The Irish Rep Theatre Presents AFTER LUKE and WHEN I WAS GOD, Previews 7/29

The Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street) will continue its 21st Season with Cónal Creedon's AFTER LUKE and WHEN I WAS GOD, two potent plays exploring the fragile world of father/son relationships in contemporary Ireland. Previews begin Wednesday, July 29, 2009. The production will open on Thursday, August 6, 2009. Tim Ruddy will direct.

The first, the American premiere of AFTER LUKE is set in the heyday of Ireland's recent boom, explores the greed-driven frenzy of the property market when one son returns from abroad and manipulates the sale of the home place. The second play, WHEN I WAS GOD, is a searing drama of a father's heartbreaking expectations for his son in sports. We witness through the eyes of a ten year old the longings of a fanatical dad. On the field of dreams, the referee is God--but what happens when God is made man?

Cónal Creedon is a playwright, novelist and documentary maker. His stage plays include The Trial Of Jesus [2000], produced as part of the Irish National Millennium Celebrations. The production was awarded two National Business2Arts Awards and nominated for The Irish Times Theatre Awards, Glory Be To The Father, produced by Red Kettle and completed a successful national tour in 2002. The Second City Trilogy, comprising three plays [The Cure, After Luke & When I Was God], was commissioned as part of the Cultural Capital of Europe Celebrations 2005. He has worked as a radio presenter with RTE, a columnist with The Irish Times and has made a number of critically acclaimed television documentaries including, "The Burning of Cork" [2004], "Why The Guns Remained Silent In Rebel Cork" [2005], "If It's Spiced Beef" [2006], "The Boys Of Fairhill" [2007], and "Flynnie - The Man Who Walked Like Shakespeare" [2008] [Nominated for the Focal International Documentary Awards [2009]].

Tim Ruddy started his career as an actor with the Royal Court Youth Theatre in London before attending The Deleon School for Performing Arts in Richmond Surrey. His work in Ireland has included many productions with the legendary Abbey Theatre and fives years starring as Oliver O'Driscoll in the top rated TV drama "Glenroe," as well as featuring as Detective Hackett in the BBC's acclaimed series "Ballykissangel." He has performed in the Broadway Tour of Stones in his Pockets by Marie Jones, and in many Off-Broadway productions in New York including Philadelphia, Here I Come, The Field, Defender of the Faith, and Prisoner of the Crown at The Irish Repertory Theatre, and the world premiere of Rockdoves by Marie Jones at the Irish Arts Center. His film and TV work as an actor in the US includes Gettysburg (TNT), Gods and Generals (Warner Brothers), "Days of Our Lives" (NBC), and the recently released WC (Mohain Films). As a Theatre Director/Producer Tim founded and directed The Children of Lir in Los Angeles where he also produced a smash hit production of Translations by Brian Friel at the Irish Arts Centre in Hollywood. He recently directed the world premiere of The Bottom of the Lake at the Boston Centre for the Arts (BCA) in Boston.

The cast features Gary Gregg, Colin Lane and Michael Mellamphy.

Set design by Lex Liang, costumes by David Toser, lighting design by Brian Nason, and sound design by Shannon Slaton. Production Stage Manager, April A. Kline, Assistant Stage Manager, Janice M. Brandine, Charlotte Moore, Artistic Director, Ciarán O'Reilly, Producing Director. Jeffrey Chrzczon, General Manager.

Performances of AFTER LUKE & WHEN I WAS GOD are Wednesday - Saturday at 8 PM, Matinees are Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 3 PM.

Tickets are $65 and $55 and can be purchased by calling (212) 727-2737 or at the Box Office. The Irish Repertory Theatre is located at 132 West 22nd Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues. For more information, visit The Irish Rep website, www.irishrep.org.

This production is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and Culture Ireland.

Founded by Ciaran 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 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.