Photo Coverage: THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAN Celebrates Opening Night

THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN revives the unique relationship between Atlantic Theater Company, Academy Award® winner Martin McDonagh, Tony Award® winning director Garry Hynes and the acclaimed Druid ensemble.

This production marks the third collaboration between Atlantic and McDonagh following the company's critically acclaimed American premiere production of The Lieutenant Of Inishmore, which transferred to Broadway and received five 2006 Tony Award® nominations, including Best Play.

Atlantic and Druid previously collaborated on the world premiere of McDonagh's hit play The Beauty Queen of Leenane, which transferred to Broadway and won four 1998 Tony Awards®.

THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN began previews Tuesday, December 9th, 2008 and officially opened December Thursday 18th, 2008; and plays a limited engagement through Sunday, February 1st, 2009 Off-Broadway at Atlantic Theater Company at the Linda Gross Theater (336 West 20th Street).

Set in 1934 on an island off the west coast of Ireland, Hollywood filmmaker Robert Flaherty arrives on the neighboring island of Inishmore to film his movie The Man of Aran and excitement ripples through the sleepy community of Inishmaan. For orphaned Billy Claven, who has been relentlessly scorned by the island's inhabitants, the film represents an escape from the poverty of his existence. He vies for a part in the film, and to everyone's surprise, it is the cripple who gets his chance.

THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN is the second play in McDonagh's Aran Island's trilogy and is infused with his trademark humour, rich with macabre cruelty and teeming with eccentric island characters from Billy's "Aunt Kate," known for talking to stones, and gossip monger "Johnnypateenmike," who attempts to get his elderly mother to drink herself to death.

Martin McDonagh's other theater credits include The Leenane Trilogy and The Pillowman, which received six 2005 Tony Award® nominations, including Best Play. His film credits include the short film Six Shooter for which he won an Academy Award® in 2006, and most recently the film In Bruges starring Colin Farrell and Ralph Fiennes, which he also directed.

THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN plays Tuesday through Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm & 8pm and Sundays at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m.

ATLANTIC THEATER COMPANY AT THE LINDA GROSS THEATER is located at 336 West 20th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues). Tickets are $65.00 and available by calling Ticket Central at 212-279-4200 (ticketcentral.com).

Purchase an "All -In-One Membership" and see every main stage and Atlantic Stage 2 production for $169.50 (+$8 service charge). For membership information, wheelchair seating, and/or group sales for both theaters call 212-691-5919, extension 1092.

For more information visit www.atlantictheater.org