Irish Rep Extends THE HOME PLACE and 'OFF THE METER' Off-Broadway

Irish Repertory Theatre announced today extensions of both of their current productions, the New York premiere of Brian Friel's The Home Place, and the world premiere of OFF THE METER, ON THE RECORD, written and performed by John McDonagh (Producer of "Radio Free Eireann").

Directed by Charlotte Moore (Finian's Rainbow), The Home Place began performances on September 27, 2017, and opened on October 10, for a limited run now through December 17, 2017 on the Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage.

Directed by Ciarán O'Reilly (The Emperor Jones), OFF THE METER, ON THE RECORD began performances on October 6, 2017 at Irish Rep Theatre (132 West 22nd Street) on the W. Scott McLucas Studio Stage, and officially opened October 17, and will now run through November 18, 2017.

In the hot Donegal August of 1878, the fruits of Colonialism and the ambiguities of loyalty are tested within the background of impossible love. Christopher Gore, the liberal minded Anglo-Irish landlord and his son David, reside at The Lodge with their "chatelaine" Margaret, with whom they are both in love. Christopher's cousin, Dr. Richard Gore arrives with the intention of pursuing a Darwin-inspired scientific theory: by measuring the craniums of the indigenous Irish, he hopes to crack the genetic code of the indigenes...demonstrating their inferior place in the natural order. Set in the era of the rumblings of violence and uncertainty at the dawn of The Home Rule movement, Brian Friel explores the aftermath of Dr. Gore's experiment as deep animosity is dangerously ignited amongst the suspicious villagers of Ballybeg.

The cast of The Home Place features Logan Riley Bruner ("Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt") as Tommy Boyle, Andrea Lynn Green (Harrison, TX: Three Plays by Horton Foote) as Sally Cavanagh, Johnny Hopkins (The Pigeon in Taj Mahal) as Con Doherty, Robert Langdon Lloyd (The Burial At Thebes) as Clement O'Donnell, Ed Malone (Juno and the Paycock) as David Gore, Polly McKie (A Day by the Sea) as Mary Sweeney, Rachel Pickup (Dancing At Lughnasa) as Margaret O'Donnell, Stephen Pilkington (The Winslow Boy) as Perkins, Christopher Randolph (King Lear) as Dr. Richard Gore, Gordon Tashjian (The Killer) as Johnny MacLoone, and John Windsor-Cunningham (The Man Who Came To Dinner) as Christopher Gore.

The production features set design by James Noone (Sunset Boulevard), costume design by David Toser (Finian's Rainbow), lighting design by Michael Gottlieb (Rebel in the Soul), sound design and original music by Ryan Rumery (Curvy Widow), sound design by M. Florian Staab (Curvy Widow), properties by Sven Henry Nelson (The Pigeon in the Taj Mahal), and dialects by Stephen Gabis (Indecent).

A comedic glimpse into 35 years behind the wheel of a New York City yellow taxi, OFF THE METER, ON THE RECORD is a pithy social commentary from New York's most recognizable cab driver about life spent behind the wheel. John McDonagh, veteran WBAI Radio host in NY, has condensed thirty plus years of activism, reality show antics and observation into a love song to the city that never sleeps. From the plight of the NYC homeless to the crazy demands of Upper East Side matrons, McDonagh brings the audience from laughter to tears and back again faster than the apparition of umbrella dealers on a rainy day. Throw in his tales of brushes with the rich and famous such as driving Stephen Fry to a Queens social club and you have Irish storytelling at its best.

The production features scenic design by Charlie Corcoran (The Emperor Jones), lighting design by Michael O'Connor (The Pigeon in the Taj Mahal), sound design by M. Florian Staab (Curvy Widow), and projection design by Chris Kateff.

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.