Chicago's Northlight Theatre Brings THE OUTGOING TIDE to Galway Arts Festival, Now thru July 21

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announces that the company's acclaimed World Premiere production of The Outgoing Tide, by Bruce Graham and directed by BJ Jones, will be presented in association with Galway Arts Festival in Galway, Ireland, today, July 17 – July 21, 2012. Cast members John Mahoney, Rondi Reed and Thomas J. Cox, are set to reprise the roles they originated in the Northlight production.

"We are pleased to present this Northlight-commissioned production at one of Europe's most prestigious arts festivals. The entire cast enthusiastically returns to this production and is thrilled to reopen it in Ireland," says Jones. "The Outgoing Tide is a prime example of Northlight's dedication to new work. As part of the Interplay Series, the play was developed here at Northlight and has received numerous American productions."

"This collaboration with Galway Arts Festival continues Northlight's initiative to bring its work to a wider national and international audience," says Evans. "Nearly a dozen Northlight mainstage productions have enjoyed transfer productions to other American theaters and nearly all of the 24 new plays presented in our Interplay Series have gone on to full productions in professional theatres across the country. As Northlight continues this phase of its development, we look forward to exploring new opportunities to strengthen our national and international relationships."

Northlight's original World Premiere production of The Outgoing Tide was met with widespread critical acclaim and played for an extended run at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd. in Skokie, from May 12 to July 3, 2011. The Outgoing Tide won the 2011 Jeff Award for New Work - Play (Bruce Graham), and was also nominated for Production - Play, Director (BJ Jones), Actor in a Principal Role (John Mahoney), Actress in a Principal Role (Rondi Reed), and Sound Design (Andrew Hansen).

In a summer cottage on Chesapeake Bay, Gunner has hatched an unorthodox plan to secure his family's future but meets with resistance from his wife and son, who have plans of their own. As winter approaches, the three must quickly find common ground and come to an understanding-before the tide goes out.

Tony Award winner John Mahoney returned to Northlight for The Outgoing Tide after appearing in A Life and Better Late. Rondi Reed made her first Chicago appearance since her Tony Award-winning turn in August: Osage County and her acclaimed role in CBS's Mike and Molly. Thomas J. Cox, a founding member of Lookingglass, had previously appeared at Northlight in Pride & Prejudice and Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.

The Outgoing Tide was the recipient of a 2010 Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award. The original Northlight production was supported in part by The Lehman Family American Experience Series and Nuveen Investments. This play was the recipient of the Selma Melvoin Playwriting Award, given by Northlight Theatre.

The designers for The Outgoing Tide are Brian Sidney Bembridge (set), Rachel Laritz (costumes), JR Lederle (lighting) and Andrew Hansen (sound). Christine Freeburg is the production stage manager.

Northlight Theatre first appeared at the Galway Arts Festival in 2008 with a remounted production of Better Late, written by Larry Gelbart and Craig Wright, directed by Artistic Director BJ Jones, and starring John Mahoney.

Galway Arts Festival Galway Arts Festival is Ireland's largest international arts festival. Founded in 1978 it has grown into an event with a significant reputation where, in 2011, there were 162,000 attendances at 176 performances, talks and exhibitions in 27 venues over 14 days. The Festival showcases a wide variety of International Artists alongside the best of Irish talent and includes music (popular, contemporary, jazz, world, classical and traditional), theatre (indoor and outdoor), visual arts, dance, talks, discussions, family events and comedy in its program.

The Festival has consolidated its reputation nationally and internationally and continues to develop its profile through the international media and attracts 27 percent of its audience from abroad. It has developed a profile within the 'festival world' where it now is viewed as operating on an international circuit, with a reputation equal to that of much larger international festivals. Visiting interNational Theatre and dance companies have included The Royal National Theatre, Propeller, The Royal Court, Steppenwolf Theatre, Northlight Theatre, The Abbey Theatre, Druid Theatre Company and the Bristol Old Vic.

Bruce Graham (Playwright) has written Burkie, Early One Evening at the Rainbow Bar & Grille, Moon Over the Brewery, Belmont Avenue Social Club, Desperate Affection, Coyote on a Fence (Winner of The Rosenthal Prize, Two Drama Desk Nominations – the West End production starred Ben Cross), According to Goldman, The Philly Fan. He has won consecutive Barrymore Awards for Best New Play for Something Intangible and Any Given Monday. Mister Hart and Mister Brown opens at People's Light and Theatre in 2012. Film: Dunston Checks In, Anastasia, Steal This Movie. TV: Roseanne, Ring of Endless Light (Humanitas Award Winner – Best Children's Screenplay), The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Trading Christmas will play on the Hallmark Channel during the upcoming holiday season. Graham is a past winner of the Princess Grace Foundation Statuette. Along with Michele Volansky, he is the author of the book The Collaborative Playwright. Graham teaches film and theatre courses at Drexel University. He resides in South Philadelphia.

