Skip to main content Skip to footer site map

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023

Hosted by the actor and voice-over artist Drew De Carvahlo, the evening was packed with performances and special treats.

Origin Theatre Company presented the Closing Ceremony of Origin 1st Irish 2023, at the Irish Arts Center, 726 11th Avenue, on Monday January 30. Go inside the ceremony in new photos below.
Hosted by the actor and voice-over artist Drew De Carvahlo, the evening was packed with performances and special treats, and on behalf of Origin Theatre, Artistic Director Michael "Mick" Mellamphy helped hand out several awards for excellence during the Festival.
Among the winners were:
1/ Shannon Daly, who earned the Breakthrough Artist Award for her work producing and appearing in the Harry Butler's edgy look at online dating, "Changing the Sheets."
2/ Portstewart Northern Ireland's Big Telly nabbed the Innovation Theatre Award for producing the US premiere of Zoe Seaton's widely praised "Frankenstein's Monster is Drunk and the Sheep Have All Jumped the Fences," which the NY Times called "a winsome cartwheel of a show."
3/ The Audience Choice Award, voted by audience members, went to actor and stand-up Kim Kalish, the writer and performer of "The Funny Thing About Death," which TheaterScene.org described as an "emotionally raw cascade of well-shaped memories and reveries, peppered with honed zingers and one-liners."
4/ The inaugural Origin's Femme First Award, which grew out of the Festival's first Femme First sidebar of new plays by women playwrights, was shared by Orlagh Cassidy for her work as playwright, producer and actor in "It's In The Play" (co-written piece with Kate Lardner), and "The Funny Thing About Death's" Kim Kalish for her work as playwright, producer and performer. The playwright Honor Molloy presented the award.
5/ And finally the actress Sarah Street received the Festival's prestigious Bairbre Dowling Spirit of The Festival Award, presented on behalf of Origin's board of directors, for her dedicated work co-curating Origin 1st Irish during the pandemic. The actress Brenda Meaney presented this award.
In the first all-in-person edition of the Origin 1st Irish since Jan 2020, the Festival fielded 21 separate events in venues across the city -- a mix of acclaimed productions from Ireland and new shows, readings and workshops produced locally by members of New York's extensive Irish diaspora theater community. Participating theatres and cultural organizations included 59E59 Theaters, the Irish Repertory Theatre, the Irish Arts Center, the cell, Ryan's Daughter and Symphony Space in Manhattan; the NY Irish Center in Queens, and An Beal Bocht in The Bronx.
Two rousing special appearances took place during the ceremony: The celebrated Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland -- in the midst of an all-Ireland tour prior to its Carnegie Hall concert on St Patrick's Day - appeared virtually from the University of Limerick Sports Arena. And live on the Irish Arts Center's Mainstage were 50 members of the Fairfield County Children's Choir, who offered "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" (prompting a thunderous standing ovation), and the Irish standard Mó Ghile Mear ("My Gallant Hero"), replete with a bodhrán, which prompted tears, gleeful applause and another standing ovation.
Also making an appearance were the cast of "Peace and Love in Brooklyn" by Eamon O'Tuama (of The Prodigals fame), which received a sold-out concert staging with live band two nights prior to the Closing Ceremony, there at the Irish Arts Center. Also making special appearances and offering remarks of congratulations were Helena Nolan, Consul General of Ireland to New York; Eamonn McConville, Deputy Director of The Northern Ireland Bureau to North America, and Paul Schipul, Deputy Consul General of His Majesty's Government of Great Britain to New York. Origin Board Chair Carletta Downs took the stage to thank all of the supporters and sponsors that made the 15th annual Origin 1st Irish 2023
Origin 1st Irish Theatre Festival is the only festival of its kind devoted to producing and presenting the theatrical work of contemporary Irish playwrights from around the world, galvanizing a mix of brand new and recently acclaimed productions from both sides of the Atlantic.
Photo Credit: Jimmy Higgins

