Irish Rep Presents Conor McPherson's THE WEIR, 5/23-7/07

Irish Repertory Theatre continues its 25th Anniversary Season with The Weir by Conor McPherson, author of SHINING CITY and THE SEAFARER - with previews set to begin May 15, prior to an official Off-Broadway opening May 23 on the Irish Repertory's Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage (132 West 22nd Street). Directed by Ciarán O'Reilly, performances are set to run through July 7.

Performances of The Weir are as follows:

Wednesdays 3pm and 8pm; Thursdays at 7pm; Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 3pm and 8pm; and Sundays at 3pm (with the following exceptions: additional performance Tuesday, July 2 at 7pm; no performance Thursday, July 4 at 7pm). Opening Night is Thursday, May 23 at 7pm.

Tickets are $55 and $65, and are available by calling 212-727-2737 or online at www.irishrep.org.

O'Reilly helmed the company's recent productions of Brian Friel's THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY and Eugene O'Neill's BEYOND THE HORIZON and THE EMPEROR JONES (Joseph A Callaway Award winner for Direction; Lucille Lortel, Drama Desk, Drama League, and Audelco nominations). As an actor, he co-starred in Irish Repertory's 2011 revivals of Brian Friel's DANCING AT LUGHNASA and MOLLY SWEENEY.

In a remote country pub in Ireland, newcomer Valerie arrives and becomes spellbound by an evening of ghostly stories told by the local bachelors who drink there. With a whiff of sexual tension in the air and the wind whistling outside, what starts out as blarney soon turns dark as the tales drift into the realm of the supernatural. Then, Valerie reveals a startling story of her own...

The cast of THE WEIR includes Dan Butler (Bob "Bulldog" Briscoe on TV's "Fraiser," OLIVER AND THE BITTER HERBS, THE LISBON TRAVIATA); Billy Carter (Broadway's A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN, Starz miniseries "Titanic: Blood and Steel"); John Keating (ARISTOCRATS, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS); Sean Gormley (THE SHAUGHRAUN, THE YEATS PROJECT); and Tessa Klein (Broadway's War Horse, PHILADELPHIA, HERE I COME!).

The production features set design by Charlie Corcoran; lighting design by Michael Gottlieb; costume design by Leon Dobkowski; and sound design by Drew Levy. Production Stage Manager is Jeff Davolt; Assistant Stage Manager is Fran Acuña-Almiron.

One of the leading contemporary Irish playwrights, Conor McPherson received Tony nominations for SHINING CITY and THE SEAFARER. His plays also include DUBLIN CAROL, RUM AND VODKA, THE GOOD THIEF, THIS LIME TREE BOWER, PORT AUTHORITY, COME ON OVER, an adaptation of THE BIRDS, and ST. NICHOLAS, presented at Irish Repertory Theatre in 2010. His screenplays include "The Actors" and "The Eclipse," which he also directed, and "I Went Down."

THE WEIR premiered at London's The Royal Court prior to transferring to the West End in 1997 and Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre in 1999. It won the Lawrence Olivier Award as Best New Play of 1997-98. In a poll conducted by the Royal National Theatre, THE WEIR was voted one of the 100 most significant plays of the 20th Century.

Co-founded by Producing Director Ciarán 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. Ms. Moore and Mr. O'Reilly received the 2011 Eugene O'Neill Lifetime Achievement Award from Irish American Writers & Artists, Inc.

For more information, visit www.irishrep.org.

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