Tony Winning Drama 'Dancing At Lughnasa'

By: Beau Higgins Dec. 29, 2008

Captivating Irish Drama at Florida Rep

Florida Repertory Theatre announced the January 9th opening of Brian Friel's Tony Award winning drama, Dancing at Lughnasa.

Friel's play is a story that the New York Times said "does exactly what theater was born to do," and Florida Rep's production assembles the same creative team that brought both "Rabbit Hole" and "Doubt" to life in Southwest Florida

"This is one of the truly great plays of the twentieth century," said Producing Artistic Director, Robert Cacioppo. "We couldn't have a more gifted creative team. From the fine cast we've assembled to the design team and our guest director, Maureen Heffernan, it is a first-rate ensemble."

Winner of the Tony Award for Best Play, Dancing at Lughnasa is a memory play told through the eyes of Michael Evans, now a man, who recalls the summer he spent with his mother and her four maiden sisters in a tiny and impoverished Irish home in 1936. Set against the backdrop of the pagan festival of Lughnasa, the story of changing times and the strength of one family's bond unfolds as the music of their first wireless set casts its spell under the hot August sun.

The ensemble cast of Dancing at Lughnasa is led by veteran artist, Jan Wikstrom, who is new to Florida Rep this season. A Jacksonville native, Wikstrom made her Rep debut in the holiday treat, Indian Blood. Joining her are Lisa Morgan, known to Florida Rep audiences for her powerful portrayal of Sister Aloysius in last season's Doubt, Florida Rep Associate Producer, Carrie Lund (Indian Blood; Born Yesterday), Florida Rep regular, Michelle Damato (A Funny...Forum; Rabbit Hole) and Florida Rep Associate Director, Rachel Burttram, whose work has been showcased at the Rep since 2002. Burttram was seen most recently in The Glass Menagerie, Doubt and Rabbit Hole.

The cast also features Brendan Powers and Peter Thomasson. Powers debuted in last season's Doubt, and was seen more recently in Born Yesterday this fall, while Thomasson has been a regular at the Rep since 2004, the latest being December's Indian Blood.

As the play's narrator, Michael, Florida Rep Associate Artistic Director, Chris Clavelli is on stage again following appearances in Indian Blood and Born Yesterday. Clavelli's work as both an actor and a director (The Glass Menagerie; Almost Maine; Rounding Third) will be featured all season long.

Guest director, Maureen Heffernan, directs Dancing at Lughnasa after acclaimed productions of the Pulitzer Prize winning plays, Doubt in 2008 and Rabbit Hole in 2007. Heffernan is joined by a team of designers including set designer, Ray Recht (Doubt; Rabbit Hole), lighting designer, Matt McCarthy (Born Yesterday), Florida Rep's resident costumer, Roberta Malcolm and sound designer, Marc Hurst. The production team is led by Florida Rep veteran stage manager, Brian Maschka (Rabbit Hole; Doubt).

"It seems that January has become the right time for Florida Rep to bring a powerful drama to life in Southwest Florida, and 2009 will be no different," Cacioppo finished. "We are very fortunate to have this cast and this creative team working on this play, it is truly first-rate craftsmanship at work."

Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel plays at Florida Rep January 9th through February 1st, 2009. Performances are Tues. - Sat. at 8pm, with 2pm matinees on Wed., Sun. and selected Saturdays with a Twilight Performance at 7pm on Sunday, January 11th.

Florida Repertory Theatre is located on Bay Street between Jackson and Hendry in the Historic Arcade Theatre in the Fort Myers River District. Subscriptions and single tickets are available through the Box Office (239.332.4488), or visit Florida Rep online at www.floridarep.org.

Subscriptions for 2009 are available for as low as 5 shows for as little as $99.

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