Roundabout Theatre Archives: Collection: Philadelphia, Here I Come 1994 Production Files [Philadelphia1994]

Roundabout Theatre produced Brian Friel's Philadelphia, Here I Come! at the Criterion Center with opening night September 8, 1994 and closing October 22, 1994.

Directed by Joe Dowling, with sets by John Lee Beatty, costumes by Catherine Zuber, lighting by Christopher Akerlind, and sound by Philip Campanella.

Starring Pauline Flanagan as Madge, Jim True as Gareth O'Donnell in Public, Robert Sean Leonard as Gareth O'Donnell in Private, Robert Stattel as S.B. O'Donnell, Miriam Healy-Louie as Kate Doogan, Peter McRobbie as Senator Doogan, Jarlath Conroy as Master Boyle, Aideen O'Kelly as Lizzy Sweeney, James Murtaugh as Con Sweeney, Philip LeStrange as Ben Burton, Joel James Forsythe as Ned, Timothy Reynolds as Tom, Gregoy Grene as Joe, and Leo Leyden as Canon Mick O'Byrne.

First produced at the Dublin Theatre Festival and then the Gaiety Theater in Dublin Ireland in 1965, the play was brought to the United States in 1966, receiving critical success. The comedy is about a young man at odds with his overbearing father and is on the eve of leaving Ireland for America in the 1960s. Two actors play the lead Gareth O'Donnell, one portraying the public personna and the other his alter-ego, who reveals the young man's true feelings. Philadelphia, Here I Come! is playwright Friel's fourth play, with Faith Healer, Dancing at Lughnasa, Molly Sweeney, Give Me Your Answer, Do! among his most popular works.

Production files consist of one box with 13 folders detailing the management of the show with author's agreement, extensive press clippings, set bids, playbill, education study guide, and other aspects of the production. Lacking are the artistic documents (costume sketches, set design notes, etc.) and director's notes to provide deeper insight into the artistic vision for the work.

Photograph file contains black and white contact sheets, headshots used for show art (black and white), and black and white production stills.

Digital file contains scanned color photographs, scanned education guide, show art and press files.

Access Restrictions: Open and available for research by appointment only.

Preferred Citation: Philadelphia, Here I Come! 1994, Roundabout Theatre Company Archives

Types of Materials: Digital files, Paper documents, Publications

Library of Congress Subject Heading
Friel, Brian
Flanagan, Pauline, 1925-2003
Leonard, Robert Sean, 1969-
Stattel, Robert
True, Jim
Conroy, Jarlath, 1944-
Healy-Louie, Miriam
LeStrange, Philip, 1942-
McRobbie, Peter, 1943-
Murtaugh, James, 1942-
Beatty, John Lee, 1948-
Zuber, Catherine
Akerlind, Christopher
Dowling, Joe, 1948-
Haimes, Todd
Fathers and sons in literature
Emigration and immigration in literature
Families--Drama
Theater--New York (State)

Related Staged Production

Philadelphia, Here I Come!

Folder 1: Philadelphia, Here I Come 1994 Artistic File

Folder 2: Philadelphia, Here I Come 1994 Author's Agreement File

Folder 3: Philadelphia, Here I Come 1994 Music Licensing File

Folder 4: Philadelphia, Here I Come 1994 Immigration File

Folder 5: Philadelphia, Here I Come 1994 Set Design

Folder 6: Philadelphia, Here I Come 1994 Correspondence File

Folder 7: Philadelphia, Here I Come 1994 NYPL Taping File

Folder 8: Philadelphia, Here I Come 1994 Equity File

Folder 8: Philadelphia, Here I Come 1994 Tony File

Folder 10: Philadelphia, Here I Come 1994 Opening Night File

Folder 11: Philadelphia, Here I Come 1994 Press File

Folder 12: Philade'phia, Here I Come 1994 House Seats File

Folder 13: Philadelphia, Here I Come 1994 Education File