Trans-Euro Express Plays 1st Irish 9/16-10/3

The U.S. premiere of Trans-Euro Express, Dublin playwright Gary Duggan's theatrical rail odyssey, runs for 17 performances from September 16 -October 3, 2010 at New York City's Irish Arts Center in partnership with NY-based Fundamental Theater Project.

Trans-Euro Express, which opened in Dublin in 2008, marks Duggan's second outing in the U.S. (his short play The Mission played to great acclaim in 2008 - "a master class in writing for the stage"). Trans-Euro Express is one of 14 plays produced as part of the city's annual 1st Irish Theater Festival.

In Trans-Euro Express, a self-loathing 9-5 Dublin worker who dreams of being a filmmaker runs away to join a singer-songwriter, an actress and an artist on a fast-paced Euro-rail mission to shoot a debut music video. Featuring stunning multi-media projections and an edgy soundtrack, the 90-minute, no-intermission play takes audiences on a power trip across Ireland, Holland, Germany and the Czech Republic in an epic journey of self-discovery that tests the limits of friendship.

According to The Irish Times, Duggan's writing in Trans-Euro Express is "dynamic and laced with black humour".

Directed by CHRIS HENRY (AD, Royal Family Productions, currently producing Anthony Rapp's Without You at the NY Musical Theater Festival after the recently extended Safe Home), Trans-Euro Express features Roderick Hill (most recently seen as Kieran in The Irish Curse at Soho Playhouse; also in the Broadway productions of Butley with Nathan Lane and Elton John's Lestat), and KATY WRIGHT MEAD whose recent performance under Henry's direction in Safe Home earned notable mentions as "touching" (The New York Times), "heartbreaking" (Backstage) and "lovely" (Irish Stage). CHARLIE KEVIN and Patricia Buckley also star.

Duggan's first play, Monged, was a smash hit in Ireland where it won the 2006 Stewart Parker Trust Award, and was produced by Dublin's Fishamble Theatre Company who are regular visitors to New York stages (59E59, IAC). Duggan (AGE) will have a new play produced at Ireland's Peacock Theatre in 2011 and is currently seeing his new play Necropolis play at the Dublin Fringe Festival.

Trans-Euro Express has set by Paul SmithYMAN, costumes by LENA SANDS, lights and projection by DAVID BENGALI and fight choreography by Ron Piretti. It plays for 17 performances at New York City's Irish Arts Center from Wednesday September 16 through Sunday October 3, 2010.

Tickets for Trans-Euro Express are $27 for the general public and $23 for members of the Irish Arts Center and can be purchased online at www.smarttix.com or by phone on (212) 868-4444.

More Information ...

FUNDAMENTAL THEATER PROJECT was founded on April 5th 2010 by Sam Underwood, and Nicola Murphy and is dedicated to ‘creating opportunities for artists to work'. FTP believes strongly in the power of 'collaboration', working hand-in-hand with other business ventures and resources of learning, to expand professional networks and the artistic development for all those involved. In the idea of 'Passing the Torch', we collaborate with established industry professionals to help build a strong foundation for the theater of tomorrow, providing not only performance opportunities on all scale of production, from table readings to main stage productions, but also classes, seminars and work-shops for artists to develop and sustain a career in the Performing Arts industry. To further the development of the company, the diversity of its artists, and to generate as broad an audience demographic as possible, FTP is also dedicated to stretching its work 'Across-the-Pond' to an international market, and passionate about exploring all types of material; from Classical text to brand new plays to Musical pieces. FTP plans to help shape the landscape for today's emerging talent, building a community of inspiring, vibrant and driven individuals, all in the aim of creating tomorrows theatrical 'golden era'
The Irish Arts Center, founded in 1972, is a New York-based arts and cultural center dedicated to projecting a dynamic image of Ireland and Irish America for the 21st century, building community with artists and audiences of all backgrounds, and preserving the evolving stories and traditions of Irish culture for generations to come. The center's multi-disciplinary programming is centered around three core areas: Performance - including live music, dance, theatre, film, literature, and the humanities; Exhibition - including visual arts presentations and cultural exhibitions that tell the evolving Irish story; and Education, with dozens of classes per week in Irish language, history, music, and dance. The Irish Arts Center's historic effort to build a new state-of-the-art facility received another major momentum boost with the City of New York's announcement in July of an additional $4.5 million toward the Center's capital project. Led by City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, with key support from Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Borough President Scott Stringer, the City has now committed more than $12 million toward the project. The City's increased investment followed the Irish government's announcement of a grant of $3.5million last December. www.irishartscenter.org

The 1ST IRISH FESTIVAL is New York's only all-Irish theatre festival. 2010 Coordinated by the New York-based Origin Theatre Company, 1st Irish 2010 (the 3rd annual edition) runs from September 7 to October 4, and features plays by 16 mostly contemporary, living Irish playwrights in venues across New York. www.1stirish.org

 

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