McCourt's THE IRISH AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY Ends Run At Kimmel Center, 4/18

The popular, uplifting musical celebration of all things Irish-The Irish...And How They Got That Way, returned to the Kimmel Center January 7 and was set to run through February 28 at the Kimmel's Innovation Studio. The show was extended and will close April 18th.

The newly-revised show returns to the Kimmel Center after a successful engagement in March 2009. The production originally opened at the Irish Repertory Theatre in New York City in 1997, and also had a successful run at Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theatre.

The Irish...And How They Got That Way tells the story of the Irish experience both on the Emerald Isle and here in America. Those who are familiar with the works of Frank McCourt will find his unique brand of irreverent humor throughout. It is a story told through the songs of Ireland, from such immortals as "Danny Boy," "The Rose of Tralee, and "Harrigan"-the works of George M. Cohan including "Give My Regards to Broadway," "You're A Grand Ole Flag" and "I'm A Yankee Doodle Dandy"-to music from modern-day Irish rockers U2. The Irish... sheds new light on a people who live, laugh and love with as much passion as possible.

Playwright and author Frank McCourt was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Limerick, Ireland. He spent 27 years teaching in the New York City public school system before embarking on a writing career. After retiring from teaching, Frank and his brother performed their two-man show, A Couple of Blaguards, a musical review about their Irish youth. Frank's childhood memoir, Angela's Ashes, spent 117 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and was the winner of the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for Biography. Frank McCourt died at the age of 78 on July 19, 2009. He remains one of the most celebrated and beloved Irish-American authors of our time.

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