BJ Jones (Director) is in his 13th year as Artistic Director of Northlight Theatre, where he has piloted the world premieres of Craig Wright's Lady, Better Late (by Larry Gelbart & Craig Wright), Rounding Third, Sky Girls and Cat Feet. As a producer he guided the world premieres of Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years, The Gamester, and Studs Terkel's 'The Good War.' He has directed at Steppenwolf, Intiman Theatre in Seattle, Atlanta's ALLIANCE THEATRE, The Utah Shakespearean Festival, The Asolo Theatre in Sarasota, and Next Theatre in Evanston. Directorial work includes Northlight's The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Grey Gardens, The Lady with All the Answers, The Retreat From Moscow, A Skull in Connemara, The Cripple of Inishmaan, and An Experiment With an Airpump, as well as productions of A Number, Twelfth Night, Glengarry Glen Ross (Suzie Bass Nominee - Best Director), Pygmalion, The Price (Jeff Nomination - Best Director,) and 100 Saints You Should Know. A two-time Joseph Jefferson Award winner, he has appeared at Northlight in dozens of productions and has performed at virtually every major theatre in Chicago.

Thomas J. Cox (Jack) returned to Northlight for The Outgoing Tide, where he had previously appeared in Pride & Prejudice, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, and three Interplay Series readings: Intelligence-Slave, Emma and The Outgoing Tide. He is a founding ensemble member of Lookingglass, where he has appeared in over thirty productions, most recently in Cascabel, The Great Fire, and as "Hook" in Peter Pan (a play). Thom has been nominated twice for Joseph Jefferson Awards (Best Supporting Actor and Best Solo Performance). Other credits: Rock 'n' Roll (Goodman); Elephant Man (Steppenwolf for Young Audiences); Fraulein Else, Raisin, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and, most recently, Orlando (Court); as well as productions at Victory Gardens, Madison Rep, Weston Playhouse, ITC, and a film for House Theatre. Directing credits: Lookingglass, Eclipse, Piven, Weston Playhouse. Film/TV: Since You've Been Gone (Miramax); Chi-Girl (Van Lier Productions); Brotherhood (Showtime).

John Mahoney (Gunner) previously appeared at Northlight in A Life and Better Late. He starred in the Broadway revival of Prelude to a Kiss, Romance at The Almeida Theatre in London and I Never Sang for My Father at Steppenwolf. He has appeared in over 30 Steppenwolf productions where he is a member of the ensemble. He received a Tony Award for his performance in The House of Blue Leaves. Films include She's the One, Moonstruck, Tin Men, Primal Fear, Say Anything, Barton Fink and Flipped. On TV, John Starred in Dinner at Eight, The Water Engine, and the 5-time Emmy Award-winning series Frasier, for which he received multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for his portrayal of patriarch Martin Crane. John is a recipient of the prestigious Sarah Siddons Award, only the second male (after Brian Dennehy) to be so honored.

Rondi Reed (Peg) returned to Northlight where she previously appeared in The Retreat From Moscow. A Steppenwolf ensemble member since 1979, she won a Tony Award in 2008 for August: Osage County, in which she appeared in Chicago, on Broadway, at The National Theatre, London and at Sydney Theatre Company. She played Madame Morrible in Wicked in Chicago and on Broadway. She can currently be seen on CBS's hit show Mike & Molly. She received Joseph Jefferson Awards for Steppenwolf's The Fall to Earth and Waiting for the Parade. Among her 60-plus productions at Steppenwolf include the Pulitzer-nominated Man from Nebraska by Tracy Letts, Sideman (also in Australia and Ireland); Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Off-Broadway, LA and San Francisco); The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (Broadway), The Grapes of Wrath (at The National Theatre, London and on Broadway); and Another Time (with Albert Finney). Other Chicago appearances include Romeo and Juliet for Chicago Shakespeare; The Sandbox at the Goodman; Cabaret at the Marriott; and The Vagina Monologues at the Apollo.

Northlight Theatre aspires to promote change of perspective and encourage compassion by exploring the depth of our humanity across a bold spectrum of theatrical experiences, reflecting our community to the world and the world to our community. Now in its 37th season, the organization has mounted nearly 190 productions, including over 40 world premieres. Northlight has earned 151 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations and 28 Awards. As one of the area's premier theatre companies, Northlight is a regional magnet for critical and professional acclaim, as well as talent of the highest quality.

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