DANCING AT LUGHNASA to Play Palm Beach Dramaworks, 5/22-6/16

Winner of the Tony and Olivier Awards, Brian Friel's finely-etched memory play Dancing at Lughnasa will conclude Palm Beach Dramamworks' 2012-2013 season, with performances beginning on Friday, May 24 (8PM) at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre (201 Clematis Street). The touching story of five adult sisters will play a strictly limited engagement through June 16, with specially priced preview performances slated for May 22 & 23. For thirteen years, West Palm Beach's only professional, multi-award-winning resident theatre has brought to the Palm Beaches a distinguished roster of plays under the guidance of Producing Artistic Director William Hayes.

Set in 1936 in rural Ireland, Dancing at Lughnasa tells the poignant story of the Mundy sisters, who make the most of their uncomplicated existence. The play is narrated by the adult son of one of the sisters, who looks back with affection, sensitivity, and insight to a summer in his aunts' cottage during his childhood.

Palm Beach Dramaworks' production will be directed by J. Barry Lewis and features Cliff Burgess, Margery Lowe, Declan Mooney, Meghan Moroney, Gretchen Porro, Julie Rowe, Erin Joy Schmidt, and John L. Thompson. Choreography is by Lynnette Barkley, set design by Jeffrey Modereger, costume design by Brian O'Keefe, lighting design by Ron Burns, and sound design by StEve Shapiro.

Dancing at Lughnasa was originally presented at The Abbey Theatre in Dublin in 1990. It transferred to London's National Theatre later that year, and won the 1991 Olivier Award for Best Play. Dancing at Lughnasa opened on Broadway in October, 1991 and went on to receive the Tony Award for Best Play. It was made into a film in 1998, starring Meryl Streep.

Brian Friel, born in 1929, is widely recognized as one of the great contemporary playwrights. His breakthrough as a playwright came in 1964 with the Dublin premiere of Philadelphia, Here I Come!, which went on to have successful runs in New York and London. Subsequent plays include Lovers (1967), The Freedom of the City (1973), Aristocrats (1979), Faith Healer (1979), Translations (1980), and Molly Sweeney (1994).

Palm Beach Dramaworks is a non-profit, professional theatre and is a member of the Theatre Communications Group, the South Florida Theatre League, Southeastern Theatre Conference, Florida Professional Theatres Association, Florida Theatre Conference, and the Palm Beach County Cultural Council.

The performance schedule is as follows: Evening performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 8PM and Sunday at 7PM. Matinee performances are on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2PM. Individual tickets are $55 for all performances. Preview performances are $47 and Opening Night Tickets (May 24) are $70. Student tickets are available for $10. Group rates for 20 or more and discounted season subscriptions are also available.

The Don & Ann Brown Theatre is located in the heart of downtown West Palm Beach, at 201 Clematis Street. For ticket information contact the box office at (561) 514-4042, open Monday from 10AM to 5PM, Tuesday through Saturday from 10AM to 6PM, and Sunday from 11AM to 5PM, or visit www.palmbeachdramaworks.org.

Pictured: Julie Rowe & Margery Lowe in a scene from "Dancing at Lughnasa". Photo Credit: Alicia Donelan.

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