1st Irish Next Generation Series Kicks Off at Drilling Company Theatre, Now thru 9/30

The 1st Irish Next Generation Series, a new programming initiative of the 1st Irish Festival, takes off next week as four new productions in development will be seen in short, 4-show runs at the Drilling Company Theatre, 236 West 78th Street, from tonight, September 25 to Sunday September 30.

Following through on a process begun two season's ago, Origin Theater Company, the festival’s New York-based organizer, gives four promising new plays a chance to be seen in productions that are more than workshops but small enough to allow for continued experimentation and development.

Festival audiences are encouraged to participate in the open process by offering constructive feedback in a special talkback with the authors and directors on Friday September 28 at 10:15pm. To encourage multiple show-going, the series, which is co-produced by The Drilling Company Theatre, has a special package offer of 4 shows for $40. To find out more visit www.1stIrish.org.

“For Love,” a new play by and starring Laoisa Sexton (the 1st Irish 2010 Best Actress Award winner for “The Prophet of Monto”), follows three women navigating the choppy waters of Dublin nightlife. Jo Cattell directs the world premiere, which, in addition to Sexton features John Duddy and Georgina McKevitt. (Sept 25, 27 @ 7pm; Sept 29 @ 4pm; Sept 30 at 7pm)

Boston’s Tir Na Theatre Co. brings Bernard McMullan’s new play, “Jimmy Titanic” to New York for the first time. Directed by Carmel O’Reilly the play introduces us to an angel played by Colin Hamell, who, 100 years after that fateful maiden voyage, is still on board and steering the Titanic’s legacy to strange, distant shores. (Sept 25, 28 @ 9pm; Sept 29 @ 7pm; Sept 30 @ 4pm)

Fat Violet Theater presents NY premiere of the Irne Award-winning play “Brendan” by Ronan Noone. Directed by David Sullivan, with a cast that includes Broadway’s Dashiell Eaves (“Behanding in Spokane” “Lieutenant of Inishmore” and “Coram Boy”) as Brendan, “Brendan” is a funny and touching play about a recent Irish immigrant in America who struggles to leave his past behind him. The cast also features Kelly McAndrew, Sean Michael Bowles, Kevin Melendez and Nancy Walsh. (Sept 26 @ 7pm; Sept 27, 29 @ 9pm; Sept 30 @ 1pm)

New York’s Double Decker Productions, in association with The Drilling Co., pulls out all the stops on Jimmy Kerr’s “House Strictly Private,” a dark comedy set in rural Northern Ireland. Laura Savia directs an impressive cast including Jenny Sterlin, Jo Kinsella, and Paul Moon. (Kerr’s “Ardnaglass in the Air” was part of 1st Irish 2010.) (Sept 26 @ 9pm; Sept 28 @ 7pm; Sept 29 @ 1pm; Sept 30 @ 9pm)

Running through October 1, 1st Irish (this is the annual New York event’s fifth edition) brings together the best in new theatre by contemporary Irish playwrights -- in productions from Ireland and the U.S. in venues across the city.