Chicago's Northlight Theatre Brings THE OUTGOING TIDE to Galway Arts Festival, Now thru July 21

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announces that the company's acclaimed World Premiere production of The Outgoing Tide, by Bruce Graham and directed by BJ Jones, will be presented in association with Galway Arts Festival in Galway, Ireland, today, July 17 – July 21, 2012. Cast members John Mahoney, Rondi Reed and Thomas J. Cox, are set to reprise the roles they originated in the Northlight production.

"We are pleased to present this Northlight-commissioned production at one of Europe's most prestigious arts festivals. The entire cast enthusiastically returns to this production and is thrilled to reopen it in Ireland," says Jones. "The Outgoing Tide is a prime example of Northlight's dedication to new work. As part of the Interplay Series, the play was developed here at Northlight and has received numerous American productions."

"This collaboration with Galway Arts Festival continues Northlight's initiative to bring its work to a wider national and international audience," says Evans. "Nearly a dozen Northlight mainstage productions have enjoyed transfer productions to other American theaters and nearly all of the 24 new plays presented in our Interplay Series have gone on to full productions in professional theatres across the country. As Northlight continues this phase of its development, we look forward to exploring new opportunities to strengthen our national and international relationships."

Northlight's original World Premiere production of The Outgoing Tide was met with widespread critical acclaim and played for an extended run at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd. in Skokie, from May 12 to July 3, 2011. The Outgoing Tide won the 2011 Jeff Award for New Work - Play (Bruce Graham), and was also nominated for Production - Play, Director (BJ Jones), Actor in a Principal Role (John Mahoney), Actress in a Principal Role (Rondi Reed), and Sound Design (Andrew Hansen).

In a summer cottage on Chesapeake Bay, Gunner has hatched an unorthodox plan to secure his family's future but meets with resistance from his wife and son, who have plans of their own. As winter approaches, the three must quickly find common ground and come to an understanding-before the tide goes out.

Tony Award winner John Mahoney returned to Northlight for The Outgoing Tide after appearing in A Life and Better Late. Rondi Reed made her first Chicago appearance since her Tony Award-winning turn in August: Osage County and her acclaimed role in CBS's Mike and Molly. Thomas J. Cox, a founding member of Lookingglass, had previously appeared at Northlight in Pride & Prejudice and Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.

The Outgoing Tide was the recipient of a 2010 Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award. The original Northlight production was supported in part by The Lehman Family American Experience Series and Nuveen Investments. This play was the recipient of the Selma Melvoin Playwriting Award, given by Northlight Theatre.

The designers for The Outgoing Tide are Brian Sidney Bembridge (set), Rachel Laritz (costumes), JR Lederle (lighting) and Andrew Hansen (sound). Christine Freeburg is the production stage manager.

Northlight Theatre first appeared at the Galway Arts Festival in 2008 with a remounted production of Better Late, written by Larry Gelbart and Craig Wright, directed by Artistic Director BJ Jones, and starring John Mahoney.

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