(Cover Photo: The CAST of Frank McCourt and Rusty Magee's "THE IRISH AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY" now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. now playing through March 16, 2025. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)

By Kevin T. Baldwin

METRMAG Reviewer

# 774-242-6724   

"Some do count it a misfortune to be christened Pat or Dan - but to me it is an honor to be born an Irishman!"

               - ("No Irish Need Apply") / John F. Poole

Greater Boston Stage Company  

Presents 

"THE IRISH AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY"

A Musical Tribute to Ireland! 

By Frank McCourt

Original Music Arrangements by Rusty Magee 

Directed by A. Nora Long

Music Director Kirsten Salpini

Cast Includes: Kirsten Salpini*, Dan Prior*, Tessa Paige Sacramone*, Jeffrey Song*, Billie Butler, Janis Hudson*, Understudies - Holly B. Faust, Caleb Chew, Elliot Lazar, and Katie Pickett. 

Additional Creative Team:

Scenic Design - Jeremy Barnett; Lighting Design - Amanda Fallon; Costume Design - Emily Woods Hogue; Sound Design - John Stone; Sound Operators - Meghan Ward, Bryan Ward; Properties Master - Hazel Peters; Production Stage Manager - Marsha Smith*; Production Manager and Master Electrician - Meghan Ward; Assistant Stage Manager - E.D. Fitzgerald; Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant - Kira Troilo, Art & Soul Consulting LLC. 

* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

Performances:

February 28, 2025 through March 16, 2025

(Contact Box Office for Exact Times) 

GREATER BOSTON STAGE COMPANY, 395 Main Street Stoneham, MA. 02180 

Reserve your tickets today!

Box Office Hours: Mondays – Fridays, noon to 6pm Box Office # 781-279-2200 boxoffice@greaterbostonstage.org

BUY TICKETS 

COVID 19 PROTOCOLS

Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.

Greater Boston Stage Company kicks off “Luck of the Irish” month with a celebratory show "THE IRISH AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY." 

The fun, spirited Off-Broadway show was first performed in 1997 at the IRISH Repertory Theatre and now, 28 years later, the musical cast of the Greater Boston Stage Company keeps the original fun and spirit alive and as fresh as ever. 

(Photo: Jeffrey Song (on bass), Tessa Paige Sacramone (on violin) and Dan Prior (on banjo) in "THE IRISH AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY" now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. now playing through March 16, 2025. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)

"THE IRISH AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY" is technically not a musical but rather it is more a play with music.

However, once you find your feet tapping and hands clapping to the multitude of great  IRISH-laced ditties, truly no one will argue over the distinction. 

With a book written by Frank McCourt, the story is set in a bar…er, an IRISH tavern…in this case a Boston-based IRISH tavern. 

(Photo: The CAST of Frank McCourt and Rusty Magee's "THE IRISH AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY" now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. now playing through March 16, 2025. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)

Rusty Magee was the original production’s music director and did all the musical arrangements, with a mix of IRISH songs ranging from traditional tunes such as "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen," and "Danny Boy" to more contemporary music including U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." 

There is a perfect balance between the more jovial tunes (like "Erie Canal"), and songs blended in that are, in contrast, far more subdued (such as the IRISH lullaby "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ra"). 

Context is provided for all the tunes, conveyed well by this tremendously talented cast. 

There is an (unexpected) allegorical manifestation showcasing the hostility and negative sentiment toward the much-maligned early IRISH immigrants that came to America (an example being "No IRISH Need Apply")…with some statements seeming shockingly all-too “familiar.” 

(Photo: Kirsten Salpini, Janis Hudson and Billie Butler in "THE IRISH AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY" now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. now playing through March 16, 2025. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)

In between songs, the performers (who excel at playing their own instruments) recite from various actual historical documents, news articles, letters, journals and more to recall the evolution of the IRISH-American. 

One IRISH-American composer highlighted unexpectedly is George M. Cohan in a medley of early Cohan tunes including "Over There" and "You're a Grand Old Flag." 

The above inclusion was probably originally intended to appeal to average theatergoers who needed something a little more familiar on stage than IRISH tunes.

The versatile cast includes our singing barkeep Janis Hudson, Kirsten Salpini (who also served as Music Director for the production), Dan Prior (who, among other instruments plays the banjo), Tessa Paige Sacramone (doubling on violin), Jeffrey Song on bass and Billie Butler on guitar and percussion. 

(Photo: Tessa Paige Sacramone, Jeffrey Song, Dan Prior and Kirsten Salpini in "THE IRISH AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY" now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. now playing through March 16, 2025. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)

As staged by director A. Nora Long, a very casual atmosphere has been created with ad-libs abounding, allowing for each and every performance to be different from night to night.

There is only one complaint (and it is minor) which is that some songs performed are approached in an abbreviated manner, leaving us all wanting for more. 

However, it would have made for a far longer show. 

That aside, other musical highlights include: "Erie Canal," "Finnegan's Wake," "Galway Bay," "The Ghost of Molly McGuire," "Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?" "Mother Machree,” "Skibbereen" and much, much more.

(Photo: The CAST of Frank McCourt and Rusty Magee's "THE IRISH AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY" now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. now playing through March 16, 2025. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)

Come join in the fun at "THE IRISH AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY" continuing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. until March 16^th, 2025. 

Coming up next at Greater Boston Stage Company will be the treacherously chaotic comedy, “THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG” by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields beginning March 28^th, 2025.  

For tickets, contact the Box Office at # 781-279-2200 or at boxoffice@greaterbostonstage.org

BUY TICKETS 

Approximately two hours with one intermission.

Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA) 

@MetrmagReviews

@Theatre_Critics

ABOUT THE SHOW

This unforgettable theatrical concert returns after a triumphant run in 2018, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day!

"THE IRISH AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY" celebrates the vibrant history and indomitable spirit of the Irish people through a captivating blend of music, storytelling, and humor. 

From traditional folk tunes to contemporary hits, join us for an evening of unforgettable melodies, heartfelt stories, and plenty of Irish charm! 

ABOUT GREATER BOSTON STAGE COMPANY We bring vibrant professional theatre and dramatic education beyond the boundaries of Boston, featuring world and regional premieres alongside fresh interpretations of familiar work. Within this setting, we uniquely foster the artists of tomorrow by providing ongoing performance and employment opportunities to our company of current and former students. Located in Stoneham, MA. GREATER BOSTON STAGE COMPANY produces five Mainstage shows, presents a series of Special Events, and runs year-round classes, lessons, and fully staged productions through The Young Company for students in grades 1–12.

GREATER BOSTON STAGE COMPANY  

395 Main Street 

Stoneham, MA. 02180 

Box Office # 781-279-2200 

boxoffice@greaterbostonstage.org

greaterbostonstage.org