Seanachaí Theatre Company Announces DANCING AT LUGHNASA, Opens 2/25/2010
By: Gabrielle Sierra Dec. 22, 2009
Seanachaí Theatre Company announces that the first show at its new home, The Irish American Heritage Center (4626 N. Knox Avenue), will be the modern classic DANCING AT LUGHNASA by Brian Friel, running from February 25th to April 4th 2010.
Elise Kauzlaric (Non-Equity Jeff Nomination: Best Director) directs Ensemble members Barbara Figgins, Carolyn Klein, Anne Sunseri, Kevin Theis and Sarah Wellington. Rounding out the cast are Don Bender and Simone Roos.Set design for DANCING AT LUGHNASA is by Alan Donahue, Lighting by Sarah Hughey, Sound by Joe Court and Costumes by Aly Greaves. Ellen Gahl Waller of Trinity Irish Dancers is Choreographer, and Erin Diener is Stage Manager.
DANCING AT LUGHNASA is Brian Friel's joyous memory piece recounting the yearnings and sublimation of love by the five Mundy sisters. Living out a mundane existence in the rural village of Ballybeg in 1936, the family's reputation is precariously balanced between the shame of the youngest sister's illegitimate son, Michael, and their pride for the eldest brother, Father Jack.Friel uses the Irish pagan festival of the harvest, La Lughnasa, as the flash point: Father Jack returns from his African missionary much changed from the young priest revered by all, while the re-appearance of Michael's itinerant father tests more than one sister's resolve.The people's stories were at the very core of ancient Irish culture. It was the duty of the Seanachaí to keep these stories alive. The mission of Seanachaí Theatre Company is to return theatre to this origin - by creating compelling productions and programs that focus the energy of artists towards The Common goal of exceptional storytelling. To achieve this end, Seanachaí Theatre Company strives to provide an atmosphere where all theatre artists - actors, playwrights, directors and designers - have the support and assurance to collaborate openly. That is at the heart of all ensemble companies, and Seanachaí has proven itself a major player in Chicago's ensemble-driven theatrical community.
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