TRANSLATIONS Begins Previews Tonight At The Biltmore

The Manhattan Theatre Club production of TRANSLATIONS by Brian Friel begins previews tonight, January 4 at the Biltmore Theatre (261 West 47th Street) in preparation for a Thursday, January 25 opening night. The co-production with McCarter Theatre Center is directed by Tony Awardâ-winner Garry Hynes (Beauty Queen of Leenane).

TRANSLATIONS received glowing reviews this fall when the production had its premiere at the McCarter Theatre Center's Matthews Theatre. The Star-Ledger called the play "a powerful, engrossing evening of theatre." The Philadelphia Inquirer said, "The production is directed with uncompromising naturalness by Garry Hynes… The cast is remarkable." The Philadelphia City Paper said playwright Brian Friel, "…balances love and loss vividly, creating a world and its tender, tortured people that stays with us long after."

In 1981, MTC produced the American premiere of Brian Friel's masterpiece TRANSLATIONS. Twenty-five years later, the themes of this play are as timely as ever. Clashing cultures and tragedies of miscommunication unfold in Friel's invented Irish townland of Ballybeg, a place he has explored in his plays Dancing at Lughnasa, Aristocrats and Molly Sweeney. Poignant and moving, TRANSLATIONS depicts the power of language to unite and divide people in a time of cultural imperialism.

The cast includes Niall Buggy, David Costabile, Alan Cox, Dermot Crowley, Michael FitzGerald, Morgan Hallett, Geraldine Hughes, Susan Lynch, Graeme Malcolm and Chandler Williams.

Niall Buggy and Susan Lynch are appearing with the permission of Actors' Equity Association. The Producers gratefully acknowlege Actors' Equity Association for its assistance of this production.

The design team for TRANSLATIONS includes Francis O'Connor (Set & Costume Design), Davy Cunningham (Lighting Design), John Leonard (Sound Design) and Sam Jackson (Original Music).

Subscriptions to MTC can be obtained by calling (212) 399-3030, Monday - Friday, noon - 8 PM with a major credit card. Subscriptions are also available online at www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com.

Single tickets ($86.25 - $26.25) for TRANSLATIONS are available by calling TeleCharge.com at 212-239-6200 or at www.telecharge.com or at the Biltmore Theatre box office (261 West 47th Street).

Visit www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com for more information.