1st Irish
2011, 1st Irish
is the first and only festival in the world dedicated to
Irish playwrights, runs from September 5 to October 3, and features
plays, panel discussions and special events in multiple
theatres and culture-related venues across the city. Among
the plays being presented are six North American premieres
and one New York premiere.
Funding support for 1st Irish 2011
is generously provided by the Festival Sponsors: the Irish
Government, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht;
the Arts Council of Northern Ireland; the Northern Ireland
Bureau; the Irish Consulate NY; Tourism Ireland; the Irish
Arts Council - An Chomhairle Ealaíon; Imagine Ireland,
Culture Ireland’s year of Irish arts in America; the
American Ireland Fund; Mutual of America; The Irish
Examiner; McVicker & Higginbotham; NYC Department of
Cultural Affairs, and the NY State Council for the Arts
and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland
American premieres from Ireland are part of
Imagine Ireland, Culture Ireland’s year of Irish arts in
America. 1st Irish, festivals are organized by
George Heslin
and the
Origin Theatre Company. For festival information and to
learn how audience members pick the Audience Choice Award
for Best Play, visit
www.1stIrish.org
Plays
produced by American companies include:
1/
Lucia’s Chapters Coming Forth by Day
Mabou Mines presents the New York premiere of “Lucia’s
Chapters Coming Forth by Day,” about the life and after-life
of James Joyce’s adored daughter Lucia Joyce. Written and
directed by Sharon Fogarty, with Ruth Maleczech, and Paul
Kandel. Music by Carter Burwell.
(11 performances from September 14 to 25 at P.S. 122, 150
First Avenue)
Sept 14, 15, 16, 17 @ 8pm; Sept 18 @ 3pm
Sept 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 @ 8pm; Sept 25 @ 3pm
2/
Temporal Powers
The Mint Theater’s presents the American premiere of
“Temporal Powers” by Teresa Deevy project, directed by
Jonathan Bank. A follow-up to last season’s critically
acclaimed “Wife to James Whelan” (which received the
festival’s Special Jury Prize)
(Now playing through Oct 2,
at The Mint Theater, 311 West 43rd Street)
Sept 6, 7, 8 @ 7pm; Sept 9 @ 8pm; Sept 10 @ 2pm & 8pm; Sept
11 @ 2pm
Sept 12, 14, 15 @ 7pm; Sept 16 @ 8pm; Sept 17 @ 2pm & 8pm;
Sept 18 @ 2pm
Sept 20, 21, 22 @ 7pm; Sept 23 @ 8pm; Sept 24 @ 2pm 8pm;
Sept 25 @ 2pm
Sept 27, 28, 29 @ 7pm; Sept 30 @ 8pm; Oct 1 @ 2pm 8pm; Oct 2
@ 2pm
3/
Reflections
The British National Theatre of America (based in Las Vegas)
brings us the American premiere of “Reflections,” which
tells story of the wife of an IRA terrorist from two
different chronological perspectives. By Jennifer Johnston,
and Bernard McMullan, directed by Jo Cattell.
(12 performances from September 15 to October 2 at Stage
Left Studio Theatre, 214 West 30th Street)
Sept 15, 16, 17 @ 8pm; Sept 18 @ 3pm
Sept 22, 23, 24 @ 8pm; Sept 25 @ 3pm
Sept 29, 30, Oct 1 @ 8pm; Oct 2 @ 3pm
4/
Dublin by Lamplight
Inis Nua of Philadelphia brings us the New York premiere of
“Dublin by Lamplight” at 59E59 Theaters. Amidst the filth
and fury of Dublin 1904, the theatrical event of the century
is about to explode.
Written by Michael West, and directed
by Tom Reing.
(22 performances from September 8 to October 2, at 59E59
Theaters)
Sept 8 @ 7:15pm; Sept 9, 10 @ 8:15pm; Sept 11 @ 3:15pm
Sept 13, 14, 15 @ 7:15pm; Sept 16, 17 @ 8:15pm; Sept 18 @
3:15pm
Sept 20, 21, 22 @ 7:15pm; Sept 23, 24 @ 8:15pm; Sept 25 @
3:15pm
Sept 27, 28, 29 @ 7:15pm; Sept 30, Oct 1 @ 8:15pm; Oct 2 @
3:15pm
The productions from Ireland include:
5/
Noah and the Tower Flower
Starring, from left to right, Mary Murray and
Darren Healy.
