Irish Repertory Theatre artistic director Charlotte Moore confirmed that key players from director Max Stafford-Clark's award-winning Royal National Theatre production of the Our Lady of Sligo will be joining the New York run of the play. New York City casting begins next week.

Co-produced by the Irish Repertory Theatre in association with the Royal National Theatre and Stafford Clark's seven-year-old group, Out of Joint Productions, Sligo is scheduled to run at the Irish Repertory Theatre April 12-June 5. The show opens April 20.

Playwright Sebastian Barry's family history inspired his story of that class of Irish people whose realizations of independence and self-rule often fell short of their expectations.

Director Stafford-Clark helmed the Royal National run and will be directing the show's New York engagement as well. In the cast are key members of the Royal National troupe, including Sinead Cusack, Andrea Irvine and Jarlheth Conroy.

Stafford-Clark will be casting the role of the younger girl as well as that of the father. The latter part has been written back into the play, according to Moore. "Sebastian Barry has rewritten it a bit," Moore told Playbill On-Line. "They had done away with one character in the first Out of Joint production, but Sebastian wanted it in, so we're putting it back. "We've managed to bring over some of the key cast members including Sinead Cusack who won the Olivier Award, " Moore said. "Unfortunately, we can't bring everybody."

Tickets for Our Lady of Sligo range $30-$35 (April 12 - 23) and then $35-$40 (April 25 - June 4). The Irish Rep is located at 132 West 22nd Street in New York City. For information and tickets call (212) 727 2737.

-- By Murdoch McBride