By Paddy McCarthy
We are overwhelmed with all the greeting cards we have received for Christmas from all over by email and by post. I don’t know how to thank you all personally as it would be impossible, all I can say is that we very much appreciate your kindest and it gives us great confidence in what we are doing with our publication that you enjoy. It makes it all worth while that you enjoy all our features in both the Arts and Entertainment sections plus sports and news as we try to suit everybody’s taste.
Yes, we here at The Irish Examiner USA may make it look easy, but it’s hard work choosing the right articles and also be seen as servant to the Irish community all across this beautiful nation and that is what we are try to achieve. Again, thank you all so much for your support and believing in what we are doing so I and all the staff would like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
This message came in from the Irish Historical Society and I thought it was well worth putting in the Out&About and especially the photograph on this page as it is so beautiful: “Merry Christmas from the Officers, Executive Council, and Staff of the American Irish Historical Society. As 2019 comes to a close, we at the Society would like to thank our members and supporters for making this a very special and enjoyable year.
“As we look toward 2020, we hope that you continue to support and participate in our events, conduct research in our library, and encourage others to become members.
“The new year brings an exciting new program of events; concerts, plays, talks, networking events and much more that we encourage you to be a part of. We thank you for your essential support and ask that at this time you consider making Christmas Donation.
“We appreciate all gifts big or small, to help us continue in our mission to promote our culture, heritage and history at 991 Fifth Avenue. If you would like to give the gift of Membership to a friend or loved one, you can do so here. We wish you a happy and healthy New Year.”
More good news that we would like to tell you about that will be happening in the early New Year is that the Irish Repertory Theatre have announced three new productions for Winter 2020. First on the Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage will be Incantata by Paul Muldoon (The Dead, 1904) and directed by Sam Yates (The Starry Messenger). Performances begin on February 18, 2020, with an opening night set for February 23, for a limited run through March 15, 2020. Following that will be A Touch of the Poet by Eugene O’Neill and directed by Ciarán O’Reilly. Performances will take place beginning in April 2020.
In the W. Scott McLucas Theatre will be Lady G: Plays and Whisperings of Lady Gregory written by Lady Augusta Gregory with additional material and direction by O’Reilly. Performances begin on February 12, 2020, with an opening night set for February 19, for a limited run through March 22, 2020.
A beautiful one-man show, an elegy to life, love and loss, Incantata tells the story of a man celebrating and remembering a great love affair. Incantata is written by one of Ireland’s most revered writers, the New York-based, Pulitzer Prize-winning Paul Muldoon and interpreted for the stage by Stanley Townsend and Sam Yates.
Fresh from a fall 2019 run at Dublin’s famed Gate Theatre, Incantata premiered to wide acclaim at the 2018 Galway International Arts Festival. Incantata is performed by Stanley Townsend (All About Eve). Incantata will feature set and costume design by Rosanna Vize, compositions by Teho Teardo, lighting design by Paul Keogan, video design by Jack Phelan and sound design by Sinéad Diskin. Casting is by Maureen Hughes and Sarah Jones.
Tickets will be available for all these productions through Irish Rep’s box office at (212) 727-2737 or online at www.irishrep.org.
Currently on the Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage is London Assurance, written by Dion Boucicault (The Shaughraun) and directed by Charlotte Moore (The Plough and the Stars). London Assurance is set for a limited run through January 26, 2020. Currently in performances in the W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre is the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize winning play Pumpgirl, by Abbie Spallen (Strandline), directed by Nicola Murphy (Stop/Over). Pumpgirl will run through January 12, 2020.
The Irish Rep, co-founded by Producing Director Ciarán O’Reilly and Artistic Director Charlotte Moore, is now in its 31st season after first opening its doors in September 1988 with Sean O’Casey’s The Plough and the Stars. Irish Rep is currently the only year-round theatre company in New York City devoted to bringing Irish and Irish American works to the stage.
Recognized with the Jujamcyn Theatres Award, a special Drama Desk Award for “Excellence in Presenting Distinguished Irish Drama,” an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Achievement, and the Lucille Lortel Award for “Outstanding Body of Work,” Irish Rep celebrates the very best in Irish theatre, from the masters to the new generation of Irish and Irish American writers who are transforming the stage.
Nearly 50,000 audience members annually attend productions at Irish Rep’s theatre located in the heart of New York’s Off Broadway community. Once there, they witness Irish Rep’s engaging perspective on the Irish and their unique contributions to the world of drama.
Well this is my last Out&About until 2020 and let me tell you it has been my privilege to write this column every week to inform you about what is happening, while I am out and about and just a little gossip. Ah, while we are having fun as that is what it is all about .