Irish Repertory Theatre Extends NEW GIRL IN TOWN Through Sept 14

Off-Broadway's Irish Repertory Theatre announces a one-week extension of Bob Merrill and George Abbott's NEW GIRL IN TOWN – a musical based on Eugene O'Neill's ANNA CHRISTIE – with performances now through September 14 on the Irish Repertory's Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage (132 West 22nd Street).

Charlotte Moore, who helmed The company's recent productions of DANCING AT LUGHNASA, MOLLY SWEENEY, A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS IN WALES, THE IRISH…AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY, ERNEST IN LOVE, and OLIVER! IN CONCERT at Broadway's Shubert Theatre, directs.

NEW GIRL IN TOWN takes place in New York City, 1926. Along the sordid New York Waterfront teeming with drunks and merchant sailors, Anna, a young woman with a secret past, arrives searching for her father, old Chris Christopherson, Swedish Captain of a coal barge traveling between New York and Provincetown. On a foggy night, a sailor is pulled from the cold, dark waters of the Atlantic... and when the fog clears, Anna comes face to face with merchant sailor, Matt Burke, and both lives are changed forever.

Based on Eugene O'Neill's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, ANNA CHRISTIE, NEW GIRL IN TOWN is a passionate and joyous musical with music and lyrics by eight-time Tony Award-nominee Bob Merrill (FUNNY GIRL, TAKE ME ALONG) and book by Tony Award-winner George Abbott (THE PAJAMA GAME, DAMN YANKEES).

The cast of NEW GIRL IN TOWN includes Cliff Bemis, Dewey Caddell, Abby Church, PatRick Cummings, Danielle Ferland, Matt Gibson, Kimberly Dawn Neumann, Alex Puette, Margaret Loesser Robinson, Amber Stone, and Stephen Zinnato

Initially set to run through September 9, NEW GIRL IN TOWN extends one week to September 14, on the strength of positive reviews and an enthusiastic audience response since opening July 26: Associated Press reviewer Jennifer Farrar called NEW GIRL IN TOWN "a sprightly Off-Broadway revival…. Irish Rep's artistic director Charlotte Moore also finds the bright notes with her smart staging, which includes high-spirited choreography by Barry McNabb and a tuneful four-piece orchestra led by John Bell on piano." In his Daily New Review, Joe Dziemianowicz wrote that "Charlotte Moore's production is sharp and atmospheric." Elisabeth Vincentelli, in her New York Post review, noted that "Margaret Loesser Robinson and PatRick Cummings have tangible chemistry as Anna and Matt, the lovers who must overcome her past to find happiness... looks like there's also a new boy in town." David Rooney's New York Times review proclaimed: "Gimme some singing O'Neill. Don't be stingy, baby. There are charming numbers. They include the father's wistful ode to his daughter, "Anna Lilla"; the rousing opener "Roll Yer Socks Up"; Marthy and the saloon girls' brassy "Flings"; and Anna and Matt's tender duet, "Did You Close Your Eyes?" In his Village Voice review, Michael Feingold wrote: "NEW GIRL IN TOWN is an appealing oddity – a bonbon with unexpected sour flavors that give it an extra resonance." David Finkle, in his Theatremania.com review, noted that Bob Merrill wrote such a clever and often catchy score for the George Abbott-written 1957 tuner NEW GIRL IN TOWN that it's reason enough to hotfoot it over to The Irish Repertory Theatre for the current revival." And, in Lighting and Sound America, reviewer David Barbour wrote: "If you love vintage musicals, you'll kick yourself if you don't go!"

The production features choreography by Barry McNabb and musical direction by John Bell. It has set design by James Morgan; lighting design by Mary Jo Dondlinger-; costume design by China Lee-; sound design by Zach Williamson; and wig design by Robert-Charles Vallance. Stephen Gabis is dialect coach. Production stage manager is Christine Lemme. Assistant stage manager is Arthur Atkinson.

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.

Performances of NEW GIRL IN TOWN run through September 14 at The Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues): Wednesdays at 3pm and 8pm; Thursdays at 7pm; Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 3pm and 8pm; and Sundays at 3pm. With additional performances: Tuesday, September 11 at 8pm and Friday, September 14 at 3pm. Tickets are $55 and $65, and are available by calling 212-727-2737 or online at www.irishrep.org.

For more information, visit www.irishrep.org.