A NIGHT WITH GEORGE Opens First Irish 2011 Festival

The fourth annual 1st Irish Festival, the world's only all-Irish theatre festival, opens on Monday September 5 with the first of 21 performances of "A Night with George," the Aisling Award-winning comedy from Belfast. Directed by Tony Devlin, this dark-horse hit from Brassneck Theatre stars Donna O'Connor in a story about a working-class Belfast woman's improbable connection with George Clooney.

Coordinated by the New York-based Origin Theatre Company (artistic director George C. Heslin), the month-long festival features plays, panel discussions and special events in multiple theatres and arts and culture-related venues across the city. The work of 17 contemporary Irish playwrights will be staged in collaboration with 18 theatres and arts organizations from here and abroad. Among the plays being presented are six North American premieres and one New York premiere.

The festival's jury, which is chaired by Lincoln Center's Jackie Davis, will honor the outstanding performances and achievements of 1st Irish 2011 at an awards ceremony on Monday October 3.

The eight shows in competition include four shows produced by American companies, including:

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, it features the great Ruth Maleczech, and the Tony nominated Paul Kandel. Music by Carter Burwell. (11 performances from September 14 to 25 at P.S. 122)

The Mint Theatre's presents the American premiere of "Temporal Powers" part of its Teresa Deevy project, directed by Jonathan Bank. A follow-up to last season's critically acclaimed production of Deevy's "Wife to James Wheelan" (which received the festival's Special Jury Prize), "Temporal Powers" premiered at The Abbey Theatre in 1932. (Now playing through September 25, at The Mint Theatre)

The British National Theatre of America (based in Las Vegas) brings us the American premiere of "Reflections," which tells one woman's story from two different chronological perspectives. One play by Jennifer Johnston, tells the story of the wife of an IRA terrorist in Northern Ireland before the Good Friday Agreement, and the other, by Bernard McMullan, catches up with her 17 years later. Directed by Jo Cattell. (12 performances from September 15 to October 2 at Stage Left Studio Theatre)

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, the show combines Irish history with the garish in a production that is part vaudeville, part silent film and part commedia dell'arte. (22 performances from September 8 to October 2, at 59E59 Theaters)

The theatre companies bringing work to the festival from Ireland include:

Fishamble of Dublin travels to New York with "Noah and the Tower Flower" by Sean McLoughlin. Winner of the Irish Times Best New Play Award and the Stewart Parker Trust Award, this highly taught two-hander (Darren Healy and Mary Murray) looks into the hearts of two high-strung individuals falling in love. Directed by Jim Culleton. (Murray won the Festival's Best Actress Award in 2009 for her role in the critically acclaimed "The Pride of Parnell Street," also presented by Fishamble (?? Performances, from September 7 to October 2 at The Drilling Company Theatre)

Tall Tales Company (at the Solstice Arts Centre 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. "Bogboy" is 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)

County Sligo's Cirque de Légume, brings us a bumper crop of fun with "Cirque de Légume," winner of the Bewley's Theatre Award at the Dublin Fringe Festival. 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. A rip-roaring riot of a hit at last year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe. (32 performances from September 6 to October 2 at 59E59 Theaters)

Brassneck Theatre Company of West Belfast brings us the cult hit comedy that's traveled across Ireland. "A Night with George," starring Donna O'Connor in her professional stage debut, and written by O'Connor and Brenda Murphy, tells what is purported to be the true story of O'Connor's dream-come-true night on the town with George Clooney. A tale told with the blackest Belfast humor by a stilleto-witted Cinderella with hints of Susan Boyle. (16 performances, from September 5 to October 2, at the Times Square Arts Center)

The four American premieres from Ireland are part of Imagine Ireland, Culture Ireland's year of Irish arts in America.

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.

1st Irish, powered by Origin Theatre Company, runs from September 5 through October 3. 1st Irish is the first and only festival in the world dedicated to Irish playwrights. For festival information and to learn how to vote for this year's Audience Choice Award for Best Play, visit www.1stIrish.org

Don't Miss a Off-Off-Broadway News Story
Sign up for all the news on the Spring season, discounts & more...