The world premiere of The Prophet of Monto, a comic drama of love, lust and lost dreams by Dublin playwright John Paul Murphy, will run September 8 - 25 at The Flea Theater, 41 White Street (between Broadway & Church) as part of the 1st Irish 2010 Festival. The Prophet of Monto, produced by Solas Nua and Georganne Aldrich Heller, will be directed by Des Kennedy and stars Michael Mellamphy and Laoisa Sexton.
Georganne Aldrich Heller is the president of Irish Theatre & Film Production. She served as Cultural Director for the Borough of Manhattan for five years and her many theater credits include productions at the Irish Arts Center, on Broadway, London's West End and European tours, including Paul Walker's Ladies & Gents (performed by an all Irish cast in Central Park's public toilets), Geraldine Hughes's Belfast Blues (Northern Ireland tour and UK/West End), Marie Jones's A Night in November (European tour, N.Y. and Boston), Frank McCourt's Limerick On My Mind, Joseph O' Connor's Red Roses & Petrol with Frank McCourt, Kenneth Branagh's Public Enemy and Graham Reid's Remembrance, which transferred to Broadway with Milo O'Shea and Frances Sternhagen. Her first feature film, Red Roses & Petrol, based on the play, with Malcolm McDowell, was released internationally last year.
Solas Nua (which means "new light" in Irish), based in Washington, D.C., is the only contemporary Irish arts organization in the United States. The company's mission is to bring the best new artistic talent from Ireland to audiences in America. Solas Nua's unique programming includes a full theater season, visual arts exhibitions, literary events including the Washington Irish Writers' Festival, Irish Book Day, and the Capital Irish Film Festival.
The Flea Theater, under Artistic Director Jim Simpson and Producing Director Carol Ostrow, is one of New York's leading off-off-Broadway companies. Winner of a Special Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Achievement, Obie Awards and an Otto for political theater, The Flea has presented nearly 100 plays and numerous dance and live music performances since its inception in 1996. Past productions include the premieres of Anne Nelson's The Guys; five plays by A.R. Gurney; Mac Wellman's Cellophane and Two September; Elizabeth Swados' JABU and Kaspar Hauser; Karen Finley's Return of the Chocolate Smeared Woman; Adam Rapp's Bingo with the Indians; Will Eno's Oh, The Humanity and other exclamations; Jonathan Reynolds' Girls in Trouble and most recently Bathsheba Doran's Parents' Evening.The Prophet of Monto is supported in part by Culture Ireland.
The Prophet of Monto will play at The Flea Theater, 41 White Street between Church and Broadway, three blocks south of Canal, close to the A/C/E, N/R/Q, 6, J/M/Z and 1 subway lines. The Prophet of Monto will play the following schedule: September 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 at 9:00 pm; September 18 and 25 at 1:00 pm. Tickets are $18 and are available by calling OvationTix at 212-352-3101or visit www.theflea.org. For further information, visit www.1stIrish.orgVideos