James Barbour, Jenny Powers to Lead Irish Rep's DONNYBROOK!, Beginning 2/7

Irish Repertory Theatre continues its 25th Anniversary Season with DONNYBROOK! -a musical based on the movie "The Quiet Man," with music and lyrics by Johnny Burke and book by Robert E. McEnroe-with previews set to begin February 7, prior to its official Off-Broadway opening on Sunday, February 17 on the company's Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage Theatre (132 West 22nd Street). Charlotte Moore (2012 Callaway Award finalist for DANCING AT LUGHNASA) directs.

In DONNYBROOK!, Sean Enright, an Irish-American prizefighter who has killed a man in the ring and vowed never to raise a hand again to anyone, returns to Ireland from America. He meets and woos a tempestuous Irish village maiden, Mary Kate, who wants a man who will stand up and fight for her. However, Ellen's brother Will believes John to be a coward and gets in the way of their romance.

James Barbour, whose Broadway credits include A TALE OF TWO CITIES, ASSASSINS, JANE EYRE, BEAUTY & THE BEAST, and most recently Irish Repertory Theatre's OLIVER! in Concert, co-stars as Sean Enright.

The cast of DONNYBROOK! also includes Jenny Powers (GREASE, LITTLE WOMEN) as Mary Kate and TEd Koch (THE PILLOWMAN) as Will; with Samuel Cohen, PatRick Cummings (NEW GIRL IN TOWN), Terry Donnelly (THE SHAUGHRAUN), Kathy Fitzgerald (9 TO 5), Mary Mallen, Barbara Marineau (THE WOMEN), Kern McFadden, Kevin McGuire (LES MISERABLES), and David Sitler.

DONNYBROOK! features choreography by Barry McNabb. Musical Direction is by John Bell. The production has scenic design by James Noone; lighting design by Brian Nason; costume design by Linda Fisher; sound design by Zachary Williamson; and hair & wig design by Robert-Charles Vallance. Production Stage Manager is Pamela Brusoski. Assistant Stage Manager is Rebecca C. Monroe.

Johnny Burke is regarded as one of the finest lyricists of popular songs in America between the 1920s and 1950s. His songs include "Pennies From Heaven," "Imagination," "I've Got a Pocketful of Dreams," "Moonlight Becomes You," "Sunday, Monday, or Always," "It Could Happen to You," and the Academy Award-winning "Swinging on a Star" from the Bing Crosby film "Going My Way." He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.

Robert E. McEnroe's plays include the popular comedy THE SILVER WHISTLE, which ran more than 200 performances on Broadway in 1948, starring Jose Ferrer, and MULLIGAN'S SNUG. DONNYBROOK! opened on Broadway in 1961, directed and choreographed by Jack Cole.

Charlotte Moore's recent directing credits include IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY, NEW GIRL IN TOWN, Brian Friel's DANCING AT LUGHNASA and MOLLY SWEENEY, A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS IN WALES, THE IRISH... AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY, and ERNEST IN LOVE. She has also directed The Irish Repertory Theatre's concert productions of OLIVER!, CAMELOT and BRIGADOON on Broadway. Ms. Moore was a finalist for the 2011-2012 Joseph A. Callaway Award for excellence in the craft of directing for her work on DANCING AT LUGHNASA.

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.

DONNYBROOK! runs at The Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street), February 7-March 31: Wednesdays at 3pm and 8pm; Thursdays at 7pm; Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 3pm and 8pm; and Sundays at 3pm. Opening Night is Sunday, February 17 at 7pm. Tickets are $55-65. For reservations, call the box office at 212-727-2737 or visit www.irishrep.org

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