The production has seen its world premiere at London's Bush Theatre, a sold-out run at Scotland's Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and opened the Civic Theatre in Dublin's suburb of Tallaght, the playwright's own hometown. Now, Mark O'Rowe's Howie the Rookie sets off the island of the United Kingdom and onto the island of Manhattan in the United States.

Making its New York City premiere Jan. 3-27 at Performance Space 122, before heading off to San Francisco's Magic Theatre for a Feb. 2-25 run, is the third play by the playwright O'Rowe. The director of the original production, Mike Bradwell, helms the original cast of Aidan Kelly and Karl Shiels for this production as well.

The story follows "the Howie Lee" (Kelly) and "the Rookie Lee" (Shiels) in their intertwining plotlines. Set in the savage streets of Dublin, these two blue-collar men get caught up in gang feuds and the like. Their lives cross paths until ultimately their stories culminate with one being the hero of the other's story.

Es Devlin designs the Bush Theatre production with lighting design by Simon Bennison. The Bush, founded in 1972, was a starting point for many new playwrights, among them are Tony Kushner (Angels in America), Sharman MacDonald (When I was a Girl I Used to Scream), Jonathan Harvey (Beautiful Thing) and Conor McPherson (The Weir).

Howie the Rookie plays at P.S. 122, 150 First Ave (at 9th Street), through Jan. 27. For reservations or more info, call (212) 477-5288 or visit www.ps122.org. — by Ernio Hernandez