PORTLAND — Portland Stage in Portland and Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick are extending their co-production of Frank McCourt’s “The Irish … and How They Got That Way” to Sept. 11.

It opened Aug. 16 at Portland Stage, 25A Forest Ave.

The show is an uplifting musical celebration of all things Irish in the tumultuous 20th and 21st centuries through the eyes of Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Frank McCourt.

McCourt’s razor-sharp wit, coupled with his trademark bitter irony, and his boundless love for the Irish are all underscored by glorious music, including such immortals as “Danny Boy,” “The Rose of Tralee,” and “Harrigan,” George M. Cohan’s “Give My Regards to Broadway,” “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” and “I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy,” and modern-day Irish rockers U2.

“The Irish … and How They Got That Way” opened at the Irish Repertory Theatre in New York in 1997 and has since played to sold-out audiences and has had extended runs across the country.

Under the direction of Marc Robin, the cast is composed of actors and actresses who are well-known on both Maine and national stages. Coming directly off Maine State Music Theatre’s stage is Charis Leos and Curt Dale Clark. Leos is marking her 24th season at MSMT. Clark has served as MSMT’s artistic director.

Rounding out the cast are Peter Cormican and Cary Michele Miller. Cormican joins the company after appearing in “Rothschild and Sons” at the York Theatre NYC. Miller will be making her Portland Stage debut, having appeared in several productions at MSMT, The Fulton Theatre, The Walnut Street Theatre and the West Virginia Public Theatre.

Actors Cameron Wright of Portland and Emily Davis of Westbrook appear as bartenders and are also understudies to the leads in the show.

Supporting the cast will be conductor Edward Reichert on the keyboard, Ernest Sauceda on violin, Jimmy Dority on guitar, banjo and accordion, and Eric Landau on drums.

To order tickets by phone or for more information, contact the Portland Stage box office at 207-774-0465, email[email protected], or visit www.portlandstage.org.