Irish Rep Continues 22nd Season With ERNEST IN LOVE, Previews 12/12

The Irish Repertory Theatre continues its 22nd Season with "Ernest in Love," a musical adaptation of Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Ernest"

ERNEST IN LOVE
Book and Lyrics by Anne Croswell, Music by Lee Pockriss
Directed by Charlotte Moore
Choreography by Barry McNabb

Previews begin December 12; Off-Broadway opening set for December 20

Off-Broadway's Irish Repertory Theatre must conclude its sold-out run of Eugene O'Neill's THE EMPEROR JONES on December 6 to make way for its newest production, ERNEST IN LOVE - a musical adaptation of Oscar Wilde's THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST -- with previews to begin December 12, prior to its official press opening December 20 at the Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street) in Manhattan. Charlotte Moore, whose 2008 production of TAKE ME ALONG (a musical adaptation of O'Neill's AH, WILDERNESS!) won an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Revival, is set to direct.

ERNEST IN LOVE, a sparkling and witty musical about social hypocrisy among the crème de la crème of Victorian England, is a faithful adaptation of Wilde's superb comic masterpiece, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST -- featuring all of its much-beloved characters. With music by Lee Pockriss and book and lyrics by Anne Croswell, the clever, tuneful score is the perfect complement to Wilde's incomparable wordplay and sharp witticisms.

The production features choreography by Barry McNabb, whose work can be seen THE EMPEROR JONES; set design by James Morgan; costume design by Linda Fisher; lighting design by Brian Nason; and musical direction by Mark Hartman.

The cast of ERNEST IN LOVE is to be announced.

In addition to ERNEST IN LOVE, which premiered Off-Broadway in 1960, Lee Pockriss collaborated with librettist Anne Croswell on the Broadway musical TOVARICH, starring Vivien Leigh and earning a Grammy nomination for its original cast recording.

Mr. Pockriss' notable songs include: the Grammy-nominated "Catch a Falling Star," "My Little Corner of the World," and "Johnny Angel." Ms. Croswell's Broadway credits include I'M SOLOMON.

Director Charlotte Moore helmed Irish Repertory's acclaimed revival of FINIAN'S RAINBOW during the company's 2004-05 Season, most recently directed TAKE ME ALONG, a musical adaptation of O'Neill's AH, WILDERNESS, winning a 2008 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical.

Ms. Moore's recent directing credits also include THE YEATS PROJECT, ARISTOCRATS, GASLIGHT, MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, MRS. WARREN'S PROFESSION and MRS. DOOLEY'S AMERICA. Other credits include FINIAN'S RAINBOW at JoAnne Woodward's Westport Country Playhouse; SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER; Samuel Beckett's ENDGAME, the adaptation and direction of FINIAN'S RAINBOW; Dion Boucicault's THE COLLEEN BAWN; J. Harley Manner's PEG O' MY HEART; J.M. Synge's PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD; and Mr. Boucicault's THE STREETS OF NEW YORK, which she adapted and scored. As an actress, she has appeared on New York stages in MAJOR BARBARA, A PERFECT GANESH, MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, THE PERFECT PARTY, MORNING'S AT SEVEN, PRIVATE LIVES, LOVE FOR LOVE, HOLIDAY, CHEMIN DE FER, THE GREAT GOD BROWN, A LOVELY SUNDAY FOR CREVE COEUR, and many performances with the NY Shakespeare Festival with directors including Harold Prince, Tony Walton and others. Ms. Moore has directed forty-eight productions at the Irish Repertory Theatre, and all twenty of its Gala benefits. She received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play for CHEMIN DE FER; the Outer Critics' Circle Award, the Drama Desk Award, The Irish America Top 100 Irish Award, and the 2008 Irish Women of the Year Award. She is the recipient of the 2008 Ambassador Award, the St. Patrick's Committee in Holyoke's John F. Kennedy National Award, and is listed as one of the "50 Most Influential Women" in the Irish America Magazine/Irish Voice Newspaper.

Co-founded by Producing Director Ciaran O'Reilly and Artistic Director Charlotte Moore, The Irish Repertory Theatre opened its doors in September 1988 with Sean O'Casey's THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS. The mission of the theatre was and remains to bring works by Irish and Irish-American masters and contemporary playwrights to American audiences; to provide a context for understanding the contemporary Irish American experience; and to encourage the development of new works focusing on the Irish and Irish American experience, as well as a range of other cultures.

The Irish Repertory's current production THE EMPEROR JONES, which received some of the best reviews of the season and is breaking box office records, continues through December 6, at which time the highly praised production hopes to continue at an Off-Broadway venue to be announced.

Performances of ERNEST IN LOVE run December 12-January 31 at The Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues): Wednesdays-Saturdays at 8pm; plus 3pm matinees on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays (with the following exceptions: no performances on Saturdays, December 25 or January 1.). Tickets are $65 and $55, and are available by calling 212-727-2737.

For more information visit www.irishrep.org.