THE LAST DAYS OF CLEOPATRA Begins Tonight at Urban Stages

Georganne Aldrich Heller will present Laoisa Sexton's raw, visceral and provocative new play, THE LAST DAYS OF CLEOPATRA, a pitch black comedy set in Dublin, tonight, August 20th through September 7th at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street in Manhattan. The official opening is on Saturday, August 23rd at 8PM. Tim Ruddy Directs.

Can a family that dance together, stay together? In THE LAST DAYS OF CLEOPATRA, a father, son and daughter must struggle to redefine the heart of their family, as they face losing the only thing that holds them together. As their family tapestry begins to unravel and old hurts boil and rise to the surface, will they survive as a family?

On the heels of a New York Times Off-Broadway Critic's pick for Sexton's previous "dark blue comedy hit" FOR LOVE, THE LAST DAYS OF CLEOPATRA is a roller coaster ride at the theater: action packed, visceral and provocative with themes of love, sex, forgiveness, redemption and...dancing.

Forgiveness, funny one that, someone kicks you in the head and you're supposed to forgive them, cos that'll make ye feel better, make it all go away, make everything Hunky-Dory! But what happens them? Get out a Jail Free card, move on, no bother, SmileyFace... You're just Roadkill, What? But here, how d'ye forgive yourself... if ye can't... forget.

The cast of THE LAST DAYS OF CLEOPATRA features Kevin Marron, Michael Mellamphy, Laoisa Sexton and Kenneth Ryan (Uncle Vanya at the Harold Clurman Lab, directed by Tom Oppenheim, Thomas Kilroy's adaptation and revival of Chekhov's The Seagull at the Culture Project, directed by Max Stafford-Clark).

Laoisa Sexton's first play FOR LOVE premiered Off Broadway at the Irish Repertory Theatre in 2013, she received rave reviews for her moving performance and for her writing. It played to packed houses in New York, and received its European premiere at the UK City of Culture, and went on to a sell-out tour of six theaters across Ireland. Other theater credits include Long Days Journey into Night at The Guthrie directed by Joe Dowling. Rebecca, Bonnie Bob at TNC, The Prophet of Monto at The Flea Theater directed by Des Kennedy, also tour to Axis, Ballymun Dublin, she won the Best Actress Award for the role at the 1st Irish Theater Festival. Oh the Power by David Bar Katz for LAByrinth Theater Company's Barn Series directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman. Cell , by Paula Meehan for Fallen Angel Theater Company. The critically acclaimed site specific hit, Ladies & Gents performed in the Public toilets in Central Park, for the Irish Arts Centre, directed by Paul Walker and Karl Shiels. Shining City for Studio Theatre directed by Joy Zinoman, Gaslight at the Irish Repertory Theatre, directed by Charlotte Moore. Dirtyworks, directed by Kevin Kittle for Stiff Upper Lip Theatre at the Edinburgh Theatre Festival. As writer: The Golden Wonder, a screenplay. The play Bridget which received several NY readings with Jarlath Conroy. The play and screenplay of For Love she is currently working on getting the film made in Ireland. She is currently filming You Are Beautiful, a short film written by writer Garry Duggan (Amber TV series), and featuring Dearbhla Molloy.

Tim Ruddy directed Laoisa Sexton's debut play FOR LOVE Off Broadway at The Irish Repertory Theatre. He also directed After Luke When I was God at the Irish Repertory Theatre and won the Best Director Award at the 1st Irish Theatre Festival 2010. Other directing credits include Sweet by Alicia Frank at Hudson Guild NY, Bottom of the Lake by Conor McDermottroe for BCA, Boston, The Beauty Queen of Leenane by Martin McDonagh for The Actors Studio, NY, Never in my Lifetime by Shirley Gee at Access Theatre NY, Rooftop by Tammy McNeill for Hudson Guild NY, One for the Road by Harold Pinter at Studio Theatre, London and Voices from the Liffey by Stephen Brennan toured to California also. His own play The International premiered at The Cell Theatre NY as part of Origin Theatre's 1st Irish Theatre Festival 2013 winning the Best Play and Best Actress Awards He also directed The Cure by Conal Creedon for that festival starring Mick Mellamphy who won the Best Actor Award. The International was remounted by Origin Theatre Company for an extended run to highly critical acclaim.As an actor Tim has performed many times Off-Broadway at the Irish Repertory Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, The Irish Arts Center and recently appeared in Chekov's The Seagull, an adaptation by Tom Kilroy at the Culture Project, NY directed by the legendary Max Stafford Clark. In his native Ireland he has performed a number of times at The Abbey Theatre as well as others and spent many years on Irelands top TV show, Glenroe. His Film credits include the soon to be released 79 Parts, Gods and Generals, Gettysburg, WC, Heat, Wishful Thinkers among others. Tim is a proud member of the ACW .

Producer Georganne Aldrich Heller is the president of Irish Theatre and Film Production. Recent theater credits include the premier of Who's Your Daddy by Johnny O'Callagahn at Victory Theatre in Los Angeles and at the Irish Repertory Theatre in NY. Fishamble's Silent and Forgotten by Pat Kinevane at Irish Arts Center NYC and in LA. The Prophet of Monto by John Paul Murphy for 1st Irish Theater Festival at The Flea Theater nominated for three awards,and winning for Best Actress, the play toured to Dublin. Other credits include, Paul Walker's multi-award winning Ladies & Gents performed in Central Park's "Public Toilets", Marie Jones Rockdoves, Mark O'Rowe's Howie The Rookie, Geraldine Hughes's Belfast Blues UK/West End, Marie Jones's A Night in November at Douglas Fairbanks Theatre NY, Jimmy Murphy's The Kings of the Kilburn High Road, Frank McCourt's Limerick On My Mind, Samuel Beckett's Molloy with Conor Lovett, The Nualas, Joseph O' Connor's Red Roses & Petrol with Frank McCourt, Kenneth Branagh's Public Enemy, Remembrance which transferred to Broadway with Milo O'Shea and Frances Sternhagen. Georganne was co-founder of Women In Film, and is a member of International Woman's Forum. Georganne is also a Trustee on the board of The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum. She served as Cultural Director for the Borough of Manhattan for five years. Georganne recently received a special proclamation from the Irish Consulate General of New York for her outstanding contributions to Irish Theater in the US and internationally. She has a longstanding fifteen year relationship as a producer with the Irish Arts Center where she serves on their board. Her first feature film, Red Roses & Petrol, with Malcolm McDowell was released internationally.

THE LAST DAYS OF CLEOPATRA features Set Design by A Team, LLC, Lighting Design by Michael O'Connor, Costume & Make Up Design by Elizabeth Kirby, and Hair Design by Lee Jackson & Arrojo, Stage management is by Leah S. Abrams.

Performances of THE LAST DAYS OF CLEOPATRA are on Tuesdays - Saturdays at 8PM, with a matinees at 4PM on Saturday, August 23 and at 5PM on September 7. Urban Stages is located at 259 West 30th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. Full Performance schedule: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/937603

Tickets to THE LAST DAYS OF CLEOPATRA are $18 and may be purchased in advance at www.ovationtix.com - https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/34485?sitePreference=normal or by calling 866-811-4111, or at the Urban Stages box office prior to each performance.

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