James Joyce's love life will be celebrated in music and song in a production to be staged in Dublin.
Highlights of a hit musical heading for the West End will be performed for one night only as part of the Bloomsday celebrations.
Himself and Norareveals to the world stage Joyce's words and how Nora Barnacle, a young chambermaid from Galway, inspired him as his portable Ireland throughout all their tumultuous travels.
Composer and lyricist Jonathan Brielle will give the Irish audience a sneak preview of the show on Saturday, June 16th at the James Joyce Centre, on Dublin's North Great George's Street.
He wants Joyce fans to give it their seal of approval before he takes it around the world. "It is so important to me to bring Joyce home," said the composer from his New Jersey studio and home. "I have been offered a three-month run in the West End, but for now I want to focus on bringing it back to Dublin.
"I have this instinct to launch it here. I would feel so wonderful about it." Jonathan's own love affair with Joyce started 11 years ago when a friend showed him a play she wrote about the famous writer that she wanted turned into a musical.
He said he became fascinated with Joyce, reading all his works. Himself and Nora premiered at the Old Globe Theatre in California in 2005, getting rave reviews from fans.
"The play itself is about the man James and the woman Nora," said Jonathan, who has penned a number of theatre pieces stateside. "She was his rock and their love enabled him to write about love. "The people who saw this in the Globe wanted to know more about Joyce and his work.
"It was right for the American audience, but it is really important to me to make sure I open it up to Irish collaboration. "This will be a composers presentation, featuring around 80% of the show with myself and two excellent Broadway actors. "But if we were to do it right in Dublin and present the whole musical, it would have to be with an Irish cast."
The production will be part of Bloomsday 2007, which features a full week of activities, music, films, lectures, walking tours, and readings to the day - June 16th, 1904 - on which James Joyce set his masterpiece Ulysses. The celebration - now in its 103rd year - has