Mahoney, Irwin & Connolly Lead Geffen's THE SEAFARER Beginning 4/14

The Geffen Playhouse welcomes back celebrated stage and screen actor John Mahoney (Frasier) for his second role in a Conor McPherson play at the Geffen Playhouse. After starring in the 2001 production of The Weir, Mahoney returns to play the role of Richard Harkin in The Seafarer, McPherson's 2008 Tony nominee for Best Play, which opens April 22 on the Geffen's main stage. Helmed by Geffen Playhouse Artistic Director Randall Arney, the ensemble cast also features seasoned actors Andrew Connolly, tom irwin, Paul Vincent O'Connor and Matt Roth.

The Seafarer is a whiskey-laden tale set in the Dublin home of two brothers on Christmas Eve over a poker game with damningly high stakes. Mahoney's Richard is the mercurial older brother, who despite the fact that he has recently gone blind, feels much more comfortable leaning on a splash of liquor (or two or three...) than anything else. Incessantly and happily intoxicated, Richard guides the story with persistence, depth, and a bit of levity - despite the ‘bah humbug' attitude of his younger brother Sharky, who finds himself playing caretaker to his recently debilitated brother.

Sharky, played by theater veteran Andrew Connolly - whose credits include the Broadway run of The Lieutenant of Inishmore, is the only member of the group who remains sober enough to recognize what a pitiable lot the group makes on this Christmas Eve. Paul Vincent O'Connor (24, Jag, Seabiscuit), plays Ivan, an old friend with an Irish-thirst who joins the game blind drunk and a bit blind due to the loss of his glasses at an earlier point in the evening. Despite Sharky's protests, Richard invites over the slightly smarmy Nicky, played by LA-based actor Matt Roth (CSI, Desperate Housewives, Roseanne). Nicky brings along the uninvited Mr. Lockhart, played by tom irwin (7th Heaven, My So-Called Life) a dark figure that, with his tailored suit and sleek demeanor, comes from a different world than the rest of the players.

Irwin and Mahoney recently completed a critically-acclaimed run of The Seafarer with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago. The production, also directed by Randall Arney, features the same design team as the Geffen Playhouse run. "It's rare for directors to have the opportunity to work on the same show with a mix of old and new actors," says Arney. "Having already completed the run in Chicago, John, Tom and I can act as resources for what worked the first time around, and having new actors with new impulses will open my eyes to alternative directions for the piece to go."

THE SEAFARER

Written by Conor McPherson

Directed by Randall Arney

CAST

Andrew Connolly James "Sharky" Harkin

tom irwin Mr. Lockhart

John Mahoney Richard Harkin

Paul Vincent O'Connor Ivan Curry

Matt Roth Nicky Giblin

Production Credits

Set Designer Takeshi Kata

Costume Designer Janice Pytel

Lighting Designer Daniel Ionazzi

Sound Designer Richard Woodbury

Production Stage Manager James T. McDermott

Assistant Stage Manager Jennifer Brienen

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Previews: Tuesday, April 14 to Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Opening Night: Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Closing Night: Sunday, May 24, 2009

Tuesday through Thursday 7:30 p.m.

Fridays 8:00 p.m.

Saturdays 4:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Sundays 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

TICKET INFO

Tickets ($45 to $79) are on sale now at the Geffen Playhouse box office, online at GeffenPlayhouse.com, via credit card phone order at (310) 208-5454, at all Ticketmaster outlets, or by calling Ticketmaster at (213) 480-3232.

Student rush tickets are available a half hour prior to curtain for $15.

Photo by Michael Brosilow