The Irish Repertory Theatre's production of Dion Boucicault's The Streets of New York, featuring an adaptation, songs, and direction by artistic director Charlotte Moore, officially opens December 14 following previews that began December 4 on the Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage. The limited run continues through January 30, 2022.
The cast features Amy Bodnar (Oklahoma!) as Susan Fairweather, Amanda Jane Cooper (Wicked) as Alida Bloodgood, Richard Henry (Kiss My Aztec!) as Dermot Puffy, David Hess (Sunset Boulevard) as Gideon Bloodgood, Ben Jacoby (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) as Mark Livingston, Justin Keyes (How To Succeed...) as Brendan Badger, Daniel J. Maldonado (Newsies) as Patrick Fairweather/Duke Vlad, Polly McKie (A Child’s Christmas in Wales) as Dolly Puffy, Jordan Tyson (The Chair) as Dixie Puffy, Ryan Vona (Once the Musical) as Paul Fairweather, Price Waldman (A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder) as Edwards, and DeLaney Westfall (Kinky Boots) as Lucy Fairweather.
Based on Boucicault’s play of the same name, The Streets of New York was first staged at Irish Rep in 2002, when it was nominated for two Drama League Awards. The production also ran at the Westport Country Playhouse in 2003.
“In this time of COVID," Moore said in an earlier statement, "I was sure it would be appropriate to rewrite my original Director's Note. But upon rereading the original, so many things are exactly the same, that I have changed my mind. There is still great poverty and hunger, and the heartbreak of lost love never changes. Add to that a world-wide pandemic and a masked society, and Boucicault's 18th century world seems to fit right into our 21st with its darkness and restrictions. But, as always, I love the end of our story. It's filled with hope and the victory of the power of good. One day soon we will surely be headed in that light-filled direction.“
The production also has musical direction by Mark Hartman, choreography by Barry McNabb, scenic design by Hugh Landwehr, costume design by Linda Fisher, lighting design by Michael Gottlieb, sound design by M. Florian Staab, properties by Deirdre Brennan, and hair and wig design by Robert-Charles Vallance. Pamela Brusoski serves as production stage manager with April Kline as assistant stage manager.
(Updated December 14, 2021)
