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The Hangar Theatre will breathe new energy into the classic Irish play The Playboy of the Western World, performing July 30th through August 9th. The play, inspired by John Millington Synge's observations of the citizens of the Aran Islands on the west coast of Ireland, is a masterful, poetic comedy. The Playboy of the Western World is built around a historical incident that unravels the complexities of the manners of Irish life in the face of difficult circumstances.

Today, The Playboy of Western World is one of the most celebrated works in theatrical history and the most famous play ever produced by the Irish National Theatre. However, when it debuted at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin in 1907, The Playboy of the Western World sent shock waves through the audience. Riots ensued as protestors criticized the portrait he paints of the rural Irish-Catholic morality.

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The Playboy of the Western World takes us to a pub in the rural County Mayo in the early 1900's where a mysterious out-of-towner, Christy Mahon arrives and reveals an enthralling tale that excites and charms the townspeople. They praise Mahon and call him a "playboy," the Irish term for both a teller-of-tales and a liar. The young barmaid Pegeen Mike takes a special interest in Mahon, much to the dismay of her fiancé, Shawn Keogh. But there is more to Christy's story than meets the eye and a surprise visitor sets the stage for a hilarious and shocking turn of events.

Director and Interim Artistic Director, Robert Moss calls the work "a beautiful gem of a play [that is] hopeful, funny, and achingly human." This is Moss' second production he has directed this season, the first being the gripping drama The Overwhelming by J.T. Rogers. Moss is sure to bring his unique vision and theatrical expertise to this loved work of art.

The cast includes both newcomers and seasoned veterans to the Hangar stage. Christian Conn will charm audiences as the mischievous Christy Mahon. Conn's credits include appearing with The Acting

Company in the national tour and off-Broadway productions of Pudd'nhead Wilson and The Taming of the Shrew, as well as on television shows such as The Guiding Light, As the World Turns, and Comedy Central's Tough Crowd. Gretchen Hall, another newcomer to the Hangar, will play the spirited Pegeen Mike alongside Freddy Arensault as her cowardly fiancé, Shawn Keogh. Widow Quin, played by Emily Robin Fink, challenges Pegeen for the affections of Christy Mahon. Fink returns to the Hangar having been a member of the 2003 Hangar Lab Company and an actress the 2003 School Tour production Julius Caesar.

Don Amendolia brings experience from the stage and screen to portray Michael James Flaherty, Pegeen's father and pub owner. Amendolia has appeared in films such as Boogie Nights, Ed Wood and the Oscar nominated short 12:01 PM. He guest starred in over 30 television shows including Seinfeld, Frasier and Ellen. Mitch Tiffany and Ted Nappi portray Philly and Jimmy, Michael Flaherty's friends and pub patrons. Tiffany returns to the Hangar having been in the 2004 production Of Mice and Men. Nappi was last seen as Lazar Wolf in Cortland Repertory Theater's production of Fiddler on the Roof, which was nominated for a Syracuse Area Live Theater Award in 2007. The cast also includes other featured actors such as John Michalski as Old Mahon, Rachel Johanson as Susan Brady, Claire Morrison as Sarah Tansey, Evan Rose Lipman as Nelly Boyle, Christine Marquet as Honor Blake, Ian Boley as Fergus, Zachary Kamin as Owen, and Brendan Sokler as Paddy.

Scenic designer David Meyer makes his debut at the Hangar with this production, having designed Bat Boy: The Musical, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Little Shop of Horrors, and many others. Meyer will collaborate with a seasoned veteran of the Hangar, lighting designer Matthew Richards, whose past work at the Hangar includes The Complete History of America (Abridged) in 2004 and All in the Timing in 2005 to name a few. The Hangar welcomes back costume designer Gretchen Darrow-Crotty, whose previous Hangar credits include The Truth About Dinosaurs, The Blue Room, Stones in His Pockets, Forever Plaid, and Fences. Sound Designer Eric Watkins is back this year having designed sound for Doubt and All the Great Books [Abridged] last season.

The Playboy of the Western World will appear at the Hangar Theatre, located in Cass Park from July 30th through August 9th. This production is made possible with the support of sponsors M&T Bank and the Ithaca Times.

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