O'Casey's THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS. The mission of the theatre was and remains to bring works by Irish and Irish American masters and contemporary playwrights to American audiences; to provide a context for understanding the contemporary Irish American experience; and to encourage the development of new works focusing on the Irish and Irish American experience, as well as a range of other cultures. Ms. Moore and Mr. O'Reilly received the 2011 Eugene O'Neill Lifetime Achievement Award from Irish American Writers & Artists, Inc.

As recently announced, Irish Repertory Theatre is set to receive a 2013 Outer Critics Circle Special Achievement Award in recognition of 25 years of producing outstanding theater.

Irish Repertory's 2013 Gala benefit performance of SOMETHING WONDERFUL! THE SONGS OF Rodgers & Hammerstein runs Monday, June 10, beginning at 7pm at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street), followed by dinner at Sardi's (234 West 44th Street). For Dinner and Theatre Packages, contact Gretchen H. Page at 212-255-0270 or email gretchen@irishrep.org. Individual tickets to the performance only run $150-$350. For Theatre Only tickets, call 212-727-2737 or online at www.irishrep.org.

Photo Credit: Jessica Gordon