Casting, Details Set for McDonagh's The Cripple of Inishmaan at Atlantic Theater

Casting and details have been announced for the Atlantic Theater Company's previously announced production of Martin McDonagh's The Cripple of Inishmaan, a co-production with Galway's Druid Theatre Company. Directed by Garry Hynes, who became the first woman director to win a Tony Award for McDonagh's The Beauty Queen of Leenane, the play begins previews December 9 at Atlantic, with opening scheduled for December 21. The limited engagement will play through February 1, 2009.

The production brings the show’s cast to New York intact, including Kerry Condon HBO’s Rome, Angela’s Ashes, Andrew Connolly On Broadway, Vendetta, Laurence Kinlan Angela’s Ashes, Ned Kelly, Dearbhla Molloy Dancing at Lughnasa, Aaron Monaghan Little Foxes, The Tudors Tony Award winner Marie Mullen The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Patricia O’Connell Gaslight, Come Back Little Sheba, David Pearse Six Shooter, Laws of Attraction and John C. Vennema The Ride Down Mt. Morgan, The Elephant Man.

The second in McDonagh’s Aran Island trilogy of plays, The Cripple of Inishmaan follows Hollywood filmmaker Robert Flaherty as he arrives on the Island of Inishmore to film a movie in 1934. As the film rouses excitement in the sleepy nearby community of Inishmaan, orphaned pariah Billy Claven vies for a role in the film. Filled with McDonagh’s signature dark humor and eccentric characters, the show tracks Billy as the town “cripple” leaves his surprising mark on the outsider’s Tinsel Town project.

The show marks the third collaboration between Atlantic and McDonagh, following the company’s acclaimed presentation of The Lieutenant of Inishmore, which transferred to Broadway and received five 2006 Tony Award nominations, including best Play. Atlantic and Druid also previously collaborated on the world premiere of The Beauty Queen of Leenane, which transferred to Broadway, winning four Tony Awards in the process, in 1998. The playwright’s additional credits include 2005’s Tony Award nominated The Pillowman, as well as the 2006 Academy Award winning film Six Shooter and his recent film directorial debut In Bruges, starring Colin Farrell and Ralph Fiennes. The Cripple of Inishmaan had a brief run at the Public Theater in 1998 in a production directed by Jerry Zaks.

The Cripple of Inishmaan will feature scenic and costume design by Francis O’Connor, lighting design by Davy Cunningham, sound design by John Leonard and original music composed by Colin Towns.