The Emperor Jones at the Irish Repertory Theatre

The Irish Repertory Theatre begins its 2009-2010 Off-Broadway season with Eugene O'Neill's The Emperor Jones opening at the Irish Repertory Theatre on 18 Oct 2009, with previews from 7 Oct and running through to 29 Nov 2009.

John Douglas Thompson -- OBIE and Lucille Lortel Award-winning actor for last season's acclaimed revival of O'Othello' -- portrays the enigmatic emperor, opposite Helen Hayes Award-winning actor Rick Foucheux as Smithers.

Ciaran O'Reilly, whose direction of O'Neill's 'The Hairy Ape' at The Irish Repertory a few seasons ago earned him Drama Desk, Drama League and Callaway award nominations, is set to direct.

The Emperor Jones is the story of Brutus Jones, an African-American man who sets himself up as monarch of a Caribbean island after fleeing the United States following a prison break. The 1920 expressionistic drama is a compelling psychological portrayal of power, fear, and madness as it traces the life of the emperor as he tries to escape the island and the sins of his past.

Joining Thompson and Foucheux in the cast of The Emperor Jones are Michael Akil Davis, Jon Deliz, Sameerah Harris, David Heron and Sinclair Mitchell.

The production includes set design by Charles Corcoran, costume design by Antonia Ford-Roberts, lighting design by Brian Nason and, sound design by Ryan Rumery and Christian Fredrickson.