Irish Rep. Launches 2010 Season with 'BANISHED CHILDREN,' 10/24

The Irish Repertory Theatre commissioned playwright Kelly Younger to write this bristling drama set during the Civil War in New York City. BANISHED CHILDREN OF EVE follows a motley assemblage of New Yorkers through a few days in the terrible summer of 1863 when the Civil War had just entered its third bloody year.

Against the backdrop of the dangerous, sweltering Civil War summer of 1863, the Bowery explodes with racial tension and the City of New York rushes headlong toward the fatal July draft riots. Moving to the music and rhythms of these dangerous times, a diverse band of characters are drawn together in a net of intrigue and violence. Jack Mulcahey, leading an Irish Minstrel Troupe, stars opposite his true love, a beautiful Mulatto girl who whites her face and crosses the ice as Eliza in "Uncle Tom's Cabin." On the blistering streets outside, corrupt Tammany Hall bosses plot to take advantage of the chaos to enrich themselves whilst destroying any hopes of escape to a place of freedom and peace for Jack and his little family. The famous songwriter, Stephen Foster, himself one of the BANISHED CHILDREN OF EVE, wends his way through this entrancing drama as he produces the beautiful melodies which have given the country its lasting evocation of the times.

Malcolm Gets, previously seen at Irish Repertory Theatre in its revival of FINIAN'S RAINBOW and on Broadway in THE STORY OF MY LIFE and AMOUR, co-stars as Stephen C. Foster. David Lansbury, who appeared at Irish Rep in THE HAIRY APE and DEFENDER OF THE FAITH and on Broadway in 2001 revivals of HEDDA GABLER and MAJOR BARBARA, co-stars
as Irish minstrel Jack Mulcahey.

Joining Messrs. Gets and Lansbury in the cast of BANISHED CHILDREN OF EVE are Christopher Borger, Rory Duffy, Amber Gray, Patrice Johnson, Graeme Malcolm, Kern McFadden, Jonny Orsini, and Amanda Quaid.

BANISHED CHILDREN OF EVE features set design by Charlie Corcoran; costume design by Martha Hally; lighting design by Brian Nason; sound design by Ryan Rummery and Christian Fredrickson; puppet design by Bob Flanagan; and choreography by Barry McNabb. Production Stage Manager is Pamela Brusoski; Assistant Stage Manager is Rebecca C. Monroe. Additional scenic design funding support is provided by The Tobin Theatre Arts Fund.

Kelly Younger's plays include OFF COMPASS, winner of the 2007 John Gassner New Play Award; I THINK YOU THINK I LOVE YOU; FORGIVE ME, FATHER; LADY GREGORY'S INGREDIENTS; and ONCE A MARINE. New works include RORSCHACH, a finalist for the JoAnne Woodward/Paul Newman Drama Award, and TENDER, developed with New Repertory Theatre and given its premiere by Gloucester Stage Company in July 2010.

In addition to "Banished Children of Eve," winner of the 1995 American Book Award, novelist and chronicler of Irish America Peter Quinn is the author of "The Hour of the Cat," and "Looking for Jimmy: A Search for Irish America." His most recent novel is "The Man Who Never Returned."

Last season, director Ciarán O'Reilly helmed Eugene O'Neill's THE EMPEROR JONES, which received Lortel and Drama League nominations for best revival. The production garnered a Joe A. Calloway Award as well as Drama Desk, Lortel and Drama League nominations for its star, John Douglas Thompson. The design team was recognized with a Drama Desk nomination (Outstanding Costume Design, Antonia Ford-Roberts and Bob Flanagan); Lortel nomination (Outstanding Sound Design, Ryan Rummery and Christian Fredrickson); and Henry Hewes Design Award nomination(Scenic Design, Charlie Corcoran).

Mr. O'Reilly's directing credits also include: THE HAIRY APE (Drama Desk, Lortel, Drama League, and Callaway nominations); THE YEATS PROJECT; THE MASTER BUILDER; PRISONER OF THE CROWN; SIVE; DEFENDER OF THE FAITH; THE FIELD (Drama Desk nomination); PHILADELPHIA, HERE I COME! (Lortel and Drama Desk nominations); and THE BELLS OF CHRISTMAS.

Co-founded by Producing Director Ciarán 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.

BANISHED CHILDREN OF EVE received developmental support from the National Endowment for the Arts and was read as part of The Irish Repertory Theatre's 2009/2010 New Works Reading Series.

Currently at The Irish Repertory Theatre is its special engagement of Frank McCourt's THE IRISH...AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY, directed by Charlotte Moore, with performances scheduled through September 26.

BANISHED CHILDREN OF EVE runs October 13-December 5 (opening October 24), at The Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues): Wednesday-Saturday at 8pm; plus 3pm matinees on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. (With the following exceptions: No performance Thursday, November 25; added matinee at 3pm on Friday, November 26). Tickets are $65 and $55, and are available by calling 212-727-2737 or online at www.irishrep.org.

For more information about Irish Rep, call 212-727-2737 or visit www.irishrep.org