Theatre Fairfield Opens Season with "Dancing at Lughnasa"
Theatre Fairfield, the University鈥檚 resident production company, opens its 2014-2015 season with the award-winning play 鈥淒ancing at Lughnasa,鈥 by Irish playwright and author Brian Friel. Performances take place at the Quick Center's Wien Black Box Theatre at 8 p.m. Wed. through Sat., Oct. 29-Nov. 1, and at 2 p.m. on Sat. and Sun., Nov 1 and Nov. 2. Tickets are $12 general admission, $6 for seniors and university staff, and $5 for students.
Loosely based on Brian Friel鈥檚 own life, 鈥淒ancing at Lughnasa鈥 is a memory play that takes place in the small Irish village Balleybeg during the summer of 1936. For years, the five Mundy sisters have gone about their mundane lives living from one day to the next. However, with the return of their older brother and the subsequent visit of a handsome face from the past, the sisters鈥 world begins to crumble around them. Through Irish step dancing and joyful and thrilling music brought by an old-fashioned radio, this play reminds its audiences that the human spirit and passion can endure even the toughest of times. 鈥淒ancing at Lughnasa鈥 won London鈥檚 prestigious Olivier Award for Best Play in 1991, followed by several Tony Awards when it came to Broadway in 1992. It was made into a film adaptation starring Meryl Streep in 1998.
鈥淭heatre Fairfield chose 鈥楲ughnasa鈥 as an active collaboration with the Irish Studies Program on campus and the large Gaelic-American population in Fairfield County,鈥 said Dr. Martha S. LoMonaco, professor of theatre and co-producer and resident director, of Theatre Fairfield. 鈥淚t is an especially wonderful choice for performers eager to challenge themselves by playing characters who speak in Irish dialect and also sing and step-dance. The show will be a veritable feast for the eyes and ears.鈥
Bringing this show to life in Fairfield are New York City guest artists Tom Schwans, who is directing, and Jaclyn Meloni, the scenic designer. The artistic team is completed with Theatre Fairfield regulars Lynne Chase as lighting designer, Julie Leavitt as costume designer, Brian Kelly as sound designer, and Mary Paul as technical director.聽 The cast includes, Franco Luzzi 鈥15 (Michael) from New Haven, Conn.; Aubrey Sierer 鈥16 (Kate) from Bridgeport, Conn.; Katie Gillette 鈥15 (Maggie) from Woodbury, Conn.; Maggie Greene 鈥15 (Agnes) from Portland, Ore.; Jessica Lizotte 鈥18 (Rose) from Sandwich, Mass.; Grace Schiller 鈥17 (Chris) from Holliston, Mass.; Alec Bandzes 鈥15 (Gerry) from Middlefield, Conn.; and Brendan Freeman 鈥15 (Jack) from Shrewsbury, Mass.
Theatre Fairfield produces at least four major productions every year and serves as a platform for community engagement as well as a professional learning environment. The next production in the season is 鈥淒irectors Cut,鈥 an extravaganza of one-act plays directed and designed by advanced theatre students, opening at the PepsiCo Theatre on December 4, 2014.
Tickets are available through the Quick Center Box Office: (203) 254-4010, or toll-free 1-877-ARTS-396. (1-877-278-7396). Tickets can also be purchased online at .
Pictured (left-right): Grace Schiller 鈥17 as Chris, and Alec Bandzes 鈥15 as Gerry. Photo by Lynne Porte r.
