Irish Rep Presents George M. Cohan Tonight! Beginning March 9th

The Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd St.) will present GEORGE M. COHAN TONIGHT! a musical following the extraordinary life and career of the legendary showman on March 9th at 7 PM; previews begin March 3rd; the production closes on April 23rd.

GEORGE M. COHAN TONIGHT! featuring Jon Peterson is written, arranged, and directed by Chip Deffaa. Music and Lyrics are by George M. Cohan with additional material by Chip Deffaa. Musical Direction is by Sterling Price-McKinney.

George M. Cohan may well have been the single most talented figure in American theatrical history. He gave Broadway its pace, its beat, its snap. He wrote, directed, and produced scores of shows; penned hundreds of songs; and became the most popular musical comedy star of his era. Critics called him "The First Actor" and "The Man Who Owns Broadway." Starting out as a poor Irish-American kid from Providence, RI, Cohan never spent more than a few weeks in school. Nevertheless, he remade the American songbook, and made America - not Europe - the standard-setter for musical theater.

Jon Peterson (George M. Cohan), who won Back Stage's "Bistro Award" for his dynamic portrayal of Cohan, has enlivened many musicals in his native London, including 42ND STREET, A CHORUS LINE, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, CATS, DAMES AT SEA, ON YOUR TOES, SHE LOVES ME, and Noël Coward's CAVALCADE. He starred as the emcee in Sam Mendes' and Rob Marshall's acclaimed production of "CABARET for two years in the U.S. National Tour before covering the role on Broadway. He may be heard on such CD's as "Skiddoo" and "The Johnny Mercer Jamboree," and seen in the film ANNA BALLERINA. Trained at London's Royal Ballet School, he has choreographed, in addition to starring in, GEORGE M. COHAN TONIGHT!

Chip Deffaa (Author & Director), has written eight books dealing with music and popular culture, including "Blue Rhythms" and "Voices of the Jazz Age" (University of Illinois Press). For 18 years, he covered entertainment for The New York Post, writing about jazz, cabaret, and theater. The foremost authority on Cohan's work, he has created and staged no less than five different shows about Cohan, for all different cast sizes. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, ASCAP, the Drama Desk, NARAS, and the American Theater Critics Association, and is a trustee of the Princeton University Tiger Magazine. Mr. Deffaa is a recipient of the ASCAP/Deems Taylor Award.

Sterling Price-McKinney (Musical Director) has served as musical director for productions of all kinds of shows, from established favorites like AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' and CHICAGO to brand-new works such as FREE TO BE YOU AND ME. He has played for such artists as Carol Channing, Bob Hope, Debbie Reynolds, Kathleen Battle, Barrett Foa, and Lucie Arnaz. Lady Bird Johnson calls him her "favorite pianist." You can hear Price-McKinney accompanying Deborah Harry on the "Love Theme from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre -The Next Generation." He has a cameo role in Jonathan Caouette's film TARNATION. A member of ASCAP and the Dramatists Guild, Price-McKinney has a new CD, "Chasing Shadows."

Set design is by James Morgan, costume design by David Toser, and lighting design by Mary Jo Dondlinger. Rachel S. McCutchen, Production Stage Manager. Charlotte Moore, Artistic Director, Ciarán O'Reilly, Producing Director, Patrick A. Kelsey, Managing Director.

Performances of GEORGE M. COHAN TONIGHT! are Tuesday – Saturday at 8 PM. Matinees are Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 3 PM.

Tickets are $50 and $45 and can be purchased by calling The Irish Repertory Theatre Box Office at (212) 727-2737. For more information, call (212) 727-2737 visit www.irishrep.org.

About The Irish Repertory Theatre

In the past eighteen years, The Irish Repertory Theatre has presented major works by O'Casey, Synge, Shaw, Wilde, Dion Boucicault, Brendan Behan, Dylan Thomas, and Samuel Beckett, as well as the contemporary artistry of Hugh Leonard, Frank McCourt, Tom Murphy, Brian Friel, Peter Sheridan, Patricia Burke Brogan, Pat McCabe, Geraldine Aron, Jennifer Johnston, Tommy Makem, Shivaun O'Casey, Enda Walsh and Harold Prince. The Irish Repertory Theatre received the 2005 Lucille Lortel "Outstanding Body of Work" award and won the New York Drama Desk Award for "Excellence in Presenting Distinguished Irish Drama." In 1995, The Irish Repertory Theatre moved to its present location on West 22nd Street, New York City. It is currently undertaking an eight million dollar capital campaign to purchase its theatre, rehearsal studio, and administrative offices.

Previews Begin: March 3rd
Opening Night: March 9th
Closing Night: April 23rd

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