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Mick Mellamphy

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Rachael Glikey

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Mick Mellamphy

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Closing Ceremony

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Closing Ceremony

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Carletta Downs

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Paul Schipol

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Eamon McConville

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Helena Nolan

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Drew Decarvahlo

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Closing Ceremony

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Closing Ceremony

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Closing Ceremony

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Closing Ceremony

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Closing Ceremony

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Closing Ceremony

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Orlagh Cassidy, Mick Mellamphy, Kim Kalish

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Shannon Daly

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Brenda Meaney, Mick Mellamphy, Brenda Meaney

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Brenda Meaney

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Closing Ceremony

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Closing Ceremony

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Ciaran Grant

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Closing Ceremony

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Kim Kalish

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Closing Ceremony

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Mick Mellamphy, Kim Kalis

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Closing Ceremony

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Closing Ceremony

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Closing Ceremony

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Closing Ceremony

Photos: Inside the Origin Theatre Company Closing Ceremony of ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2023
Closing Ceremony



Moliere In The Park Presents English Language World Premiere Of TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE Photo
Molière in the Park, in partnership with Prospect Park Alliance and LeFrak Center at Lakeside, will present the English language world premiere of Molière's TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE, reconstructed by Georges Forestier, translated by Maya Slater, and directed by Molière in the Park's Founding Artistic Director Lucie Tiberghien.

Photos: FIrst Look At The Cast of OBSESSED At Theater For The New City Photo
Theater For The New City presents The Windowpane Theatre Company's production of OBSESSED, A Film Noir Thriller. See photos of the cast!

Karen Malpedes TROY TOO is Coming to HERE in May Photo
Theater Three Collaborative in New York and Persona Theater Company in Athens, two companies known for their social justice work, will present the world premiere of Karen Malpede’s Troy Too.

The Actors Studio to Present THE PLAYWRIGHT: TALES FROM THE COLOR LINE This Spring Photo
Continuing  its 75th Anniversary celebration as the world’s most celebrated and influential membership association for professional actors, directors and playwrights The Actors Studio will open its doors to the public for a special event, free and open to the public: The Playwright: Tales From The Color Line on Saturday, March 25 at 7PM.


More Hot Stories For You


Photos: FIrst Look At The Cast of OBSESSED At Theater For The New CityPhotos: FIrst Look At The Cast of OBSESSED At Theater For The New City
March 20, 2023

Theater For The New City presents The Windowpane Theatre Company's production of OBSESSED, A Film Noir Thriller. See photos of the cast!

Karen Malpede's TROY TOO is Coming to HERE in MayKaren Malpede's TROY TOO is Coming to HERE in May
March 20, 2023

Theater Three Collaborative in New York and Persona Theater Company in Athens, two companies known for their social justice work, will present the world premiere of Karen Malpede’s Troy Too.

The Actors Studio to Present THE PLAYWRIGHT: TALES FROM THE COLOR LINE This SpringThe Actors Studio to Present THE PLAYWRIGHT: TALES FROM THE COLOR LINE This Spring
March 20, 2023

Continuing  its 75th Anniversary celebration as the world’s most celebrated and influential membership association for professional actors, directors and playwrights The Actors Studio will open its doors to the public for a special event, free and open to the public: The Playwright: Tales From The Color Line on Saturday, March 25 at 7PM.

Theatre Now To Present Staged Readings Of New Musicals DERAILED! And THE SUSTAINTheatre Now To Present Staged Readings Of New Musicals DERAILED! And THE SUSTAIN
March 20, 2023

This month, Theatre Now is producing staged readings of Derailed! and The Sustain, new musicals developed in their Musical Writers Lab.

Tony Nominee Denis Jones to Develop New Show BANKSY at Pace School of Performing ArtsTony Nominee Denis Jones to Develop New Show BANKSY at Pace School of Performing Arts
March 20, 2023

Pace School of Performing Arts, located in lower Manhattan, is a partner in the development of new works for stage and screen. Director and choreographer Denis Jones will be working with students at Pace School of Performing Arts on the development of a new show titled, BANKSY.