Casting Announced for Irish Rep's World Premiere of REBEL IN THE SOUL

Irish Repertory Theatre has announced full casting for the world premiere of REBEL IN THE SOUL, a new play by Larry Kirwan (Liverpool Fantasy).

Directed by Charlotte Moore (Finian's Rainbow), REBEL IN THE SOUL begins performances on April 12, 2017 at Irish Rep Theatre (132 West 22nd Street) in the W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre and officially opens on April 18, running through May 21, 2017.

The cast of REBEL IN THE SOUL will feature Patrick Fitzgerald (Sea Marks) as Dr. Noël Browne, Sean Gormley (Jonah and Otto) as Seán MacBride, John Keating (The Pigeon in the Taj Mahal) as Dr. John Charles McQuaid, and Sarah Street (Abigail's Party) as Phyllis Browne.

Dr. Noël Browne was elected to the Irish Parliament in the general election of 1948. Handsome, intense, arrogant, and unpredictable, he was only 33 years of age, with few political skills but a burning ambition to rid Ireland of the scourge of tuberculosis which had wiped out most of his family. Upon the introduction of his "Mother and Child Scheme", a plan to provide free post-natal care to women and all children under the age of 16, he quickly found himself at odds with the "Man of Destiny", party leader and ex-Irish Republican Army chief Seán MacBride, and the ruthless, obsessive tactician, Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. John Charles McQuaid.

Larry Kirwan's REBEL IN THE SOUL closely examines the maneuvering of these three charismatic people and the ensuing crisis that brought down the government and changed Irish life forever.

The production features set design by John McDermott (Sense & Sensibility), lighting design by Michael Gottlieb (The Dead, 1904), costume design by Linda Fisher (Transport), sound design by M. Florian Staab(The Emperor Jones), projection design by Chris Kateff (The Asphalt Christmas) and props by Samantha Keogh (Crackskull Row).

The performance schedule for REBEL IN THE SOUL is as follows: Wednesdays at 3pm and 8pm; Thursdays at 7pm; Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 3pm and 8pm; and Sundays at 3pm. Exceptions: there will be no matinee performance on Wednesday, April 19.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Larry Kirwan (Playwright) was the leader of the Irish political rock band Black 47 for 25 years. A playwright and novelist, an Irish Echo columnist and host/producer of Celtic Crush on SiriusXM Satellite Radio, he has written 16 plays and musicals, three novels, a memoir, and A History of Irish Music. He is president of Irish American Writers and Artists.

Charlotte Moore (Director). Recent directing assignments include Finian's Rainbow, Da, Truman Capote's A Christmas Memory, and Juno and the Paycock. New York stage appearances include Major Barbara, A Perfect Ganesh, Meet Me in St. Louis, The Perfect Party, Morning's at Seven, Private Lives (with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton), and many performances with the New York Shakespeare Festival. Ms. Moore has directed all of the Annual Broadway Benefit Galas. She has received two Tony Award nominations, the Outer Critics Circle Award, the Drama Desk Award, the Drama League Award, the Irish America Top 100 Irish Award, The Eugene O'Neill Lifetime Achievement Award, and the 2008 Irish Women Of The Year Award. She is the recipient of the St. Patrick's Committee in Holyoke's John F. Kennedy National Award, and has thrice been listed as one of the "Top 50 Power Women" in Irish America Magazine. Charlotte was named "Director of the Year" by The Wall Street Journal in 2011.

Patrick Fitzgerald (Dr. Noël Browne) made his stage debut in the Irish Repertory Theatre's first production The Plough and the Stars. He has appeared in Whistle in the Dark, Playboy of the Western World,Philadelphia Here I Come, The Shaughraun (twice), Sea Marks (twice), Hal Prince's Grandchild Of Kings (Clarence Derwent award), his own play, Gibraltar: An Adaptation After James Joyce's Ulysses, and numerousother productions for the company. Other theatre credits include The Sisters Rosensweig (Lincoln Center and Broadway), Mike Leigh's Ecstasy (New Group-Obie Award), Mojo (Atlantic), A ClockworkOrange (Steppenwolf), and Katie Roche (Mint). Film credits include Marian Quinn's 32A and Terry Kinney's Diminished Capacity.

Sean Gormley (Seán McBride) is delighted to be back at Irish Rep where he most recently appeared in The Weir, directed by Ciarán O'Reilly.?NY Theatre: The Weir, Da, Transport (world premiere), Aristocrats, TheDevil's Disciple, Yeats Project, The Shaughraun (Irish Rep); Jonah and Otto (Lion Theatre); Nora, Shadow of the Glen (Marvell Rep); Ladies and Gents (Irish Arts Center); The Good Thief (Solo performance at PlayersTheatre directed by John Keating); Ross (Storm Theatre). Regional Theatre: Sucker Punch (US premiere, Studio Theatre DC). Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Macbeth, Waiting For Lefty, Antigone, The Resistible Rise of ArturoUi, Hellhound On My Trail, Riders to the Sea, Hound of the Baskervilles. TV: "Z: The Beginning of Everything" (Amazon), "Person Of Interest" (CBS), "Treme" (HBO), "All My Children" (ABC), "The Edge." Film: WhatMaisie Knew, Falling Apples and numerous independent film and voiceover credits. SeanGormley.com

John Keating (Dr. John Charles McQuaid). John's delighted to be performing at Irish Rep for the 17th time (recently: The Pigeon in the Taj Mahal, The Weir, Da, Juno and the Paycock, Aristocrats). His extensive NewYork credits include: 5 shows with Theatre for A New Audience (most recently Sir Trevor Nunn's production of Pericles - also Much Ado About Nothing, Taming of the Shrew, Measure for Measure, Broken Heart), and thejust completed production of Public Enemy at The Pearl Theatre. Also: The New York Idea (Atlantic); Is Life Worth Living, John Ferguson (Mint); Juno and the Paycock (Roundabout); the site-specific Ladies and Gentsand 4 other shows (Irish Arts Center.) Most leading regional theatres, including McCarter, A.C.T, Old Globe, Hartford Stage, Wilma (Barrymore nom. - Best Actor), etc. TV: "Boardwalk Empire," "John Adams," "TheFollowing," "Nurse Jackie," Law & Order: SVU," "Alpha House," "High Maintenance," "Lipstick Jungle," the web series "On The Lig." Film: The Lone Ranger, Emerald City (2017 release), Freedom. 140 Audiobooknarrations, Audie winner.

Sarah Street (Phyllis Browne). An actor and a founding member of The Pond Theatre Company, Sarah has previously appeared on TV shows such as "Law & Order: SVU" and "The Following," as well as commercials for MTV, Amazon Fire Stick, and NBC. She also currently has a film, Beyond the Rush, screening at The Big Apple Film Fest.

IRISH REPERTORY THEATRE, co-founded by Producing Director Ciarán O'Reilly and Artistic Director Charlotte Moore, opened its doors in September 1988 with Sean O'Casey's The Plough and the Stars. The Irish Rep is currently the only year-round theatre company in New York City devoted to bringing Irish and Irish American works to the stage. Recognized with the Jujamcyn Theatres Award, a special Drama Desk Award for "Excellence in Presenting Distinguished Irish Drama," an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Achievement, and the Lucille Lortel Award for "Outstanding Body of Work," the Irish Rep has celebrated the very best in Irish theatre for over twenty-five years, from the masters to the new generation of Irish and Irish American writers who are transforming the stage. Nearly 38,000 audience members annually attend productions at our theatre located in the heart of New York's Off Broadway community. Once here, they witness the Irish Rep's engaging perspective on the Irish and their unique contributions to the world of drama.

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