Young Vic Closes McDonagh's THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENAN, 8/21

London's Young Vic Theatre will revive Martin McDonagh's first play, THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENAN, which will run from July 15 through August 21.

The play premiered in 1996 at London's Royal Court Theatre before coming to New York in 1998 to play Off-Broadway's Atlantic Theater. It transferred to Broadway and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play. Director Garry Hynes won the Tony for Best Director and castmembers Marie Mullen, Tom Murphy, and Anna Manahan won the Tony for best Actress in a Play, Best Featured Actor in a Play, and Best Featured Actress in a play, respectively. In addition, the play won the 1998 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding new Play, the Evening Standard, Critics' Circle and Writers' Guild awards for Best New Play.

High in the mountains of Connemara, THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENAN tells the story of a lonely spinster Maureen and her devilishly manipulative mother Mag. Maureen longs for the romance that will spirit her away. But if she goes, who will stir the lumps out of Mag's complan?

An instant classic from its first performance, Beauty Queen established Martin McDonagh as the natural successor to Oscar Wilde and Joe Orton. After worldwide success, this is the first major London revival of this horrifically funny play.

The production will be directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins and designed by Ultz. Lighting will be by Charles Balfour, sound by Paul Arditti, and casting by Sarah Bird.

Currently, McDonagh's A BEHANDING IN SPOKANE is running on Broadway starring Christopher Walken and Sam Rockwell. His other plays include A SKILL IN COMMEMARA, THE LONESOME WEST, THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE, and the PILLOWMAN.

McDonagh won an Oscar for his short film "Six Shooter" and a BAFTA for his feature film "In Bruges" which wrote and directed.

This show is now open for priority booking for Friends of the Young Vic until April 6, when public booking will become available. To order tickets, call the box office at 020 7922 2922, or visit www.youngvic.org.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

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