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Irish Classical Theatre Company Resurrects 'The Dead' this Holiday Season
By Emily Stoll
Maybe you didn’t get the chance to see the Irish Classical Theatre Company’s (ICTC) performance of James Joyce’s The Dead the last time it came to the stage at the Andrews Theatre. If you were looking forward to seeing this Tony Award-winning musical, now is your chance; for a limited time this holiday season, it’s being resurrected.
This Christmas play, with includes music by Shaun Davey and book by Richard Nelson, is based on the short story written by James Joyce in The Dubliners. The performance was described in the Buffalo News by Anne Neville as “captivating … lyrical … flawless.” It takes place in Dublin at the turn of the century, with three generations gathering in the home of their aunts for their holiday party.
This play is directed by ICTC Associate Director Derek Campbell. Jason Bravo is again the music director, and there are many returning cast members:
- Brian Riggs as Gabriel Conroy
- Ellen Horst as Aunt Kate
- Sheila McCarthy as Aunt Julia
- Wendy Hall as Mary Jane
- Cassie Gorniewicz as Lily
- John Kaczorowski as Michael
- Matt Witten as Bartell D’Arcy
- Valerie Yawien as Miss Molly Ivors
- Jason Bravo as Patrick
There are also five new cast members – Kelly Meg Brennan as Gretta Conroy, Pamela Rose Mangus as Mrs. Malins, Doug Weyand as Mr. Browne, Chris Kelly as Freddy and Renee Landrigan as Young Julia. The play has received much support from Production Stage Manager Renee Radzavich, Assistant Stage Manager Nicole Drozd, Lighting Designer and Technical Director Brian Cavanagh, Set Designer Ron Schwartz, Sound Designer Tom Makar, Costume Designer Kari Drozd and Hair and Make up Designer Susan Drozd.
James Joyce’s The Dead will run from Thursday, Dec. 1 through Sunday, Dec. 18 at ICTC’s Andrews Theatre. Performances will be Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.,with matinees at 3 p.m. on Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. For the first Saturday matinee, on Dec. 3, the performance will be pay-as-you-can. Single tickets are on sale now, priced from $15 to $42. You can get your tickets at the ICTC box office (625 Main St. in Buffalo), by phone at (716)853-4282, or online.
Each performance will be followed by talkbacks with the cast except for Thursday, Dec. 1, after which will be a reception with the cast and crew.
For more information, visit ICTC’s website.