By Paddy McCarthy
The Little Gem has become a Big Gem as the show has been packing them in and has now been extended for an extra week. Now I did say a couple of weeks ago that the Little Gem would be a big hit and it is and yet again The Irish Repertory Theatre has done it.
Little Gem began previews on July 17 on the Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage and opened July 25 and will now play through September 8.
The cast of Little Gem includes four-time Academy Award nominee and two-time Golden Globe Award winner Marsha Mason (The Goodbye Girl) as Kay, Brenda Meaney (Party Face) as Lorraine, and Lauren O’Leary (The Awkward Years) as Amber. Little Gem features set design by Meredith Ries (Cute Activist), costume design by Christopher Metzger (Life Sucks), lighting design by Michael O’Connor (Two by Friel), and sound design by Ryan Rumery (Be More Chill). Arthur Atkinson (Juno and the Paycock) serves as Production Stage Manager.
Irish Rep also announced casting for the world premiere of Kingfishers Catch Fire by Robin Glendinning (Jennifer’s Holiday) and directed by Kent Paul (Lost in Yonkers). Kingfishers Catch Fire begins performances in the W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre on September 11, with opening night set for September 22, for a limited run through October 20.
The cast of Kingfishers Catch Fire will include Sean Gormley (Rebel in the Soul) as Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty and Haskell King (Please Continue) as Herbert Kappler.
Here is a brief overview of the story: It’s 1948 when Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty first visits the infamous Nazi Herbert Kappler in the Italian prison where Kappler is serving a life sentence for crimes against humanity.
During World War II, the men were adversaries; Kappler was the head of the Gestapo in German-occupied Rome, and Monsignor O’Flaherty was using the cover of Vatican neutrality to shelter and arrange for the escape of thousands of Allied servicemen and Jewish civilians.
Kappler placed a bounty on O’Flaherty’s head, but O’Flaherty evaded capture, earning the nickname “The Scarlet Pimpernel of the Vatican.”
When these two men meet after the war, profound questions of responsibility and redemption rattle the cages. Based on a true story, Kingfishers Catch Fire examines morality and personal culpability for actions taken during a devastating war.
Tickets to Little Gem range from $45 – $70. Tickets to Kingfishers Catch Fire range from $45-50. Both are available through Irish Rep’s box office at (212) 727-2737 or online at www.irishrep.org.
I almost forgot to tell yea that I was at the Queen concert with Adam Lambert on August 6 at Madison Square Garden which was sold out for their two nights. Now the late Freddie Mercury did appear on screen for one of the final encores that was just magic. I have to say this that Adam Lambert was just brilliant in what he did in singing with Queen and replacing Freddie; as you know nobody can do that really, but I will give him credit as he did not try to imitate Freddie as he sang in his own style and as I said, he was just brilliant with the rest of Queen who I also love and it was a great fit.
Now to an event that should be well supported: The New York Correction Department Emerald Society 64th Annual Scholarship Dinner Dance will be held on Friday, September 27 at Antun’s in Queens Village (96-43 Springfield Blvd, Queens Village). The festivities start at 7pm with Antun’s Deluxe Cocktail Hour followed at 8pm with the Award Presentations, Open Bar, Dinner and Dancing until midnight.
Entertainment for the evening will be provided by the NYCD Pipes & Drums and DJ Cash. This year the Society will honor Correction Officer Lawrence McArdle Jr. (K9 Unit) as “The 2019 Irishman of the Year and Correction Officer Investigator Brian Weise (AIU) with “The 2019 President James Mulvey Award”. The 2019 CO David J. Leahy Scholarship Recipient is Mary Corbett, daughter of CO Thomas Corbett (SOD).
In conjunction with the 64th Anniversary Scholarship Dinner Dance the retired members of the Emerald Society will publish a commemorative souvenir journal. Journal ads can be emailed to nycdesdd@gmail.com.The cut-off date for the journal is September 21. The Scholarship Dinner Dance subscription is $120 per person or $1200 for a table of ten. If you have any subscription/table or journal ad questions please contact Dance Chairman Kevin Quinn on (631) 332-9482 or by emailing info@nycdemeraldsociety.com.
The 2019 Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan Memorial Golf Classic will be held on Monday, September 23 at Sands Point Golf Club in Sands Point, New York.
So many of you from our loving Catholic Charities community know the incredible impact that Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan had on the lives of those we serve. For over 50 years, he dedicated himself to helping and advocating for our most vulnerable neighbors — most especially, for children in need.
In honor of Bishop Sullivan’s great legacy, proceeds from this year’s 2019 Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan Memorial Golf Classic will benefit their Early Childhood Services. By providing early education and childcare for thousands of children, they’re able to give so many families in Brooklyn and Queens a head start on life.
So please join them to support this wonderful cause and have some fun, too! For more information, contact Marty Golden at martin.golden@ccbq.org or Lucy Garrido-Mota at lucy.gmota@ccbq.org or call the Office of Development & Communications on (718) 722-6202.
As you might know my Out&About is all about you and it is also here to help point you at some events that are happening, so we’ll always do our best to highlight them for you.
See you all again next week when I am Out&About again.