The Cripple of Inishmaan is considered McDonagh's contemporary comic masterpiece "with eccentric island characters trading stories to within an inch of their lives, while young Billy Claven tries to make sense of who he is," according to production notes. "Set in 1934 on the sleepy island of Inishmaan, the Aran Islands are unexpectedly abuzz with the news that Hollywood filmmaker Robert Flaherty will use the neighboring island of Inishmore to film his movie 'Man of Aran,' and, for once, Billy is paying attention."
Here's a look at the staging:
The American tour — "the longest U.S. tour by an Irish theatre company in decades" — will present over 100 performances of the award-winning production before the company returns home to stage the play in late June at Galway, Ireland's Town Hall Theatre and on the titular island of Inis Meáin.
The cast of the comedy-drama includes Liam Carney, Nancy E. Carroll, Ingrid Craigie, Dermot Crowley, Clare Dunne, Laurence Kinlan, Dearbhla Molloy, Tadhg Murphy and Paul Vincent O'Connor.
Touring itinerary is as follows: Paramount Theatre at Emerson College, Boston, MA Feb. 2-6
Eisenhower Theater, Kennedy Center, Washington, DC Feb. 8-12
Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, Ireland Feb. 21-March 5
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI March 10-13
Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Chicago, IL March 16-27
Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre, Los Angeles, CA April 5-May 1
Cal Performances, Berkeley, CA May 4-14
Annenberg Center, Philadelphia, PA May 19-22
Spoleto Festival May 26-June 2
University Theatre, New Haven, CT June 15-19
Town Hall, Galway, Ireland June 22-24
Inis Meain, Ireland June 26
For more information, please visit ImagineIreland.ie
