Irish Heritage Theatre Announces Upcoming Production of Brian Friel's MAKING HISTORY

Irish Heritage Theatre has just announced their Spring 2017 production of Making History by Brian Friel. For the 2016-2017 Season, they decided to do two beautiful plays by Friel, who is undoubtedly one of the greatest Irish playwrights. The first, Molly Sweeney, was one of the most critically acclaimed productions of the season. Making History, another of Friel's rarely produced works, will cap off what they hope to be their most successful season to date. Past productions include Philadelphia Here I Come!, A Night with Lady Gregory, and the famed O'Casey Trilogy (The Shadow of a Gunman, Juno and the Paycock and The Plough and the Stars). Irish Heritage Theatre is devoted to continuing to surprise audiences with the risks that they take, and feel so lucky to have such a beautiful canon of plays from which to draw.

The Irish Heritage Theatre is Philadelphia's only professional company dedicated to preserving and acquainting new audiences with the poetry and power of classic Irish theatre and its rich legacy in America. They are also thrilled to join forces once again with Plays and Players Theatre, who teamed up for A Night with Lady G., Juno and Plough.

Powerful historical forces determine the destinies of Hugh O'Neill, the Earl of Tyrone, and his ally, Red Hugh O'Donnell, before and after the siege of Kinsale, the ultimate battle in England's conquest of Gaelic Ireland. O'Neill's personal life is complicated by his loving but ill-fated marriage to an English wife, Mabel Bagenal, the daughter of his enemy. O'Neill forges an Irish and Spanish alliance to drive the English out of Ireland while Peter Lombard, Archbishop of Armagh, raises questions as he writes a history of O'Neill's life. What is truth and what is merely a history of the winners? Find out in this compelling production of Friel's rarely produced masterpiece. Even though the play takes place in the early 1600s in Gaelic Ireland, the political and social machinations are relevant today, as history continues to be written and interpreted by the winners and those who twist the facts to suit their own needs.

Starring in the production are IHT favorites, Ethan Lipkin, Kevin Rodden and John Cannon. Local newcomers to the IHT, Stephanie Iozzia, Melissa Amilani, and Bob Weick, round out the cast. The show will be helmed by Peggy Mecham, our resident director.

Despite being a small theatre company, Irish Heritage Theatre strives to take chances and produce Irish and Irish American theatre that is both powerful and challenging. Making History is no exception. The show will run May 25th-June 10th. Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7pm and Sundays at 2pm. Tickets are $25 for general admission; $20 for seniors; and $15 for students, theatre industry members, and groups of ten or more. Also check for them on Funsavers. For production information and to purchase tickets: www.irishheritagetheatre.org.