Irish Arts Center Announces Fall Season Of Music, Film, Theatre And Dance

The Irish Arts Center, a New York venue dedicated to the evolving arts and culture of Ireland and Irish America, today announced its Fall 2009 season of Performance (live music, film, literary events, theatre and dance engagements), Exhibition (at the IAC Gallery and traveling) and Education (over 27 classes in Irish language, dance and music for adults and children). Highlights of the season include a first time ever live music pairing with Masters in Collaboration II: Andy Irvine Meets John Doyle, the theatrical engagement Cambria/Douglass, the inaugural IAC PoetryFest 2009 featuring Harry Clifton, Paula Meehan, Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, Joseph Woods, Enda Wyley, and Peter Sirr and An Irish Christmas, IAC's third annual musical celebration of the holidays featuring Mick Moloney and Athena Tergis.

The IAC is also thrilled to announce that the Fall season includes four significant partnerships with some of New York's most esteemed cultural institutions: Classical Theatre of Harlem, 92nd Street Y, Symphony Space and Poetry Society of America. In association with Classical Theatre of Harlem, IAC presents Cambria/Douglass, a six-week run of Frederick Douglass Now, written and performed by Roger Guenveur Smith, in rotating rep with Donal O'Kelly's The Cambria. On Friday, October 16, the IAC partners with 92nd Street Y to showcase Irish step dance as part of their monthly Fridays at Noon dance series. On Saturday, October 24th, IAC joins together with Symphony Space and renowned folklorist Mick Moloney to launch his new musical project If It Wasn't For the Irish and the Jews: A Tribute to the Irish and Jewish Influences on Vaudeville and Early Tin Pan Alley, at the 760-seat Peter Jay Sharp Theatre. And on Saturday, November 7th, IAC presents the inaugural PoetryFest 2009, in association with Poetry Society of America and NYU Glucksman Ireland house to bring some of Ireland's best contemporary poets to New York audiences, featuring Paula Meehan, Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, Thomas, Kinsella, Joseph Woods, Enda Wyley, Peter Sirr and 2008 Irish Times Poetry Now Award Winner Harry Clifton.

Coming off a successful spring season with record-breaking audiences, this fall at IAC promises to fulfill what the New York Times describes as its "mission to show what Ireland is, and was."

PERFORMANCE

Masters in Collaboration II: Andy Irvine Meets John Doyle
September 7-13 | Donaghy Theatre at IAC
Performances: September 11, 12 and 13 at 8pm
Live interview with the artists: September 9, at 8pm. Moderated by Mick Moloney.
Performance: $75 premium / $50 reserved / $40 for IAC Members
Interview: $10
Tickets: 212.868.4444 or www.smarttix.com
The second incarnation of the IAC Masters in Collaboration series, conceived of by renowned musician-folklorist Mick Moloney, will bring together legendary singer-songwriter Andy Irvine and John Doyle for a weeklong musical collaboration culminating in 3 extraordinary performances.

Cambria/Douglass
Frederick Douglass Now in rotating repertory with The Cambria
September 16 - October 25 | Donaghy Theatre at IAC
Performances: Tuesday-Friday at 8pm; Saturday at 2pm and 8pm;
Sunday at 3pm and 7pm
Single Performance: $50 general / $42 IAC members, CTH members
Double Performance: $75 general / $65 IAC members, CTH members (Saturdays and Sundays only)
Tickets: 212.868.4444 or www.smarttix.com
Cambria/Douglass is the six week run of Frederick Douglass Now, a one-man show written and performed by the prominent African-American actor Roger Guenveur Smith (Do the Right Thing, American Gangster), in rotating repertory with The Cambria, Irish writer/performer Donal O'Kelly's groundbreaking play about Douglass's historic trip to Ireland, where he was greeted as a hero by the Irish people.

Fridays at Noon Dance Series: Irish Step Dance
October 16 | Buttenwieser Hall at 92nd Street Y
Performance: Noon
Free
IAC partners with 92nd Street Y to bring a free afternoon performance of Irish step dance, featuring Darrah Carr Dance, Solas an Lae, Niall O'Leary Junior Irish Dance Company, and Keltic Dreams.

If It Wasn't For the Irish and the Jews:
A Tribute to the Irish and Jewish Influences on Vaudeville and Early Tin Pan Alley
October 24 | Symphony Space, Broadway and 95th Street
Performance: 8pm
Performance: $35 - $45 general / $30 - $35 IAC and Symphony Space members
Tickets: www.symphonyspace.com
This exciting evening of music from an all-star cast of traditional and contemporary musicians celebrates the historic links between the Irish and Jewish people and their contributions to this important chapter in American musical history. Featuring Mick Moloney, Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, The Green Fields of America, Liz Hanley, Dana Lyn String Quartet, Billy McComiskey, Susan McKeown, Gabriel O'Donoghue, Niall O'Leary, Jerry O'Sullivan, The Washington Square Harp and Shamrock Orchestra and special guests

The cathie Ryan Band
October 30 & 31 | Donaghy Theatre at IAC
Performance: 8pm
$75
Tickets: (914) 641-4322
The former lead singer of Cherish the Ladies brings her Celtic Soprano to the Irish Arts Center for two evenings, along with her band guitarist Patsy O'Brien, fiddler Matt Mancuso and percussionist Brian Melick.

