{"id":30135,"date":"2024-11-13T21:58:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-14T02:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=30135"},"modified":"2024-11-19T10:12:27","modified_gmt":"2024-11-19T15:12:27","slug":"outabout-299","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=30135","title":{"rendered":"Out&About"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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John Duddy and his wife Grainne at the New York Irish Center\u2019s 20th Anniversary Annual Benefit (James Higgins)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By Paddy McCarthy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had a very nice time while I was Out&About last weekend as I was invited to the New York Irish Center\u2019s 20th Anniversary Annual Benefit<\/strong>, which was held last Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a pleasure to be invited by their Artistic Director George Heslin<\/strong> who outdid himself yet again with what was a fabulous evening with lots of guests that I knew very well, great food and brilliant entertainment with a fabulous comedian, Maureen Longan<\/strong> of America\u2019s got Talent fame and with the one and only Cathy Maguire and Band<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was in company with the famous boxer and actor, and what a great man he is as well, John Duddy<\/strong> who was their with his wife Grainne<\/strong>, you could not meet nicer people and they were great company to be with along with well-known artist Noelle Clancy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Consul General of Ireland Helena Nolan<\/strong> was also in attendance. I did not get a chance to say hello to her and her husband Sami <\/strong>as it was a busy night with lots going on, and of course George Heslin himself, making sure we all enjoyed ourselves, yes, we did thanks again George.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now I will be back again on Saturday at the New York Irish Center for this year\u2019s Mick Moloney Memorial Fundraiser <\/strong>which will be held at the there on Saturday November 16th at 8 pm with a pre-concert reception at 7 pm.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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NY Irish Center\u00a0Artistic Director George Heslin, always leading the way (James Higgins)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Moloney was involved with the Mercy Center<\/strong> for 22 years, and in association with Corkman, and fellow musician, Donie Carroll<\/strong>, helped to raise enormous sums of money to change the lives of hundreds of kids, abused and abandoned in the slums of Bangkok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Donie has taken over Mick\u2019s role as a Director for Mercy Center USA and in that capacity, is continually fundraising in many different ways. One of those ways is organizing concerts like this upcoming event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cream of Irish traditional musicians and dancers are lined up for this event, \u00a0including former Riverdance Uileann piper Ivan Goff<\/strong>, Tony Demarco<\/strong>, Liz Hanley<\/strong>, Nuala Kennedy<\/strong>, Don Meade<\/strong>, Dan Neeley<\/strong>, Don Penzien<\/strong>, Heather Bixler<\/strong>, and Carroll himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mick Moloney passed away suddenly in July 2022 and on this occasion, they\u2019re celebrating what would have been his 80th birthday on stage. If you would like to support this very worthy cause you can do so by emailing Donie Carroll at\u00a0ducksymusic@gmail.com<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have to hand it to Donie who never stops from giving and deserves a lot of praise for all the charitable work that he does. He is one of Ireland\u2019s greatest folk and ballad singers to come over to live on this side of the Atlantic with all his talent for you all to enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Donie also has a historic tour to Ireland once a year and I recommend you join him on it the next time in the near future because you\u2019re going to love it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now for some Christmas holiday attractions and how could yea beat it as The Irish Repertory Theatre<\/strong> is proud to present the return of\u00a0A Child\u2019s Christmas in Wales<\/strong>\u00a0by\u00a0Dylan Thomas<\/strong>,\u00a0adapted and directed by\u00a0Charlotte Moore<\/strong>,\u00a0with\u00a0music direction by David Hancock Turner<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sean Downs and his wife Marianne enjoying the York Irish Center\u2019s 20th Anniversary Annual Benefit, with family and friends (James Higgins)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A Child\u2019s Christmas in Wales\u00a0will begin previews\u00a0on December 4th with opening night set for\u00a0December 8th, for a limited run through\u00a0December 29th, on Irish Rep\u2019s\u00a0Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage<\/strong>\u00a0(132 West 22nd\u00a0Street).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This December, Irish Rep offers up the seventh special return of its joyous holiday classic,\u00a0Dylan Thomas\u2019s iconic\u00a0A Child\u2019s Christmas in Wales.\u00a0Charlotte Moore\u2019s musical adaptation of this \u201cnever to be forgotten day at the end of the unremembered year\u201d features heartwarming contemporary and traditional Christmas music interwoven with the popular story of that snowy Christmas Day in Wales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The New York Times<\/em>\u00a0described this production as \u201ca cavalcade of imagery and sensation \u2026 the descriptions of treats and toys are evocative, [and] the carols appealingly sung. This sweet show conjures up plenty of goodwill toward men.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0Wall Street Journal<\/em>\u00a0called it \u201cirresistible\u2026It warms the heart like a blazing Yule log.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cast of\u00a0A Child\u2019s Christmas in Wales\u00a0will include\u00a0Ali Ewoldt<\/strong>\u00a0(The Phantom of the Opera),\u00a0Reed Lancaster<\/strong> (Translations),\u00a0Ashley Robinson<\/strong>\u00a0(Meet Me in St. Louis), Howard McGillin<\/strong>\u00a0(The Phantom of the Opera),\u00a0Kimberly Doreen<\/strong> Burns\u00a0(Finian\u2019s Rainbow), and\u00a0Polly McKie<\/strong>\u00a0(The Butcher Boy).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Child\u2019s Christmas in Wales\u00a0will feature costume design by\u00a0David Toser<\/strong>\u00a0(The O\u2019Casey Cycle), lighting design by\u00a0Michael Gottlieb<\/strong>\u00a0(On Beckett), and musical direction by\u00a0David Hancock Turner\u00a0(The Butcher Boy).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Consul General of Ireland Helena Nolan and her husband Sami enjoying the NYIC\u2019s 20th Anniversary Annual Benefit (James Higgins)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

April Ann Kline<\/strong>\u00a0(The Devil\u2019s Disciple) is the Production Stage Manager, and\u00a0Hope Michelson<\/strong>\u00a0(Days of Wine and Roses) is the Assistant Stage Manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charlotte Moore premiered this adaptation in 2002 as part of\u00a0A Celtic Christmas.\u00a0The Associated Press<\/em>\u00a0said of a subsequent run in 2010, that the production \u201cleave[s] the audience feeling as though they\u2019re tucked inside a cozy, musical snow globe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The production was revived, by popular demand, for the 2011, 2015, 2018, and 2022 holiday seasons. The performance schedule for\u00a0A Child\u2019s Christmas in Wales is as follows: Wednesday-Saturday at 7 pm; Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2 pm; and Sundays at 3 pm.\u00a0There will be no performances on Tuesday December 24th and Wednesday December 25th. There will be an added performance on Friday December 27th at 2 pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I will be at one of the performances that I am so much looking forward too so, will you? Tickets to\u00a0A Child\u2019s Christmas in Wales\u00a0begin at $55 and are available at\u00a0IrishRep.org<\/a>. $25 tickets are available to patrons under 40 years of age via Irish Rep\u2019s Green Seats membership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope to see you all again next week when I am Out&About again\u2026 <\/p>\n

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