Outside Mullingar
By John Patrick Shanley
Directed by Doug Hughes
Originally produced at Manhattan Theatre Club, New York, NY.
January 13, 2014 through March 16, 2014
About the Premiere Production
(Outside Mullingar is published by TCG Books.)
Tony winner Brían F. O’Byrne (Frozen, Doubt, Million Dollar Baby) and Emmy winner Debra Messing (“Will & Grace,” "Smash," Collected Stories) play Anthony and Rosemary, two introverted misfits straddling 40. Anthony has spent his entire life on a cattle farm in rural Ireland, a state of affairs that—due to his painful shyness—suits him well. Rosemary lives right next door, determined to have him, watching the years slip away. With Anthony’s father threatening to disinherit him and a land feud simmering between their families, Rosemary has every reason to fear romantic catastrophe. But then, in this very Irish story with a surprising depth of poetic passion, these yearning, eccentric souls fight their way towards solid ground and some kind of happiness. Their journey is heartbreaking, funny as hell, and ultimately deeply moving.
Artistic Statement
MTC is honored to welcome back Pulitzer, Oscar, and Tony Award-winning writer John Patrick Shanley with the world premiere of Outside Mullingar, his tenth play with our company. We have always believed in Shanley’s talent which is best demonstrated by our passionate commitment to commission and produce Shanley’s work time and again. Most notable is MTC’s landmark production of Doubt which first premiered at New York City Center, then transferred to the Walter Kerr Theatre, and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and four Tony Awards including Best Play for Shanley and Best Director of a Play for Doug Hughes. This romantic comedy set in Ireland will once again showcase Shanley’s keen talent for delicate and moving storytelling, and MTC is thrilled to have assembled an exciting team of talents for the world premiere. This includes director Doug Hughes and actor Brían F. O’Byrne, who last collaborated on MTC’s Tony winning production of Doubt in 2000. We are also delighted to welcome back Debra Messing in her Broadway debut. Ms. Messing appeared in MTC’s 1997 New York premiere of Donald Margulies’ Collected Stories, and Paul Rudnick’s 1994 play The Naked Truth.
Grant Statement
Outside Mullingar was originally written as a one act play that was presented by LAByrinth Theatre Company’s Barn Series. MTC’s Artistic staff immediately saw the one act’s potential to be further developed, and encouraged Mr. Shanley’s desire to expand his script. The narrative of a single scene eventually evolved into a full-length play. An additional week of rehearsal will be vital in allowing both the playwright and director the space to take creative risks and hone the expansions to the story. We look forward to the interesting discoveries that will be made with the extra time given to better prepare this work.
Director: Doug Hughes
Set Design: John Lee Beatty
Lighting Design: Mark McCullough
Sound Design: Fitz Patton
Costume Design: Catherine Zuber
Original Music: Fitz Patton
Dialect Coach: Stephen Gabis
Additional Funders: Outside Mullingar was commissioned through the U.S. Trust New American Play Commissioning Program.
Award Wins and Nominations
Tony Award®
Best Play
2014 Nominee
Produced by Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer)
Written by John Patrick Shanley
Drama Desk Award
Outstanding Play
2014 Nominee
Produced by Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer)
Written by John Patrick Shanley
Subsequent Productions
Northlight Theatre in Skokie, IL March 13 - April 19, 2015
FUSION Theatre Company in Albuquerque, NM September 11, 2014 - September 27, 2014
B Street Theatre in Sacramento, CA October 11, 2014 - November 23, 2014
City Theatre Company in Pittsburgh, PA October 11, 2014 - November 2, 2014
PURE Theatre in Charleston, SC March 6, 2015 - March 28, 2015
The Public Theatre in Lewiston, ME March 13, 2015 - March 22, 2015
Red Barn Theatre in Key West, FL March 22, 2015 - April 13, 2015
Seattle Repertory Theatre in Seattle, WA April 24, 2015 - May 17, 2015
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati in Cincinnati, OH May 5, 2015 - May 24, 2015
Williamston Theatre in Williamston, MI May 21, 2015 - June 21, 2015
Dorset Theatre Festival in Dorset, VT July 30, 2015 - August 15, 2015
Commonweal Theatre Company in Lanesboro, MN September 10, 2015 - November 8, 2015
Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company in Boulder, CO September 17, 2015 - October 11, 2015
Irish Classical Theatre Co in Buffalo, NY October 30, 2015 - November 22, 2015
Everyman Theatre in Baltimore, MD December 9, 2015 - January 10, 2016
OpenStage Theatre & Co in Fort Collins, CO January 7, 2016 - February 6, 2016
San Diego Repertory Theatre in San Diego, CA January 21, 2016 - February 14, 2016
Company of Fools in Sun Valley, ID February 17, 2016 - March 5, 2016
Palm Beach Dramaworks in West Palm Beach, FL March 25, 2016 - April 24, 2016
WaterTower Theatre in Addison, TX June 3, 2016 - June 26, 2016
TheatreWorks in Palo Alto, CA October 5, 2016 - October 30, 2016
Clarence Brown Theatre Co in Knoxville, TN February 1, 2017 - February 19, 2017
Florida Repertory Theatre in Fort Myers, FL September 19, 2017 - October 22, 2017
Cape May Stage in Cape May, NJ September 27, 2017 - November 10, 2017
Scripps Ranch Theatre in San Diego, CA January 19, 2018 - February 18, 2018 (Co-production with Oceanside Theatre Company)
Arizona Theatre Company in Tucson, AZ January 20, 2018 - March 4, 2018
Next Act Theatre in Milwaukee, WI September 27, 2018 - October 21, 2018
Delaware Theatre Company in Wilmington, DE February 12, 2020 - March 1, 2020
South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, CA March 8, 2020 - March 29, 2020
Lean Ensemble Theater in Hilton Head Island, SC December 7, 2023 - December 17, 2023
News
Best Play Tony Award nominations: 'Act One,' 'All the Way,' 'Casa Valentina,' 'Mothers and Sons,' and 'Outside Mullingar
Breaking News, April 29, 2014
Northlight to produce 'Outside Mullingar'
Chicago Tribune, March 31, 2014