IAC Poetry Fest 2009
November 7 | Donaghy Theatre at IAC
Readings: Saturday, November 7 at 3:00pm and 7:30pm
Meet the Poets Reception: 5:00pm
Single-Reading: $10 general / $8 IAC members, PSA members and students
Festival Pass: $18 general / $15 IAC members, PSA members and students
Tickets: 212.868.4444 or www.smarttix.com
The inaugural IAC Poetry Fest featuring readings from Ireland's best contemporary Irish poets: Paula Meehan, Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, Thomas, Kinsella, Joseph Woods, Enda Wyley, Peter Sirr and 2008 Irish Times Poetry Now Award Winner Harry Clifton. The day-long celebration includes afternoon and evening poetry readings, book signings, networking opportunities and Meet the Poets, a special afternoon reception.

ModERIN: Darrah Carr Dance's Annual New York Season
with Guest Choreographer Seán Curran
November 13-15 | Donaghy Theatre at IAC
Performances: Friday at 8:00pm; Saturday at 8:00pm; and Sunday at 3:00pm
Family Show Saturday at 11:00am
$25 general / $20 IAC members
Special Family Show: $15 all tickets
Tickets: 212.868.4444 or www.smarttix.com
Darrah Carr Dance brings its signature blend of traditional Irish step and contemporary modern dance to the Irish Arts Center stage. Weekend highlights include a post show salon-style discussion series with Artistic Director Darrah Carr and Guest Choreographer Seán Curran and a specially priced family show.

An Irish Christmas
December 10-20 | Donaghy Theatre at IAC
Performances: Thursday & Friday at 8:00pm; Saturday at 2:00pm and 8:00pm; Sunday at 3:00pm
$45 general / $35 members
Tickets: 212.868.4444 or www.smarttix.com
Join the IAC for the third annual offering of An Irish Christmas, featuring legendary traditional musician Mick Moloney with Athena Tergis and special guests, who will lead a concert of live traditional music and holiday favorites.

Monthly at the IAC...
IAC Film Series | Donaghy Theatre at IAC
September Song: The Ronnie Drew Story: September 21
Red Roses and Petrol: October 19
Garage: November 17
All Screenings: 8:00pm
$10 general / $8 IAC members
Tickets: 212.868.4444 or www.smarttix.com

Sundays at Seven | Donaghy Theatre at IAC
Performances: October 11 at 8 PM (special start time), November 8 and December 11 at 7 PM
$10 general / $8 IAC members
Tickets: 212.868.4444 or www.smarttix.com
Producers Ann Design and Fiona Walsh assemble the best of comedy's rising stars in this monthly night of comedy.

EXHIBITION

Fresco Paintings on Linen by Olga Baunbaek Reilly
Through January 2010
Irish Arts Center Gallery
Info: (212) 757-3318
Olga Baunbaek Reilly's frescoes on linen are bold, sensuAl Blocks of color. The collection represents memory fragments of journeys and returns, and explores themes of displacement, perception and storytelling.

EDUCATION
Fall term begins Monday, September 21st. Registration: September 8-18, 2008, 10am to 6pm
By phone at 212.757.3318 ext 209; in person; by mail; or online at www.irishartscenter.org
With over 25 classes in Irish language, history, music and dance, the Irish Arts Center offers an amazing opportunity for students of culture from all backgrounds to delve deeper into the Irish arts.

Ornamentation Boot Camp with Bill Ochs
November 8 | Donaghy Theatre at IAC
1:00pm to 5:00pm
$45 general / $40 member
Drawing on over thirty-five years of teaching experience, Bill Ochs, our resident wind instrument expert, will lead a unique one-day master class for tin whistle, low whistle and flute players.

Master Class and Performance Series:
Celtic Harp with Patrick Ball and Mia Theodoratus
November 22 | Donaghy Theatre at IAC
Delve into the captivating music of Turlough O'Carolan, the 17th-18th century harpist and composer, while exploring the various ways to arrange his pieces to bring out the beauty and lyricism of his compositions. The IAC Master Class and Performance series brings the best Irish musicians into the classroom. Performance tickets also sold separately.
Master Class: 2:00pm to 5:30pm
Performance: 7:00pm
Master Class and Performance: $45 general / $40 member
Performance only: $18 general / $15 members
Master Class Registration: 212.757.3318 ext 209
Tickets Only: 212.868.4444 or www.smarttix.com

 

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