NVCC presents poignant Irish tale, ‘Dancing at Lughnasa,’ on July 19, 20

The Theatre Arts Department at Naugatuck Valley Community College will present ‘The Summer Theatre Workshop of Dancing at Lughnasa,’ the story of five unmarried Irish sisters in the summer of 1936, on July 19, 20. From left to right, the play will feature: Kadie Tolderlund, Katie Keough, Cortney Bergin, Kelly Briney and Natalia Collazo.

WATERBURY (July 6, 2007) — Since its 1990 debut, “Dancing at Lughnasa” has become widely regarded as playwright Brian Friel’s masterpiece.

One of Ireland’s preeminent playwrights, Friel tells the story of five unmarried Irish sisters in the summer of 1936 through the eyes of 7-year-old Michael, who is the illegitimate son of one of the five. The Tony-award winning tale was made into a feature film starring Meryl Streep in 1998.

The Theatre Arts Department at Naugatuck Valley Community College will present this lively, poignant family portrait in “The Summer Theatre Workshop of Dancing at Lughnasa,” on July 19 and 20 at 8 p.m. in the college’s Fine Arts Center, located on its campus at 750 Chase Parkway.

The play explores the joys and pains of a family from a poor rural county in Ireland where residents celebrate “Lughnasa” (pronounced LOO-na-SA), the festival of the Celtic harvest god Lugh. The struggles of the five sisters living together in a small cottage are lightened when the family’s first wireless radio arrives, inspiring them to occasionally burst into spontaneous song and dance.

The show will feature a cast of NVCC students and community actors, including: Naugatuck resident Kelly Briney as the oldest sister, Kate; Naugatuck resident Cortney Bergin as Chris; New Haven resident Natalia Collazo as Agnes; Meriden resident Katie Keough as Maggie; Torrington resident Timothy Lee as young Michael; Waterbury resident Dogulas Sobon as Father Jack; Wolcott resident Christopher Stokes as Gerry; and Wolcott resident Kadie Tolderlund as Rose.

The production will be directed Ed Wierzbicki, two-time Emmy nominee and NVCC associate professor of theatre arts.

Tickets to “Dancing at Lughnasa” are $10, or $8 with a student ID. For tickets, call (203) 575-8038.