Seanachaí Theatre Company Presents DANCING AT LUGHNASA 2/25-3/4

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. A full-grown Michael recounts the heart-wrenching details of his family's unraveling with poignancy, humor and powerful lyricism.

Dancing at Lughnasa is directed by Elise Kauzlaric, who recently served as dialect coach for Seanachaí's Mojo Mickybo, and again for Dancing at Lughnasa. She is a proud company member of Lifeline Theatre where she directed last season's Mariette in Ecstasy (Non-Equity Jeff Nomination - Direction) and where she will appear this spring opposite her husband, Seanachaí ensemble member Rob Kauzlaric, in Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. As an actor, Elise has worked with The Goodman, Lifeline, City Lit, Circle Theatre, First Folio Shakespeare, Apple Tree, Caffeine Theatre, and Griffin Theatre, where she received a Non-Equity Jeff Nomination for Supporting Actress for On the Shore of the Wide World.

Cast includes Seanachaí Ensemble members Barbara Figgins, Carolyn Klein, Anne Sunseri, Kevin Theis and Sarah Wellington. Rounding out the cast are Don Bender, Simone Roos and Philip Winston.

Set Design for Dancing at Lughnasa is by Alan Donahue. Lighting Designer is Sarah Hughey, Original Music and Sound are by Joe Court with Costume Design by Aly Renee Greaves. Choreography is by Ellen Waller, Associate Artistic Director for the Trinity Irish Dance Company and Trinity II. Erin Diener is Production Stage Manager.

Brian Friel was born near Omagh, County Tyrone, on January 9th, 1929. His first internationally successful stage play, Philadelphia Here I Come! garnered critical and popular acclaim, first at the Dublin Theatre Festival in 1964 and then in New York and London. Dancing at Lughnasa was first produced on 24 April 1990 at The Abbey Theatre in Dublin. The British premiere took place at the Royal National Theatre, London in October 1990, and won the Olivier award in 1991. The play opened on Broadway at the Plymouth Theatre in October 1991 where the production won the Tony Award for Best Play in 1992.

DANCING AT LUGHNASA will perform at The Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox, Chicago, IL 60630, from February 25th to April 4th, 2010, Thursdays through Saturdays at 7.30pm, Sundays at 3pm. Press Opening is February 27th, VIP Opening Performance is February 28th at 3pm, half price previews are February 25th and 26th. There will be no show Saturday, March 13th and there will be an added show on Monday, March 8th at 7.30pm. Tickets are $22 - $26 and can be obtained by calling (866) 811-4111. For further information, see the website at www.seanachai.org.

Seanachaí is the Gaelic word for Storyteller. 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.

Need more Chicago Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Summer season, discounts & more...