Photo by: COLM HOGA
From Fishamble of Dublin – winner of the Irish Times Best
New Play Award -- Sean McLoughlin’s “Noah and the Tower
Flower” looks into the hearts of two high-strung individuals
falling in love. Starring Darren Healy and Mary Murray,
directed by Jim Culleton.
(27 performances, from September 7 to October 2 at The
Drilling Company Theatre, 236 West 78th Street)
Sept 7, 8, 9 @ 8pm; Sept 10 @ 2pm & 8pm; Sept 11 @ 7pm
Sept 12 @ 7pm; Sept 14, 15, 16 @ 8pm; Sept 17 @ 2pm & 8pm;
Sept 18 @ 7pm
Sept 19 @ 7pm; Sept 21, 22, 23 @ 8pm; Sept 24 @ 2pm & 8pm;
Sept 25 @7pm
Sept 26 @ 7pm; Sept 28, 29, 30 @ 8pm; Oct 1@ 2pm & 8pm; Oct
2 @ 7pm
6/
Bogboy
Steve Blount as Hughie Dolan in Deirdre Kinahan's "Bogboy"
Photo
by: PAT REDMOND
Tall Tales Company in Navan returns to 1st Irish
with “Bogboy,” another funny play by the award-winning
Deirdre Kinahan, who made her U.S. debut with the critically
acclaimed “Hue & Cry” in last year’s festival. A tale of
deep friendship, violent murder and unforgivable deceit
between a heroin addict and a reclusive farmer.
(17 performances from September 7 to 25, at the Irish Arts
Center,
553 West 51st Street)
Sept 7, 8, 9, 10 @ 8pm; Sept 11 @ 3pm
Sept 14, 15, 16; Sept 17 @ 2pm & 8pm; Sept 18 @ 3pm
Sept 21, 22, 23; Sept 24 @ 2pm & 8pm; Sept 25 @ 3pm
7/Cirque de Légume
Fresh with vegetables: (left to right) Jamie Carswell and
Nancy Trotter a just a couple of regular cut-ups in “Cirque
de Legume.” Photo by:
MARK
FEARON
County Sligo’s Cirque de Légume, brings us last year’s
Edinburgh Festival Fringe hit “Cirque de Légume.” Submerge
yourself in 50 minutes of pure mayhem as two delightful
idiots put on the greatest vegetable circus on earth! With
Jamie Carswell and Nancy Trotter, directed by Pablo
Ibarluzea.
(32 performances from September 6 to October 2 at 59E59
Theaters)
Sept 6, 7, 8 @ 7:30pm; Sept 9 @ 8:30pm; Sept 10 @ 2:30pm &
8:30pm;
Sept 11 @ 3:30pm & 7:30pm
Sept 13, 14, 15 @ 7:30pm; Sept 16 @ 8:30pm; Sept 17 @ 2:30pm
& 8:30pm; Sept 18 @ 3:30pm & 7:30pm
Sept 20, 21, 22 @ 7:30pm; Sept 23 @ 8:30pm; Sept 24 @ 2:30pm
& 8:30pm; Sept 25 @ 3:30pm & 7:30pm
Sept 27, 28, 29 @ 7:30pm; Sept 30 @ 8:30pm; Oct 1 @ 2:30pm &
8:30pm;
Oct 2 @ 3:30pm & 7:30pm
8/A Night with George
Donna O'Connor (bottom) and George Clooney in
"A Night with George"
Photo
by:
EDDIE
ROBINSON
Brassneck Theatre Company of West Belfast brings us the
award-winning cult hit comedy “A Night with George,”
starring Donna O’Connor that tells what is purported to be
the true story of O’Connor’s dream-come-true night on the
town with George Clooney. Directed by Tony Devlin.
(21 performances, from September 5 to October 2, at the
Times Square
Arts Center, 300 West 43rd Street)
Sept 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 @ 8pm; Sept 11 @ 3pm
Sept 12, 15, 16, 17 @ 8pm; Sept 18 @ 3pm