NEW GIRL IN TOWN Begins Previews at Irish Repertory Theatre Tonight, 7/18

Irish Repertory Theatre continues its 24th Season with Bob Merrill and George Abbott's NEW GIRL IN TOWN – a Tony-nominated musical based on Eugene O'Neill's ANNA CHRISTIE – with previews beginning tonight, July 18, prior to an official press opening July 26 at Off-Broadway's award-winning Irish Repertory Theatre (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 and book by Tony Award-winner George Abbott.

The cast of NEW GIRL IN TOWN includes Cliff Bemis (Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS), Dewey Caddell, Abby Church, PatRick Cummings (IT MUST BE HIM), Danielle Ferland (INTO THE WOODS), Matt Gibson, Kimberly Dawn Neumann, Alex Puette, Margaret Loesser Robinson (Irish Rep's MAN AND SUPERMAN), Amber Stone, and Stephen Zinnato.

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.

Bob Merrill made his Broadway debut writing music and lyrics for NEW GIRL IN TOWN. His later credits include the musicals FUNNY GIRL, TAKE ME ALONG, CARNIVAL!, SUGAR, THE RED SHOES, and HENRY, SWEET HENRY. George Abbott's legendary career spanned 92 years, from 1903 until 1995, as theatrical producer and director, playwright, screenwriter, film director and producer. Career highlights include the Tony Award-winning musicals THE PAJAMA GAME, DAMN YANKEES, and FIORELLO!, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1960.

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.

Currently at the Irish Repertory Theatre, with performances recently extended through July 1, is George Bernard Shaw's MAN AND SUPERMAN, a co-production with Gingold Theatrical Group, directed by David Staller.

Performances of NEW GIRL IN TOWN run tonight, July 18-September 9 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. Tickets are $55 and $65, and are available by calling 212-727-2737 or online at www.irishrep.org.