Ruffian Productions and Double Decker Productions Present DOROTHY OF NOWHERE

September sees the return of Origin Theatre's extraordinary 1st Irish Festival, a movable theatrical feast ranked by many as one of the city's premiere theatre festivals. This year once again features 1st Irish's staple Next Generation series which includes the much anticipated Dorothy of Nowhere, written by newcomer Thomas Burns Scully.

Dorothy of Nowhere is the winner of last year's Origin Theatre WB Yeats Emerging Playwright Award, co-sponsored by the Abbey Theatre in Dublin and The Consulate General of Ireland in New York. Set in a small fictional Irish town called Nowhere, the play tells the story of a teenage girl who sees her worldview shift radically as she discovers love, poetry and stark tragedy all at once.

George Heslin (Artistic Director of Origin) and Jessica Traynor (Literary Manager of the Abbey Theatre) say "This is a play that feels contemporary and immediate, while paying fitting tribute to Yeats' legacy."

This production sees the directorial return of perennial Origin Theatre favorite Christopher Randolph. Randolph directed last year's highly-successful Off-Broadway run of The International and, aside from his extensive director's resume, is known the world over as the voice of Otacon in blockbuster video-game franchise Metal Gear Solid.

Dorothy's small cast includes some big names. Jenny Sterlin, playing the role of Maddie, starred alongside Alan Cumming in Macbeth in 2013 at the Barrymore Theatre. Further Broadway credits include 2006's Heartbreak House, and 2001's Major Barbara and Design for Living(Also with Cumming), all at the American Airlines Theatre.

Jo Kinsella stars in Dorothy playing the titular character's mother: Sarah. Kinsella is known for playing Val in For Love at the Irish Repertory in New York, and also played the role in the UK/Irish tour of same. She's another Origin Theatre favorite, having won the 1st Irish Special Achievement Award in 2012.

Playing the lead role of Dorothy is Helen McMillan. McMillan's credits include Annie Loder in David Edgars' Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Harley in Moondial, a play which she wrote and premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2012.

Christopher Russell, plays Dorothy's boyfriend Will. Russell originated the role of Prince John in Douglas Carter Beane's Robin Hood, played Billy Bibbet in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at the Gallery Players and worked on While Chasing the Fantastic with the Amoralists' own Derek Ahonen.

As heart-wrenching as it is funny, Dorothy of Nowhere is a play not to be missed. A portrait of shifting femininity across three generations of women, the complexity of love, and the raw transformative power of poetry. It's cast and crew mix fresh young talent with seasoned excellence, and the production embodies the spirit of Origin's 1st Irish wholeheartedly.

Dorothy of Nowhere plays at The Cell Theatre, 338 W 23rd St, between 8th and 9th avenue. Tickets are $25

Performances are September 28th - October 2nd. For tickets call: 866 811 4111 or visit http://1stirish.org/?post_type=show&p=1939.

You can watch Dorothy of Nowhere's trailer here.