Reed Birney & Noah Robbins Lead CHESTER BAILEY Reading Today at Irish Rep

The Irish Repertory Theatre continues the 9th season of its Reading Series with Joseph Dougherty's play Chester Bailey, directed by Ron Lagomarsino. The reading will be held today, January 30 at 3pm (EST) at the DR2 Theater, 103 East 15th Street, the Irish Repertory Theatre's temporary home during its current renovations. The reading is FREE and open to the public. An RSVP to the Irish Repertory Theatre Box Office at (212) 727-2737 is strongly suggested.

In Joseph Dougherty's Chester Bailey, a young man recovers from catastrophic injuries in a stateside hospital at the close of World War II. Or so the doctors have told him. But Chester Bailey denies what's happened to him has actually happened . . . which is how he comes under the care of Dr. Philip Cotton. Older and wounded in his own ways, Cotton is charged with leading Chester back to a reality consisting of pain and loss. The journey is not what either man expected.

Chester Bailey will be read by Tony nominee Reed Birney (I'm Gonna Pray For You So Hard, Casa Valentina) and Noah Robbins (Punk Rock, The Vandal).

Joseph Dougherty (Playwright) received Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations for his play Digby presented by Manhattan Theatre Club. He wrote the libretto for the Tony Award winning musical My Favorite Year, produced at Lincoln Center Theatre. He earned an Emmy and The Humanitas Prize for his work on the groundbreaking series "thirtysomething." The author of several movies for HBO, including the occult noir classic "Cast a Deadly Spell," he has written for the popular television series "Judging Amy," "Once and Again," "Saving Grace," and the current hit "Pretty Little Liars."

Ron Lagomarsino (Director) is a veteran stage and television director. His credits include the world premieres of Alfred Uhry's Driving Miss Daisy and Last Night of Ballyhoo (Tony Award Best Play). He received the Outer Critics Circle Award for Daisy, Christopher Durang's Laughing Wild, and Timothy Mason's Only You. His previous collaboration with Joseph Dougherty includes the premieres of Digby (Drama Desk nomination) and My Favorite Year (music by Stephen Flaherty; lyrics by Lynn Ahrens). Lagomarsino has developed many new works at Sundance Theater Institute, Eugene O'Neill National Playwrights Conference, NY Stage & Film, and Ojai Playwrights Conference. Among his favorite TV credits are "thirtysomething," "My So-Called Life," "The Unit," and the current smash hit "Pretty Little Liars." He is the recipient of the Directors Guild Award for his direction of the pilot of "Picket Fences."

Kara Manning, Literary Manager, hopes that the reading series will "give playwrights, both emerging and more established, the invaluable opportunity to develop their new work in a supportive, safe environment and will also introduce some Irish playwrights, especially those who might not yet have the New York recognition they merit, to an American audience."

Founded by Ciarán O'Reilly and Charlotte Moore, The Irish Repertory Theatre opened its doors in September 1988 with Sean O'Casey's The Plough and the Stars. The Irish Rep is currently the only year-round theatre company in New York City devoted to bringing Irish and Irish American works to the stage. Recognized with the Jujamcyn Theatres Award, a special Drama Desk Award for "Excellence in Presenting Distinguished Irish Drama," and the Lucille Lortel Award for "Outstanding Body of Work," The Irish Rep has celebrated the very best in Irish theatre for over twenty years, from the masters to the new generation of Irish and Irish American writers who are transforming the stage. Nearly 38,000 audience members annually attend productions at our theatre located in the heart of New York's Off Broadway community. Once here, they witness The Irish Rep's engaging perspective on the Irish and their unique contributions to the world of drama.

The 2013-14 Irish Rep Reading Series is underwritten in part by Alexis Doyle, Patricia Smith, and the members of the theatre's Patron's Circle.

The Irish Rep Reading Series readings are held at 3 PM unless otherwise noted. Tickets are free and the reading is open to the public. Seating is limited. RSVP by calling The Irish Repertory Theatre Box Office at (212) 727-2737. For more information visit www.irishrep.org.

Photo by Walter McBride