A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE Gets West End Treatment, February 9

Whatsonstage.com is reporting that the award-winning off-Broadway Musical, A Man of o Importance created by the writers of Ragtime, will get West End treatment when The Union Theatre's celebrated fringe production transfers to the Arts Theatre next month.  The production will run in a limited engagement from 9 February (preview) to 27 February 2010.

A Man of No Importance features music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and a book by Terrence McNally, based on the 1994 Albert Finney film, A Man of No Importance. It tells the story of an amateur theatre group in Dublin and their leader, who is determined to stage a version of Salome at his church, despite the objections of church authorities.

The musical ran from 12 September, 2002 to 29 December, 2002 in the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City, as part of the Lincoln Center Theater 2002-03 season. The production was directed by Joe Mantello and choreographed by Jonathan Butterell. It won the 2003 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical. The original cast included Roger Rees as Alfie Byrne, Jarlath Conroy as Father Kenny, Jessica Molaskey as Mrs. Patrick, Sean McCourt as Sully O'Hara, Luther Creek as Peter/Breton Beret, Faith Prince as Lily Byrne, Charles Keating as Carney/Oscar Wilde, and Steven Pasquale as Robbie Fay. A cast album was recorded in 2002 and released in April 2003.

Regan and De Wynter produced the European Premiere at The Union Theatre, Southwark, where is ran from November 11, 2009 to December 5, 2009. It starred Paul Clarkson as Alfie and Paul Monaghan as Carney/Oscar Wilde. The production received unanimously positive reviews.

The Union Theatre's production is directed by Ben De Wynter, choreographed by Phyllida Crowley-Smith and designed by James Turner, and features musical direction by Christopher Peake. Rounding out the cast are: Jamie Honeybourne, AJ O'Neill, Joanna Nevin, Ruth Berkeley, Kimberly Ensor, Emily Juler, Nicola Redman, Niall Sheehy, Daniel Maguire, Patrick Joseph Kelliher, Barra Collins and Adam Davenport.

To read the full report in whatsonstage.com, click here.

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