ERNEST IN LOVE Closes 2/14 at The Irish Rep Theatre

Off-Broadway's acclaimed Irish Repertory Theatre's production of ERNEST IN LOVE - a musical adaptation of Oscar Wilde's THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST -- will close on February 14, 2010.

Charlotte Moore, whose 2008 production of TAKE ME ALONG (a musical adaptation of O'Neill's AH, WILDERNESS!) won an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Revival, directs.

ERNEST IN LOVE, a sparkling and witty musical about social hypocrisy among the creme de la creme of Victorian England, is a faithful adaptation of Wilde's superb comic masterpiece, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST -- featuring all of its much-beloved characters. With music by Lee Pockriss and book and lyrics by Anne Croswell, the clever, tuneful score is the perfect complement to Wilde's
incomparable wordplay and sharp witticisms.

The New York Times called the Irish Repertory production of ERNEST IN LOVE "charming... delightful... and smashingly turned." AMNY described the musical as "comic perfection." The Associated Press proclaimed that the company "does the master proud." In the New York Post, ERNEST IN LOVE was called "an engaging variation on a classic." And, on Theatermania.com, the production was christened "a delightful revival."

The cast of ERNEST IN LOVE includes Annika Boras, Brad Bradley, Kerry Conte, Katie Fabel, Beth Fowler, Kristin Griffith, Ian Holcomb, Peter Maloney, and Noah Racey.

The production features choreography by Barry McNabb, whose work can be seen THE EMPEROR JONES; set design by James Morgan; costume design by Linda Fisher; lighting design by Brian Nason; and musical direction by Mark Hartman.

In addition to ERNEST IN LOVE, which premiered Off-Broadway in 1960, Lee Pockriss collaborated with librettist Anne Croswell on the Broadway musical TOVARICH, starring Vivien Leigh and earning a Grammy nomination for its original cast recording.

Mr. Pockriss' notable songs include: the Grammy-nominated "Catch a Falling Star," "My Little Corner of the World," and "Johnny Angel." Ms. Croswell's Broadway credits include I'M SOLOMON.

Director Charlotte Moore helmed Irish Repertory's acclaimed revival of FINIAN'S RAINBOW during the company's 2004-05 Season, most recently directed TAKE ME ALONG, a musical adaptation of O'Neill's AH, WILDERNESS, winning a 2008 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical.

Ms. Moore's recent directing credits also include THE YEATS PROJECT, ARISTOCRATS, GASLIGHT, MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, MRS. WARREN'S PROFESSION and MRS. DOOLEY'S AMERICA. Other credits include FINIAN'S RAINBOW at JoAnne Woodward's Westport Country Playhouse; SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER; Samuel Beckett's ENDGAME, the adaptation and direction of FINIAN'S RAINBOW; Dion Boucicault's THE COLLEEN BAWN; J. Harley Manner's PEG O' MY HEART; J.M. Synge's PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD; and Mr. Boucicault's THE STREETS OF NEW YORK, which she adapted and scored. As an actress, she has appeared on New York stages in MAJOR BARBARA, A PERFECT GANESH, MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, THE PERFECT PARTY, MORNING'S AT SEVEN, PRIVATE LIVES, LOVE FOR LOVE, HOLIDAY, CHEMIN DE FER, THE GREAT GOD BROWN, A LOVELY SUNDAY FOR CREVE COEUR with directors who include Harold Prince, Tony Walton, John Tillinger, Vivian Matalon, Paul Weidner, Brian Murray, Michael Montel, Edward Berkeley, Arvin Brown, Louis Burke, Steven Porter, and Ellis Rabb. Ms. Moore has directed forty-eight Irish Repertory Theatre productions and all twenty Gala Benefits. She has received two Tony Award nominations, the Outer Critics Circle Award, the Drama Desk Award, The Irish America Top 100 Irish Award, and the 2008 Irish Women Of The Year Award. She is the recipient of the 2008 Ambassador Award, the St. Patrick's Committee in Holyoke's John F. Kennedy National Award, and is listed as one of the "50 Most Influential Women" in the Irish America Magazine/Irish Voice Newspaper.

Co-founded by Producing Director Ciaran O'Reilly and Artistic Director Charlotte Moore, The Irish Repertory Theatre opened its doors in September 1988 with Sean O'Casey's THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS. The mission of the theatre was and remains to bring works by Irish and Irish-American masters and contemporary playwrights to American audiences; to provide a context for understanding the contemporary Irish American experience; and to encourage the development of new works focusing on the Irish and Irish American experience, as well as a range of other cultures.

For more information, visit www.irishrep.org.

 

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