1^st Irish 2011, 1^st Irish is the first and only festival in the world dedicated to Irish playwrights, runs from September 5 to October 3, and features plays, panel discussions and special events in multiple theatres and culture-related venues across the city. Among the plays being presented are six North American premieres and one New York premiere.

                                                                                                                
Funding support for 1^st 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 and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland

American premieres from Ireland are part of Imagine Ireland, Culture Ireland’s year of Irish arts in America. 1^st Irish, festivals are organized by George Heslin and the Origin Theatre Company. For festival information and to learn how audience members pick the Audience Choice Award for Best Play, visit www.1stIrish.org

 

                     Plays produced by American companies include:

1/ Lucia’s Chapters Coming Forth by Day

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, with Ruth Maleczech, and Paul Kandel.  Music by Carter Burwell.

(11 performances from September 14 to 25 at P.S. 122, 150 First Avenue)

Sept 14, 15, 16, 17 @ 8pm; Sept 18 @ 3pm

Sept 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 @ 8pm; Sept 25 @ 3pm

2/ Temporal Powers

The Mint Theater’s presents the American premiere of “Temporal Powers” by Teresa Deevy project, directed by Jonathan Bank.  A follow-up to last season’s critically acclaimed “Wife to James Whelan” (which received the festival’s Special Jury Prize)

(Now playing through Oct 2, at The Mint Theater, 311 West 43^rd Street)

Sept 6, 7, 8 @ 7pm; Sept 9 @ 8pm; Sept 10 @ 2pm & 8pm; Sept 11 @ 2pm

Sept 12, 14, 15 @ 7pm; Sept 16 @ 8pm; Sept 17 @ 2pm & 8pm;
Sept 18 @ 2pm

Sept 20, 21, 22 @ 7pm; Sept 23 @ 8pm; Sept 24 @ 2pm 8pm; Sept 25 @ 2pm

Sept 27, 28, 29 @ 7pm; Sept 30 @ 8pm; Oct 1 @ 2pm 8pm; Oct 2 @ 2pm

3/ Reflections

The British National Theatre of America (based in Las Vegas) brings us the American premiere of “Reflections,” which tells story of the wife of an IRA terrorist from two different chronological perspectives.  By Jennifer Johnston, and Bernard McMullan, directed by Jo Cattell.

(12 performances from September 15 to October 2 at Stage Left Studio Theatre, 214 West 30^th Street)

Sept 15, 16, 17 @ 8pm; Sept 18 @ 3pm

Sept 22, 23, 24 @ 8pm; Sept 25 @ 3pm

Sept 29, 30, Oct 1 @ 8pm; Oct 2 @ 3pm

4/ Dublin by Lamplight

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.

(22 performances from September 8 to October 2, at 59E59 Theaters)

Sept 8 @ 7:15pm; Sept 9, 10 @ 8:15pm; Sept 11 @ 3:15pm

Sept 13, 14, 15 @ 7:15pm; Sept 16, 17 @ 8:15pm; Sept 18 @ 3:15pm

Sept 20, 21, 22 @ 7:15pm; Sept 23, 24 @ 8:15pm; Sept 25 @ 3:15pm

Sept 27, 28, 29 @ 7:15pm; Sept 30, Oct 1 @ 8:15pm; Oct 2 @ 3:15pm

 

The productions from Ireland include:

5/ Noah and the Tower Flower

Starring, from left to right, Mary Murray and
Darren Healy. Photo by: COLM HOGA

From Fishamble of Dublin – winner of the Irish Times Best New Play Award -- Sean McLoughlin’s “Noah and the Tower Flower” looks into the hearts of two high-strung individuals falling in love. Starring Darren Healy and Mary Murray, directed by Jim Culleton.

(27 performances, from September 7 to October 2 at The Drilling Company Theatre, 236 West 78^th Street)

Sept 7, 8, 9 @ 8pm; Sept 10 @ 2pm & 8pm; Sept 11 @ 7pm

Sept 12 @ 7pm; Sept 14, 15, 16 @ 8pm; Sept 17 @ 2pm & 8pm;
Sept 18 @ 7pm

Sept 19 @ 7pm; Sept 21, 22, 23 @ 8pm; Sept 24 @ 2pm & 8pm;
Sept 25 @7pm

Sept 26 @ 7pm; Sept 28, 29, 30 @ 8pm; Oct 1@ 2pm & 8pm; Oct 2 @ 7pm

 

6/ Bogboy

Steve Blount as Hughie Dolan in Deirdre Kinahan's "Bogboy"
Photo by: PAT REDMOND

Tall Tales Company in Navan returns to 1^st 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.  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,
553 West 51^st Street)

Sept 7, 8, 9, 10 @ 8pm; Sept 11 @ 3pm

Sept 14, 15, 16; Sept 17 @ 2pm & 8pm; Sept 18 @ 3pm

Sept 21, 22, 23; Sept  24 @ 2pm & 8pm; Sept 25 @ 3pm

 

7/Cirque de Légume

Fresh with vegetables: (left to right) Jamie Carswell and Nancy Trotter a just a couple of regular cut-ups in “Cirque de Legume.” Photo by:   MARK FEARON

County Sligo’s Cirque de Légume, brings us last year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe hit “Cirque de Légume.” 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.

(32 performances from September 6 to October 2 at 59E59 Theaters)

Sept 6, 7, 8 @ 7:30pm; Sept 9 @ 8:30pm; Sept 10 @ 2:30pm & 8:30pm;
 Sept 11 @ 3:30pm & 7:30pm

Sept 13, 14, 15 @ 7:30pm; Sept 16 @ 8:30pm; Sept 17 @ 2:30pm & 8:30pm; Sept 18 @ 3:30pm & 7:30pm

Sept 20, 21, 22 @ 7:30pm; Sept 23 @ 8:30pm; Sept 24 @ 2:30pm & 8:30pm; Sept 25 @ 3:30pm & 7:30pm

Sept 27, 28, 29 @ 7:30pm; Sept 30 @ 8:30pm; Oct 1 @ 2:30pm & 8:30pm;
Oct 2 @ 3:30pm & 7:30pm

 

8/A Night with George

Donna O'Connor (bottom) and George Clooney in
 "A Night with George"  Photo by:  EDDIE ROBINSON

Brassneck Theatre Company of West Belfast brings us the award-winning cult hit comedy “A Night with George,” starring Donna O’Connor that tells what is purported to be the true story of O’Connor’s dream-come-true night on the town with George Clooney. Directed by Tony Devlin.

(21 performances, from September 5 to October 2, at the Times Square
 Arts Center, 300 West 43^rd Street)

Sept 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 @ 8pm; Sept 11 @ 3pm

Sept 12, 15, 16, 17 @ 8pm; Sept 18 @ 3pm