The Cell, Nancy Manocherian (Founding Artistic Director) and Kira Simring (Artistic Director) are pleased to announce the World Premiere production of Seamus Scanlon’s DANCING AT LUNACY in conjunction with Larry Kirwan’s BLOOD, directed by Kira Simring. This series, The Irish Cell, will play a limited engagement at the cell (338 West 23rd Street New York, NY 10011). Performances begin Thursday, March 1 and continue through Saturday, March 17. Opening Night is Saturday, March 3 (8 p.m.).
The cell theatre combines the one-act plays of Larry Kirwan, lead singer of Black47, and Seamus Scanlon, writer of Irish short stories, into an evening of provocative, inimitably Irish theater.
Larry Kirwan’s Blood is based on the actual disappearance of James Connolly, trade union organizer and leader of the Irish Citizen Army, on January 19, 1916. He returned four days later, his only comment, "I have been through hell." Connolly had been captured by the rival Irish Republican Brotherhood, led by Padraig Pearse and Sean McDermott. What happened in that small room changed the course of Irish history.
Sixty-eight years later in another room - a drinking club in Belfast - in the aftermath of the hunger strikes, the bombing of Margaret Thatcher's cabinet and the introduction of a more ruthless and disciplined Irish Republican Army cell structure, a no-less tense situation plays out. Seamus Scanlon’s Dancing at Lunacy is a fictionalized story set in 1984, Belfast, centering on an IRA internal security investigation. The alleged informer and an aging commanding officer are in a confrontation with a young sociopath with a penchant for pistols, The Sex Pistols, dancing, Barry's Tea and ruthless efficiency.
Dancing At Lunacy and Blood explore the highly charged issue of Irish Republicanism and its ongoing effect on the Irish psyche.
Dancing at Lunacy stars Brett Aresco (The Flea, Ars Nova, 45 Bleecker Theater, O'Neill Theater Center, Westport Country Playhouse) as Barman, Mac Brydon* (Order directed by Austin Pendleton; TV: Lipstick Jungle) as Ahern, Darrell Larson* (OBR: Curse of the Starving Class; Film: The Manchurian Candidate, Rachel Getting Married, Stepmom) as Pender, Spencer Leopold-Cohen as Doyle/Drinking Customer, and Paul Nugent* (The Field at Irish Rep, Venus Observed at Boomerang) as McGowan.
Blood stars Ciaran Byrne (Doubt, My Left Foot) as James Connolly and Paul Nugent* (The Field at Irish Rep, Venus Observed at Boomerang) as Patrick Pearse. The role of Sean MacDermott is Jed Peterson (McCarter Theater, Utah Shakespeare, Prospect Theater Company).
The production features scenic design by Joseph Croghan (Timber Lake Playhouse, Ensemble Studio Theater) and costume design by Rachel Guilfoyle (The Legend of Julie Taymor). Stephanie Riddle is the sound designer, Tim Eliot is the fight choreographer, Ellie Bye is the props designer, Amy Jo Jackson is the dialect coach, and Samantha Koegh is the dramaturgy. The casting director and general manager is Jason Najjoum, marketing and publicity by Katie Rosin/Kampfire PR and Alison Andersen is the stage manager.
The Irish Cell plays the following regular schedule through Saturday, March 17:
Thursdays at 8 p.m.
Fridays at 8 p.m.
Saturdays at 8 p.m.
There will be an additional performance and talkback on Tuesday, Mar 13th at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $12 and are now available online at www.thecelltheatre.org or by calling 1-800-838-3006. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the cell, ½ hour prior to performance
