Malachy McCourt, the garrulous Irish actor and writer—not to mention a character in his brother Frank’s Pulitzer Prize-wining memoir Angela’s Ashes—is scheduled to bring a touch of the old sod to the Westport Country Playhouse on Sunday, June 19. 
Malachy McCourt: to discuss Irish folklore. Contributed photo
McCourt has been booked to host a 5:30 p.m. symposium dubbed “Irish Folklore on Stage.” It’s an opening act of sorts to the musical “Finian’s Rainbow,” the curtain for which rises at 7:30 to officially usher in the Playhouse’s 75th season, all in its new digs.
Free and open to the public, Playhouse officials say, the symposium will provide the audience with McCourt’s insights and observations about the musical followed by questions from the audience.
An actor of stage, film and television, McCourt is also the author of “A Monk Swimming,” “Singing by Him Song,” “Danny Boy,” “Voices of Ireland,” “Harold Be Thy Name: Lighthearted Daily Reflections for People in Recovery,” “The Claddagh Ring,” “Bush Lies in State (a collection of published columns) and “History of Ireland.”
“A Couple of Blaguards,” a play co-written by Malachy McCourt and his brother, Frank McCourt, has been produced across the United States. as well as Australia and the United Kingdom.
“Finian’s Rainbow” is directed by Charlotte Moore, who directed the
Playhouse’s 2003 production of “The Streets of New York.” The cast includes
renowned Broadway actors Milo O’Shea as Finian, Melissa Errico as his
daughter, Sharon, and Malcolm Gets as Og, the Leprechaun.
