MAN AND SUPERMAN Plays Irish Repertory Theatre; Previews Begin Tonight

MAN-AND-SUPERMAN-20010101

Irish Repertory Theatre and Gingold Theatrical Group are joining forces to present a co-production of Shaw's masterpiece, MAN AND SUPERMAN performed at the award-winning Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street), as part of Irish Rep's 24th Season and GTG's first-ever "Shaw New York" festival, with previews to begin tonight, April 26, prior to an official press opening May 6. GTG's artistic director, David Staller, will direct his adaptation of this remarkable comedy, performed with its rarely seen "interior play" DON JUAN IN HELL.

MAN AND SUPERMAN is generally considered to be one of Shaw's comedic masterpieces. The story involves the simple premise of a man, Jack Tanner, determined not to marry his ward, Ann Whitefield, who is equally determined to land him. Ann Chases Jack from London, across the channel, into the mountains of Spain, and even to Hell and back (in the famous dream scene of DON JUAN IN HELL). The play has not been given a production in New York in twenty-five years.

The cast of MAN AND SUPERMAN includes Janie Brookshire, Jon Fletcher, Jonathan Hammond, Laurie Kennedy, Max Gordon Moore, Paul O'Brien, Margaret Robinson, Brian Sgambati, Zachary Spicer, and Tony Award-nominee Brian Murray (previously seen at Irish Rep in CANDIDA,
GASLIGHT, LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT and DA).

The production features set design by James Noone; lighting design by Kirk Bookman; costume design by Theresa Squire; sound design by M. Florian Staab; and hair and wig design by Robert-Charles Vallance. Production stage manager is Elis C. Arroyo. Assistant stage manager is
Arthur Atkinson.

This production of MAN AND SUPERMAN is also part of GTG's larger vision of this country's first Shaw festival, to be called "Shaw New York," running this spring at various venues in Manhattan (to be announced). The festival, which will be an annual event, includes a Shaw Symposium featuring critics, academics and actors discussing the play; as well as concerts featuring music Shaw had championed as "modern music" while he was a music critic (Brahms, Wagner, Bartok,
Dvorak, etc); and a reading of one of GTG's commissioned new plays. For more information, visit www.projectshaw.com

David Staller is founder/artistic director of New York's Gingold Theatrical Group, the company that produces the monthly performance series PROJECT SHAW, now in its seventh sold-out year. He is the first person ever to direct performances of all of Shaw's 65 plays and is a frequent international lecturer about all things Shaw. GTG is devoted to presenting work about Human Rights. Staller has directed across the U.S. and internationally, including last season's acclaimed production of Shaw's CANDIDA at the Two River Theater Company. With GTG he has created educational programs at Baruch College and at Lighthouse International for inner-city teens, exploring the Shavian precepts of the power of the individual.

Co-founded by Producing Director Ciarán O'Reilly and Artistic Director 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. Ms. Moore and Mr. O'Reilly recently received the 2011 Eugene O’Neill Lifetime Achievement Award from Irish American Writers & Artists, Inc.

Performances of MAN AND SUPERMAN run April 26-June 17 at The Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues): Wednesday-Saturday at 8pm; plus 3pm matinees on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $55 and $65, and are available by calling 212-727-2737 or online at www.irishrep.org.

For more information, visit www.irishrep.org