The Newton Nomadic Theater’s next production, “the Beauty Queen of Leenane” by Martin McDonagh, will run from May 15 – June 7 at locations all around Newton.  It’s our 11th hour contribution to the month long Newton Festival of the Arts.  The festival runs for the entire month of May and even though the festival programs have long been printed we thought we’d love to put together a theater production for the festival.

Part of the theater’s mission is to bring high quality live theater to all of the neighborhoods of Newton so we’re very excited that we’ll be performing for the first time in Oak Hill.   We’ll be playing two nights in the barn at the Newton Community Farm in Oak Hill.  We’re hoping to also bring the theater to Nonantum for the first time, but that’s not yet confirmed.  We’ll also be returning to Lower Falls (Gregorian Rugs), Waban (Waban Library), Upper Falls (Dunn Gaherins), and Auburndale (Auburndale Community Library) for performances.

This production will feature the return of two great actors from the Nomadic Theater’s production of “Faith Healer” last September.  Linda Goetz will be in the featured role of Maureen Foley and Dave Rich (the faith healer) will play Pato Dooley.  Linda is one of the co-founders of the Newton Nomadic Theater and she’s been itching to do “the Beauty Queen of Leenane” for some time.  “Maureen is a great role for an actor, at it’s core her’s is a horrific story but it’s wrapped in a sort of twisted humor.  Striking that balance right is what it’s all about”.   Joining the Nomadic Theater for the first time will be Lida McGirr in the role of Mag, Maureens’s mother and Matt Phillipps as Ray Dooley.

Also joining our theater for the first time is director Joey DeMita.  Joey jumped at the chance to direct The Beauty Queen of Leenane.  Says Joey “Nobody does black comedy like the Irish, and few are better at it than Martin McDonagh”.

Tickets ($20) are now on sale for all 10 performances at all six venues.

Now that we’re coming to Oak Hill (and possibly Nonantum), we’ve just got Newton Corner, Newton Highlands, Newtonville, West Newton and Thompsonville to go before we figure out how to tackle Village14.  If you know of any interesting non-theater spaces, in any of those villages, that could hold about 50 people for future production, please let us know .