Origin Theatre Company Sets Benefit for 6/30

Origin Theatre Company kicks off its eleventh season of producing the New York and American premieres of plays by emerging European playwrights at its annual benefit on Thursday May 30, at 6:30pm. Hosted by Mutual of America, 320 Park Avenue, the festive evening features a slalom course of pleasures, including an Origin showcase of new work, rollicking entertainment, and appearances by a colorful cross-section of local and visiting theatre luminaries, business leaders and supporters of the arts.

Participating in the celebrity auction are Alan Cumming; Downton Abbey stars Brendan Coyle, Lesley Nicol, and Sophie McShera; author Colum McCann; and Game of Thrones Aidan Gillen, among others.

Origin artistic director George C. Heslin will introduce the cast of "Stop the Tempo," the site-specific play that Origin is producing at Arlene's Grocery from May 26 through June 18. "Stop the Tempo," by the provocative Romanian playwright Gianina Carbinariu, is about three disillusioned hipsters in their 20's who find that their primary connection is their urge to disconnect. This American premiere marks the first time Arlene's Grocery, the East Village alternative rock Mecca, has been used to stage theatre.

As it did last year, Origin has enlisted Downton Abbey's Brendan Coyle to anchor its celebrity auction. Coyle, who plays the lame valet Bates on the British mega-series, volunteers for two prizes: 1. A repeat of his Treat Bates Royally New York evening with a carriage ride and dinner at Per Se, and 2. Lunch with Bates in London at the 5-star Claridge's Hotel. (Last May Coyle became Origin's newest honorary patron, joining actor Niall Toibin.)

In addition to these prizes, Coyle's Downton Abbey cast-mate Lesley Nicol, who plays Mrs. Patmore, has agreed to enjoy a fun afternoon tea with a winning bidder at New York's own Tea and Sympathy when she's here in New York in the fall. Also from downstairs at Downton, Sophie McShera (Patmore's protégé Daisy Mason) will join forces with Nicol to cook up an afternoon of good conversation over tea in London.

Incidentally Nicol and Coyle have expressed interest in creating a new project with Heslin produced by Origin. Heslin will update guests about this on May 30. Other benefit invitees are the actors Geraldine Hughes ("Jerusalem" "Belfast Blues"), Michael Urie (Ugly Betty), Matthew Rhys (Brothers & Sisters), and the actor and travel writer Andrew McCarthy.

In other realms, Alan Cumming offers a backstage meet and greet at "Macbeth." Game of Thrones star Aidan Gillen (Littlefinger) hosts a private night on the town in Dublin touring his favorite pubs. Also contributing to the list of auction prizes is the National Book Award-winning Colum McCann, who will visit the book club of a winning bidder, and the actor Malachy McCourt, who will break bread with a generous contributor at Tree Bistro in the East Village.

The Origin benefit honors Lorraine Turner, head of the New York office of the Northern Ireland Bureau, and radio journalist, community leader and promoter of Irish-American causes, Adrian Flannelly. A founding board member of the Irish Repertory Theatre, the Ireland Chamber of Commerce USA, and the Emerald Isle Immigration Center, Flannelly hosts the "Adrian Flannelly Show" broadcast live every Saturday morning on the Irish Radio Network USA. Before assuming her present role as a leader of the Northern Ireland Bureau, Turner was pro consul for Northern Ireland at the British Consulate in New York.

Including "Stop the Tempo's" Carbinariu, 42 European playwrights have been introduced to US audiences by Origin, including such distinguished writers asEnda Walsh ("Once"), Mark O'Rowe ("Terminus"), and Lucy Caldwell. Origin also produces the annual 1st Irish Festival, the city's only all-Irish theatre festival, the sixth edition of which begins in September. For more Origin information OR TO BID visit www.origintheatre.org