Edwin Cahill, Howard McGillin Lead A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS IN WALES 12/7

The Irish Repertory Theatre has announced cast for the concert staging of Dylan Thomas's holiday classic- A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS IN WALES.

Adapted and Directed by Charlotte Moore.
Musical Direction by John Bell.

Ensemble includes Edwin Cahill, Howard McGillin ("Phantom of the Opera"),
Danielle Erin Rhodes, Ashley Robinson, and Beverly Ward

Limited Run! Performances December 7-31 Only!

A thousand starry lights will envelop the stage in The Irish Repertory Theatre's re-invention of Dylan Thomas's A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS IN WALES in concert – set to begin Off-Broadway previews December 7 in the company's W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre, prior to its official press
opening December 11 at The Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street). Charlotte Moore, who helms the company's current production of Brian Friel's DANCING AT LUGHNASA, directs. Musical Direction is by John Bell.

A holiday favorite, the iconic piece features both traditional and contemporary Christmas music interwoven within the classic story of the legendary snowy Christmas Day in Wales.

Ensemble for A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS IN WALES  includes Edwin Cahill (LOVEMUSIK); Howard McGillin (Tony-nominee for ANYTHING GOES and THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD; Broadway's longest-running Phantom in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA); Danielle Erin Rhodes (THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES); Ashley Robinson (Irish Repertory's MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS); and Beverly Ward (CRAZY FOR YOU National Tour, Helen Hayes Award nominee).

A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS IN WALES  features costume design by David Toser and lighting design by Michael O'Connor. Production Stage Manager is April A. Kline.

Welsh author Dylan Thomas was born in Swansea, a seacoast town in southern Wales, on October 27, 1914. After dropping out of school at sixteen, he worked as a junior reporter at the South Wales Evening Post. In addition to poetry, Thomas wrote short stories, radio plays, and film scripts. He is best known for the radio play UNDER MILK WOOD and the poem "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night," composed in 1951, in honor of his dying father. Throughout his career, Thomas conducted a renowned series of reading tours of the United States. During his fourth American lecture tour, and a few days after his thirty-ninth birthday, he collapsed in his New York hotel. Thomas died on November 9, 1953, at St. Vincent's Hospital. His body was returned to Wales, where a simple wooden cross marks his grave.

In addition to DANCING AT LUGHNASA, extended through January 15 on the company's Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage, Charlotte Moore recently directed Brian Friel's MOLLY SWEENEY at The Irish Repertory Theatre and New Haven, Connecticut's Long Wharf. Theatre.

Co-founded by Producing Director Ciarán O'Reilly and Artistic Director Charlotte Moore, The Irish Repertory Theatre opened its doors in September 1988 with Sean O'Casey's THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS. The mission of the theatre was and remains to bring works by Irish and Irish American masters and contemporary playwrights to American audiences; to provide a context for understanding the contemporary Irish American experience; and to encourage the development of new works focusing on the Irish and Irish American experience, as well as a range of other cultures.

A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS IN WALES  runs December 7-31 (opening December 11), at The Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues): Wednesdays-Saturdays at 8pm; plus 3pm matinees on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. For holiday schedule, visit
www.irishrep.org/childschristmasinwales.html. Tickets are $30, and are available by calling 212-727-2737 or online at www.irishrep.org.