Irish Rep Continues Reading Series with Ray Sipherd's MATHEW BRADY PRESENTS, 10/25

The Irish Repertory Theatre continues the eighth season of its Reading Series with Ray Sipherd's play Mathew Brady Presents on Friday, October 25 at 3 p.m. at the Irish Repertory Theatre's W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre (132 W. 22nd Street). Mathew Brady Presents will be directed by Kevin McGuire. The reading is free and open to the public. An RSVP to the Irish Repertory Theatre Box Office at (212) 727-2737 is suggested.

Mathew Brady described himself as "a poor boy, but of hardy Irish stock." That poor boy rose to become one of the most celebrated photographers of his day and the great chronicler of the American Civil War. In Mathew Brady Presents, playwright Ray Sipherd looks at Brady years later when, forgotten and deeply in debt, the photographer has the chance to show his work before an elite Carnegie Hall audience. It's a chance, boasts the struggling photographer, "to tell the world who Mathew Brady was and is!" Instead, Brady is drawn into a profound and personal battle.

Mathew Brady Presents will be read by John Cunningham (Amour, Some Americans Abroad), David Kenner (Twelfth Night, Help Yourself), and TEd Koch (Donnybrook!, Death of A Salesman).

Ray Sipherd (Playwright) has written in a variety of forms. His other plays include The Rescue Station, The Emperor of Biloxi, Portrait of a Bride, Mandy (CBS Playhouse) and the soon to be completed Tinker's Fire. His most recent production was a musical adaptation of the Russian play He Who Gets Slapped, directed by Kevin McGuire, for which he wrote the book and co-authored the lyrics. He is also one of the original writers of the children's television series "Sesame Street" winning three Emmy Awards. In addition, he is the published author of seven children's books, four novels and a collection of short stories. He is a graduate of Yale with courses in the Yale School of Drama and is an alumni member of the New Dramatists Committee.

Kevin McGuire (Director) recently appeared as an actor in the Irish Repertory Theatre production of Donnybrook! He has also played leading roles on Broadway and in national and international tours of The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Jane Eyre and starred as Uncle Archie in the national company of The Secret Garden. Other New York productions include the original cast of Forbidden Broadway, as well as Horatio in Hamlet at the Classic Stage Company and in St. Louis as George in Sunday in the Park with George. for which he won the Drama Critics Circle Award. At the Williamstown Theatre Festival he appeared in more than thirty productions and toured with John Houseman's renowned The Acting Company. As a director, he was the Artistic Director of The Theatre Company at Hubbard Hall where he directed acclaimed productions of Saint Joan, As You Like It, Sweeney Todd, A Man for All Seasons, He Who Gets Slapped, The Enchanted, Private Lives and many more. As Artistic Director of the New Play Festival, he directed the world premiere of General Desdemona by Eagan Reich. Television and film credits include the CBS daytime series "Search for Tomorrow," NBC's "Midnight Caller" and "A Map of the World" starring Julianne Moore.

The Irish Repertory Theatre "encourages the development of works focusing on the Irish and Irish American experience, as well as a range of other cultures." Kara Manning, Literary Manager, hopes that the reading series will "give playwrights, both emerging and more established, the invaluable opportunity to develop their new work in a supportive, safe environment and will also introduce some Irish playwrights, especially those who might not yet have the New York recognition they merit, to an American audience."

The 2013-14 Irish Rep Reading Series is underwritten in part by Alexis Doyle, Patricia Smith, and the members of the Irish Rep's Patron's Circle.

The Irish Repertory Theatre, co-founded in 1988 by Artistic Director Charlotte Moore and Producing Director Ciarán O'Reilly, provides a context for understanding the contemporary Irish-American experience through evocative works of theater, music, and dance. This mission is accomplished by staging the works of Irish and Irish-American classic and contemporary playwrights, encouraging the development of new works focused on the Irish and Irish-American experience, and producing the works of other cultures interpreted through the lens of an Irish sensibility. The Irish Rep has been recognized with the Jujamcyn Theatres Award, a special Drama Desk Award for "Excellence in Presenting Distinguished Irish Drama," the Lucille Lortel Award for "Outstanding Body of Work," and a 2013 Outer Critics Circle Special Achievement Award for "twenty-five years of producing outstanding theatre."

Currently playing at The Irish Repertory Theatre is a revival of Sean O'Casey's JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK directed by Ms. Moore, playing October 9 - December 8 on the Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage. Also playing, in the W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre, is A MIND-BENDING EVENING OF BECKETT, directed by Bob Flanagan, October 16 - December 1.

The Irish Rep Reading Series readings are at 3 PM unless otherwise noted and are located at The Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street).

Tickets are free and the reading is open to the public. Seating is limited. RSVP by calling The Irish Repertory Theatre Box Office at (212) 727-2737.

For more information visit www.irishrep.org.

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