“When Irish Eyes are Smiling sure it's like a morn in spring…”

Being married to a fabulous red-haired Irish lass for 36 years now, producing a play about her kin seemed only fitting since we’ve spent so many days with my “family” on Mulberry Street!

In my role as artistic director (one of my many hats) the joy (and difficulty) in putting together a season of 10 or more shows brings many challenges. Availability of titles is one of the major issues - we can't just produce any show we like, we have to be licensed to do so. Sometimes, sitting back to watch a classic old Broadway musical is as comforting as a chat with an old friend. But you, our loyal audiences want a balanced diet...old, new, original, drama, comedy, etc., etc. So today we have a new play: The Lobby.

As a community-based organization, we have the opportunity to give many people their "first." People who have never appeared on stage, those who have never directed, those who have just written their first play, etc., are often among our numbers. (How likely are they to go directly from a dream or aspiration directly to Broadway?) If we don't provide these opportunities, where might they find them? That's the basis of what community theatre is all about. And while today's author is far from new to this business - quite the opposite - his works have never played in the area, so it's very exciting for all of us.

Three years ago, I learned about The Lobby through a brief conversation with a fellow patron at a show in NYC. I read the script and liked it, but since I had just finished putting the 2019-2020 season together, I decided the show would have to wait a year…then Covid happened. As I started planning for what I thought was going to be a very normal 2021-2022 season, I got back in touch with the author, Don Creedon and decided this would be a great spring production.

Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy this new play and I look forward to seeing you here next month for DISASTER, The Musical.

Lou Ursone
Executive Director Curtain Call, Inc.

The Lobby is about Jimmy Burgess— an unassuming night doorman of a posh downtown loft-space and his old friend, Miles O’Riordan. Jimmy is stuck behind a desk watching life in the City pass him by, while, the incorrigible, ne’er do-well Miles is always looking for the next scheme to get ahead, often at Jimmy’s expense. In this modern day comedy-farce, Irish characters from all walks of life swing through the lobby’s revolving door, while the elevator doors open and close seemingly on Jimmy and his dreams. But, unbeknownst to this cast of characters, Jimmy has plans of his own. Oh, and guess whose mother is coming to town…

May 5 - 22, 2022
Dressing Room Theatre
Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights at 8:00pm
Sunday afternoons at 2:00pm

Written by
DON CREEDON

Producer
Lou Ursone

Director
Stephen Emerick

Set Design 
Peter Barbieri, Jr.

Lighting Design
Jamie LaJoie

Costume Design
Helen Adams

Stage Manager
Ryan Tice

Asst. Director
Hunter Brady

Props Manger 
Jordon Hensley

Choreographer
Carly Jurman

Crew
Chris Balestriere, Molly Eagleton, Jenny Maso, Rob Nichols, Candice Sisbarro, Kathryn Tracy

Don Creedon 

Since coming to New York from his native Dublin, Don Creedon has appeared as an actor in the Irish Arts Center’s productions of The Tunnel (written by Terry George, directed by Jim Sheridan), Away Alone, Down the Flats (directed by Nye Heron), The Irish Repertory Theatre Company’s The Plough and The Stars, and The Risen People at the Irish Bronx Theatre.  As Artistic Director of Macalla Theatre Company in The Bronx, New York, he directed their productions of Tuesday’s Child, The Famine Diaries, and Rinty.  He also directed Moonshine (by Jim Nolan) Off-Broadway at the Irish Arts Center and The Holy Ground (Best Director Nominee 1st Irish 2010 Theatre Festival).  Don is currently the artistic director of Poor Mouth Theatre Company, based in An Beal Bocht Café in Riverdale, The Bronx.

Don’s first full-length play Celtic Tiger Me Arse was produced in New York at the Irish Arts Center and in Los Angeles at the Celtic Arts Center. His second play Guy Walks into a Bar received the Audience Award for Best Play at Origin Theatre's 1st Irish 2010 Theatre Festival. Since then, it has been performed in many venues around New York City. In January 2018, it was produced at the New York Irish Center in Long Island City, as part of the 2018 1st Irish Festival 2018. Directed by Tim Ruddy and featuring Roger Clark, Michael Mellamphy and Clay Westman, the company of Guy received the Festival Fringe Award for their combined efforts to create community and new theatre for the public. Both Roger Clark and Michael Mellamphy were nominated for best actor, with Michael Mellamphy announced as the winner at the 1st Irish 2018 Awards ceremony held on January 29, 2018.

Don's short play Blind Date was a finalist at the Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play festival, and his one-act play Ladies’ Night was a finalist at the American Globe Theater 15-Minute Play Festival.  Other short plays include Shackled, Divine Intervention, and The Ledge, which have been produced in New York by Aching Dogs Theater Company.  Don's play Dry Rot received a staged reading at the Riverdale YM-YWHA (Bronx New Works for Stage) in October 2014. Don is a Fellow of the Blue Mountain Center and the MacDowell Colony, and also a member of the Dramatist Guild of America.