Irish Repertory Theatre, Dot Dot Productions, and The American Irish Historical Society have announced complete casting for the world premiere of The Dead, 1904, an immersive adaptation of James Joyce’s short story The Dead. The show is adapted for the stage by Pulitzer Prize-winning Irish poet Paul Muldoon and novelist Jean Hanff Korelitz, and will be staged in an old Upper East Side townhouse with wine and dinner included.
Performances are set to run November 19-January 7, 2017, at the American Historical Society Townhouse. An opening night is set for December 8.
Set to join the previously announced Kate Burton (Scandal, The Elephant Man) are four-time Tony winner Boyd Gaines (Gypsy, Contact) and Tony winner Carole Shelley (The Elephant Man, Billy Elliot). Directed by Irish Rep co-founder Ciarán O’Reilly, The Dead, 1904 will take place over the three floors of the house, which has been restored to period decoration. Rooms will include the lobby, parlor, music room, dining room, and upstairs library, and an audience of 42 will inhabit the space for each performance.
The cast also features Aedin Moloney (When I was a Girl I Used to Scream and Shout), Peter Cormican (Rothschild & Sons), Barrie Kreinik (39 Steps), Terry Donnelly (Transport), James Russell (Shining City), Clare O’Malley (Creed), Heather Martin Bixler, Patti Perkins (The Full Monty), and Karl Scully (The Irish Tenors).
According to production notes, a holiday meal will be created by Great Performances caterers for every show and served to the cast and audience alike.
The Dead has been previously adapted into film by John Huston (The Dead, 1987) and as a Broadway musical (James Joyce’s The Dead), which won the 1999 Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical. This will be the first immersive adaptation.
The American Irish Historical Society is located at 991 Fifth Avenue, New York. Tickets to The Dead, 1904 are priced at $300 and include dinner and drinks, and are on sale now through Irish Rep’s box office by calling (212) 727-2737 or online at irishrep.org.
