The Lieutenant of Inishmore Hosts Blood Drive, May 23

Broadway's The Lieutenant of Inishmore will host a blood drive for the New York Blood Center in front of the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street) on Tuesday, May 23 from 10am to 3:30pm.

The New York Blood Center is one of the nation's largest, community-based blood collection and distribution organizations. Their mission is to collect 2,000 volunteer blood donations each day to support life-saving patient transfusion needs in close to 200 New York and New Jersey hospitals. The collection vehicle to be featured in this drive is a state-of-the-art busmobile outfitted with five donor beds on board as well as room for private donor history interviews, free mini medical exams and free canteen refreshments.

The minimum age to donate blood is 17 (or 16 in NY with parents' signed permission slip), minimum weigh of 110 pounds, in generally good health and not have donated in prior 56 days. Donors must also meet all Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and state dept. of health donor eligibility criteria.

In addition, The Lieutenant of Inishmore will donate a complimentary $25 ticket to the first 50 presenting blood donors. To schedule an appointment to donate, call 1-800-933-BLOOD.

The Martin McDonagh play opened at the Lyceum Theatre on May 3rd after beginning Broadway previews April 18th. Previously, the show played a hit Off-Broadway run at the Atlantic Theater Company.

The production marks the American premiere of McDonagh's Olivier Award-winning play. Directed by Wilson Milam, it stars Brian D'Arcy James (Sweet Smell of Success), as well as Alison Pill, Domhnall Gleeson, and David Wilmot. Also included in the play's cast are Jeff Binder, Andrew Connolly, Dashiell Eaves, and Peter Gerety.

A "scorchingly black comedy, The Lieutenant of Inishmore is set in 1993 in County Galway on the rocky island of Inishmore, off the coast of Ireland. Padraic is a terrorist with no feeling for those he blows up, but has an obsessive attachment to Thomas, his beloved cat. But someone has killed poor wee Thomas. Was it an accident or an execution? Either way, the death must be concealed before 'Mad Padraic' returns from a stint of torture and bombing. Otherwise the recriminations will be horrifying," according to production notes.

The play was first performed at the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon, from April 11, 2001 through October 12, 2001. This production transferred to the Barbican Pit in London from December 20, 2001 through February 23, 2002, and moved to the Garrick Theatre in London's West End from June 21 through November 2, 2002. The play is part of McDonagh's trilogy of Aran Island plays, which also include The Cripple of Inishmaan and The Banshees of Inisheer. The Lieutenant of Inishmore won the 2003 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy and was nominated for the 2002 London Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Play. McDonagh is a recent Oscar-winner for his short film Six Shooter.

The show's scenic design is by Scott Pask (Tony Award for The Pillowman), with costume design by Theresa Squire, lighting design by Michael Chybowski and sound design by Obadiah Eaves.

Tickets to the Broadway production are available by calling Telecharge.com at 212-239-6200. Visit www.atlantictheater.org for more information.