Irish Rep Honors Frank McCourt With THE IRISH...AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY 7/14

Honoring the one-year anniversary of the passing of Frank McCourt, The Irish Repertory Theatre presents a special engagement of THE IRISH...AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt ("Angela's Ashes"). Directed by Charlotte Moore

Previews begin July 14; Off-Broadway opening set for July 22.

Off-Broadway's acclaimed Irish Repertory Theatre presents a special engagement of Frank McCourt's THE IRISH...AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY, honoring the one-year anniversary of the passing of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Angela's Ashes," with previews to begin July 14, prior to its official press opening July 22. Charlotte Moore, who helmed the company's revivals of ERNEST IN LOVE and FINIAN'S RAINBOW, and most recently a Broadway concert version of BRIGADOON, directs.

Frank McCourt's THE IRISH...AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY is an irreverent but affectionate history of the Irish in America that mingles laughter and sentiment in a tapestry of classical songs and stories. The production encapsulates the most tumultuous times of the past century with the vibrant humor and bitter irony that had become the trademark of the author of the critically acclaimed biographies "Angela's Ashes," "'Tis," and "Teacher Man."

Original cast members Ciaran Sheehan ("The Phantom of the Opera") and Terry Donnelly recreate the roles they originated in the 1997 world premiere of THE IRISH...AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY. Joining Mr. Sheehan and Mr. Donnelly in the cast are Kerry Conte, Patrick Shields, Gary Troy, and Kevin B. Winebold.

The production features musical direction by Kevin B. Winebold; choreography by Barry McNabb; set design by Shawn Lewis; costume design by David Toser; lighting design by Michael Gottlieb; and projections by Jan Hartley. Stage management by Christine Lemme and Megan Alvord.

Frank McCourt (August 19, 1930 - July 19, 2009) was an Irish-American teacher and writer, best known for "Angela's Ashes," his 1996 Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir about his childhood in Brooklyn and Limerick, Ireland. In addition to the Pulitzer Prize, "Angela's Ashes" won the National Book Critics Circle Award and Boeke Prize, and subsequently was made into a major motion picture, directed by Alan Parker. His other memoirs include "'Tis" (1999), which chronicled his life in
America as a new immigrant; and "Teacher Man," (2005) about his experiences as a public-school teacher. A graduate of New York University and beloved teacher for nearly 30 years, he taught in
several New York schools, including McKee High School, McKee Technical and Vocational High School, and Stuyvesant High School. Mr. McCourt also taught in the English department of New York City Technical College of the City University of New York. He and his brothers were
featured in two television documentaries, "The McCourts of Limerick" and "The McCourts of New York."

Director Charlotte Moore helmed Irish Repertory's production of Sebastian Barry's WHITE WOMAN STREET, currently playing through June 27. Earlier this year, Ms. Moore directed the company's revival of ERNEST IN LOVE, a musical adaptation of Oscar Wilde's THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, and its recent benefit performance of BRIGADOON on Broadway at The Shubert Theatre.

Ms. Moore's recent directing credits also include FINIAN'S RAINBOW, TAKE ME ALONG, THE YEATS PROJECT, ARISTOCRATS, GASLIGHT, MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, MRS. WARREN'S PROFESSION, and MRS. DOOLEY'S AMERICA. For Irish Repertory Theatre, she has directed 52 productions, and 22 gala benefits. 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-nine 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.

This Season, the Irish Repertory Theatre received a record eleven awards/nominations, including the Actors Equity Foundation's 2009 Joe A. Callaway Award presented to John Douglas Thompson (THE EMPEROR JONES); and four Lucille Lortel Award nominations, including Outstanding Revival nods for Eugene O'Neill's THE EMPEROR JONES and George Bernard Shaw's CANDIDA. The company earned two Drama League nominations, including Distinguished Production of a Play for THE EMPEROR JONES, in addition to four Drama Desk nominations for John Douglas Thompson (THE EMPEROR JONES), Antonia Ford-Roberts and Bob Flanagan (THE EMPEROR JONES) Melissa Errico (CANDIDA) and Xanthe Elbrick (CANDIDA). Its current production, Sebastian Barry's WHITE WOMAN STREET, runs through June 27.

Performances of Frank McCourt's THE IRISH...AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY run July 14 through September 5 at The Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues): Wednesdays-Saturdays at 8pm; plus 3pm matinees on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are $65 and $55, and are available by calling 212-727-2737 or online at www.irishrep.org.

For more information about IRISH REPERTORY THEATRE, visit www.irishrep.org.

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