TheatreWorks presents a “Page to Stage” reading of Martin Casella’s “The Irish Curse” March 25, 2010 at 8:00pm

NEW MILFORD, CONN. (March 8, 2010) – TheatreWorks New Milford will present a free staged reading of THE IRISH CURSE, a comedy by Martin Casella, just days before it debuts Off-Broadway.

THE IRISH CURSE centers on a small group of professionally-successful Irish-American men who meet each week at a support group for men who believe they suffer from an anatomical “shortcoming” known as “The Irish Curse.” When a young blue-collar guy joins the group, he challenges everything the other men thought about their alleged trait. This wicked, brutally honest play unmasks the comical and truthful questions of identity, masculinity, sex, relationships, and social status that define their lives.

“I was taken by the idea of writing about a group of people who wanted something (the heart of any drama) that they could not possibly get,” said Mr. Casella. “While I was writing the play I realized that what the men really wanted was something else – self-esteem, love, a relationship, acceptance. And that is what the play is ultimately about.”

The reading will be followed with refreshments. Mr. Casella himself will be in attendance, and is happy to take questions from audience members at the end of the play.

THE IRISH CURSE is under the direction of Kevin Sosbe of New Milford. The cast includes Jonathan Ross (Thomaston), Keir Hansen (New Hartford), Tom Libonate (Danbury), and Chris Simo-Kinzer (Plymouth).

THE IRISH CURSE had its world premiere at the New York International Fringe Festival in 2005, garnering rave reviews and winning the Overall Excellence Award for Outstanding Playwrighting. Mr. Casella’s extensive and wide-ranging credits include several plays, television and movie screenplays. He has also worked as an actor, and currently teaches playwriting at the Harvey Milk High School in New York City.

The event is free, but reservations must be made online at WWW.THEATREWORKS.US or by calling (860) 350-6863.

TheatreWorks is an award-winning, professional non-Equity theatre company located on 5 Brookside Avenue, just off Route 202 (next to the CVS), in New Milford, CT.