Valencia College Theater to Present THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN

The Valencia College Theater will present the Central Florida premiere of Martin McDonagh's darkly hilarious Irish comedy, "The Cripple of Inishmaan."

The play, which was nominated for six Tony Awards this year, arrives at Valencia's Black Box Theater for a seven-day run, starting June 6th.

Set in 1934 off the west coast of Ireland, "The Cripple of Inishmaan" is a strange comic tale in the great tradition of Irish storytelling. Written by director and playwright McDonagh, who's best known for "The Beauty Queen of Leenane" and "The Pillowman," "The Cripple of Inishmaan" tells the story of "Cripple Billy" Claven, who dreams of breaking away from the tedium of his life by joining a film being made by famed Hollywood director Robert Flaherty. Through storytelling, the audience learns truths hidden for years by those surrounding Billy.

"Beneath the volley of barbs and loopy postures lies the same bedrock of wistfulness and exasperation that makes 'Beauty Queen' so poignant. Mr. McDonagh has again created characters for whom the line between cruelty and kindness is slender," said The New York Times.

Valencia College Theater presents this production, directed by program chair John DiDonna, with set design by Dylan Kollath, lighting design by Mel Guadalupe and costume design by Virginia McKinney. The cast includes student actors Sam Corrie, Phillip Edwards, Justine Rodriguez Gierling, John Michael McDonald and Coletyn Hentz, along with professional actors from the Central Florida community Janine Papin, Amy Cuccaro, Tommy Liles and Kathleen Lindsey-Moulds.

Tickets are $12 general admission, $10 for students, faculty, staff, alumni and senior citizens. To buy tickets, please visit valenciacollege.edu/arts or call the box office at 407-582-2900. Seating is limited in the Black Box Theater, so advance purchase is advised.