Media Contact: Peggy Kearns | tel: 571.216.5136 | email: ScenaMedia@gmail.com
Scena Theatre presents the devious and daring dark comedy by Ireland's renowned Martin McDonagh—THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN.
RSVP now for Press Night: Friday, Oct 30 at 8:00 pm: ScenaMedia@gmail.com
Washington, DC, October 16, 2015 — The Directors of Scena Theatre are pleased to present a hilarious production of THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN by Ireland's legendary Martin McDonagh. CRIPPLE opens at the ATLAS Performing Arts Center (Lab II) on Friday, October 30 at 8:00 pm. The play runs from October 30 – November 29 and features top DC-area actors including Scena favorites such as Nanna Ingvarsson. In 2005, Scena Theatre produced McDonagh's hit play The Lonesome West.
Patrons will revel in this dark comedy by the master of vicious fun, McDonagh. The year is 1934 on the island of Inishmaan, just off Ireland's west coast. Residents are excited to learn that a Hollywood film crew has arrived in nearby Inishmore to make a documentary on island life. Many of the locals clamor for their once-in-a-lifetime shot at stardom in desperate efforts to escape poverty, boredom and gossip. A young outcast, "Cripple" Billy Claven, vies for a role against all odds—and to everyone's surprise the outcast gets his shot....or so some think! High jinx unfold in this biting play linked to the real-life filming of the documentary Man of Aran.
"OUTRAGEOUSLY FUNNY, GORGEOUS" —The New York Times
Press: Press / Opening Night for CRIPPLE is Friday, October 30 at 8 pm. Please RSVP to ScenaMedia@gmail.com to review the production or to schedule an alternate date.
Shows: October 30 – November 29, 2015. Thursday – Saturday 8pm | Sunday 3pm
Venue: ATLAS Performing Arts Center: 1333 H Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
Press: Email: ScenaMedia@gmail.com, call 571.216.5136, or click on Press link (at left) for Press Photos
Tickets: Buy online at atlasarts.org or reserve by Phone: 202.399.7993 x2
Price: $25 - $45 (Adults: $45 Friday & Saturday Nights; $35 Thursday & Sun. Matinees. Students & Seniors 65+: $35 Friday & Saturday Nights $25 Thursday Night & Sun. Matinees; must show IDs at Box Office for discount.)
Parking: Valet Parking is available at 1353 H Street NE (Rock & Roll Hotel, a few doors down). If driving, side-street parking is suggested (Maryland Ave, 10th–12th Streets, etc.). Also, the X2 Metrobus runs down H Street. Visit www.wmata.com for schedules.
Actors: Featuring: Nanna Ingvarsson (Eileen), Josh Adams (Billy), Jennifer Medenhall (Kate), Matt Dougherty (Johnnypateenmike), Kevin Collins (Bartley), Megan Dominy (Helen), David Paglin (Doctor), Mary Suib (Mammy), and Christian Sullivan (Babbybobby).
Design: Robert McNamara (Director), Lena Salins (Production Manager), Jocelyn Callister (Stage Manager, Member AEA), Michael C. Stepowany (Set Designer / Tech Director), Denise Renee (Sound Designer), Tony Starnes (Projections Designer), Robert Croghan (Costume Designer), Marianne Meadows (Lighting Designer, Member USA), Cassandra Schulz (Props Design), Helen Aberger (Assistant Director), Jessica Hansen (Dialect Coach), Paul Gallagher (Fight Choreographer), and Anne Nottage (Dramaturg).
About the Playwright
Martin McDonagh is a multi award-winning writer and director. Plays include The Beauty Queen of Leenane, A Skull in Connemara, The Lonesome West, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN, The Pillowman, A Behanding in Spokane. As Writer/Director: In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths, Six Shooter (short film). McDonagh frequently integrates dark comedy into his films and often uses the same actors who appeared in the orignal runs of his stage plays. He won the 2003 Lawrence Olivier Award for best new comedy for his play The Lieutenant of Inishmore—and the 2004 Olivier Award for best new play for The Pillowman. McDonagh has twice been nominated for Broadway's Tony Award as author of a Best Play nominee: in 1998 for The Beauty Queen of Leenane and in 1999 for The Lonesome West. Also, in 1998 he won the Drama Desk Award for Oustanding play for Beauty Queen of Leenane. In 1997 he was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best New Comedy for his play A Skull in Connemara. At the age of 27, he was the first playwright since Shakespeare to have four plays running simultaneously in London's West-End. For his first play, The Beauty Queen of Leenane he won the 1996 Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Playwright. McDonagh began his writing career by scripting radio plays. None were ever produced but they taught him that he could write dialogue and tell stories—and in his opinion that was all he needed to write for the theatre. McDonagh's greatest influences are not in theatre, but film. He cites Martin Scorsese, David Lynch, Terrence Malick and Quentin Tarantino.
Scena Theatre brings the best international theatre to Washington, DC and to stimulates cultural exchange between theatre artists, locally and worldwide. Founded in 1987 under the leadership of Artistic Director Robert McNamara and Managing Director Amy Schmidt, Scena produces an annual season of plays, seasonally staged readings, as well as a Workshop Series aimed at developing new works from around the globe. To learn more about our mission or past stage productions, please call 703.684.7990 or visit www.ScenaTheatre.org.
###