Irish Repertory Theatre Announces Fall 2021 In-Person Season

Irish Repertory Theatre announced today productions for their upcoming fall season, which will mark their return to in-person programming following the Covid-19 shutdown in March 2020.

Autumn Royal by Kevin Barry, directed by Ciarán O'Reilly, will run October 8-November 21, 2021, on the Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage; followed byThe Streets of New York by Dion Boucicault, featuring adaptation, songs & direction by Charlotte Moore, arriving just in time for the holidays from December 4, 2021-January 30, 2022. Reopening the W. Scott McLucas Studio Stage will be A Girl is A Half-formed Thing by Eimear McBride, adapted by Annie Ryan and directed by Nicola Murphy, running November 10-December 12, 2021.

Irish Rep will also present a special audio event, Bikeman by Thomas F. Flynn, directed by Joseph Discher, available online from September 11-18, 2021.

More information on all upcoming productions is below.

As guidelines continue to change, Irish Rep will constantly monitor the rules and regulations put forth by the CDC, the New York State Department of Health, the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and New York City's "Restart NYC" guidance for businesses as well as the new Key to NYC program instituted on August 3. As a result of these requirements, and in order to ensure the safety of all staff and company members, only individuals who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be allowed to enter Irish Repertory Theatre. Unfortunately, this does not include any attendees under the age of 12, and any other individuals who have not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at that time.

Guests may present proof of vaccination via their CDC Vaccination card (on paper or a photo), the NYC Covid Safe app, Excelsior Pass (those vaccinated in New York State), the Docket App (New Jersey residents), or their NYC Vaccination Record. Additional information on the vaccination requirement and increased safety protocols can be found at irishrep.org/explore/reopening-roadmap.

All guests must wear a properly fitting mask over their nose and mouth at all times in the theatre, even while seated. Masks must not have vents or exhalation valves and gaiters, scarves, and bandanas are not considered acceptable face coverings. Guests ages 18 and older must present a valid government-issued photo ID. Guests under 18 may also show a school photo ID.

In June of 2020, Irish Rep pledged to listen, to learn, and to support; 'we, our staff, and our board will continue to do this separately and together. We are exploring the deep and painful history of violence and injustice against Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in America and in Ireland, and we see how institutionalized racism has permeated our own practices.'

As we reopen, we want to acknowledge the work we have done in the past year, but also the long road ahead of us as we focus on reopening and bringing new work to our stage. As an Irish institution, we acknowledge the particular responsibility we hold in the telling of anti-racist stories, both through the many intersections of Irish- and African-American history - tragic and joyful - and the history of Irish theatre itself. Irish theatre historically was developed as a tool of revolution - an artistic call to arms from the voices of the oppressed.

To further our pledge to commit ourselves not just to the stories of our past, but to the intent behind them of fostering equity, understanding, and power for all, we are excited to announce a new play development program that will allow us to discover work by new Irish and Irish-American artists. This program will include a mix of staged readings and workshops from new voices that fulfill Irish Rep's mission and feature diverse casts and creative teams. These readings will provide opportunities for playwrights to further develop their work and enable us to discover new plays and musicals for future production. The New Play Development Program will kick off with a new adaptation of Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband.'

We are also proud to partner with Ace Pictures and Irish Folklore Tours to create Only Connect. This feature-length performance/documentary is Mick Moloney and Lenwood Sloan's story and inspired by their great show Two Roads Diverged: Irish & African American Common Grounds through Music, Dance, & Humor. Together, from very different perspectives, they reveal hidden history, and parts of our national narrative that most people know little about. This production will be available from Irish Repertory Theatre's streaming platform in March 2022 followed by worldwide distribution.

They look forward to announcing more productions as part of their New Play Development Program soon, including how to attend workshops and readings. For the most up to date information, please visit www.irishrep.org.

AUTUMN ROYAL

On the Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage

By Kevin Barry

Directed by Ciarán O'Reilly

Previews Begin October 8, 2021

Opening Night set for October 18, 2021

Limited Run through November 21, 2021

May and Timothy are looking after the father who has long since taken ill to bed. Their own lives are on hold and they're not getting any younger. Should they stay and help? Or is it time for them to move on?

This dark comedy set on the northside of Cork city is about life and death, love and hate, jealousy, rage, horror, and homicidal notions - just a normal play about a family.

The cast of Autumn Royal features Maeve Higgins (Extra Ordinary) as May and John Keating (The O'Casey Cycle) as Timmy.

Autumn Royal is directed by Ciarán O'Reilly (A Touch of the Poet) and will feature set design by Charlie Corcoran (The O'Casey Cycle), costume design by China Lee (New Girl in Town), lighting design by Michael Gottlieb (Woman and Scarecrow), original music and sound design by Ryan Rumery (Apologia), sound design by Hide Nakajo (OCTET), projection design by Dan Scully (If/Then) and properties by Deirdre Brennan (The Dead, 1904). Jeff Davolt (Love, Noël) serves as Production Stage Manager with Karen Evanouskas (The Emperor Jones) as Stage Manager.

Kevin Barry is the multi-award winning writer of the novels Night Boat to Tangier, Beatlebone and City Of Bohane, and the story collections That Old Country Music, Dark Lies The Island and There Are Little Kingdoms. Autumn Royal is his first piece written originally for stage and was acclaimed by critics and the public alike during its world premiere run at The Everyman, Cork in 2017.

Following the successful run of its world premiere in 2017, Autumn Royal returned to The Everyman, Cork in 2018 before touring throughout Ireland. Irish Repertory Theatre is delighted to reopen the Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage with this North American premiere.

The performance schedule is as follows: Wednesdays at 3pm & 8pm; Thursdays at 7pm; Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 3pm & 8pm; Sundays at 2pm. Exceptions: the performance on Thursday November 11 and Thursday November 18 will be at 7:30pm. The performances on Sunday November 14 & Sunday November 21 will be at 2:30pm.

Tickets to Autumn Royal begin at $45 and are available now to Irish Rep members. Tickets will go on sale to the public on September 2 and will be available at IrishRep.org.

THE STREETS OF NEW YORK

A Holiday Show on the Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage

By Dion Boucicault

Adaptation, Songs and Direction by Charlotte Moore

Previews Begin December 4, 2021

Opening Night Set for December 14, 2021

Limited Run through January 30, 2022

From the Director: "In this time of Covid I was sure it would be appropriate to re-write my original Director's Note. But upon re-reading the original so many things are exactly the same, that I have changed my mind. There is still great poverty and hunger, and the heartbreak of lost love never changes. Add to that a world-wide pandemic and a masked society, and Boucicault's 18th century world seems to fit right into our 21st with its darkness and restrictions. But, as always, I love the end of our story. It's filled with hope and the victory of the power of good. One day soon we will surely be headed in that light-filled direction."

Based on Dion Boucicault's play of the same name and with adaptation, songs & direction by Charlotte Moore, The Streets of New York was first staged at Irish Rep in 2002, when it was nominated for two Drama League Awards. The production also ran at the Westport Country Playhouse in 2003.

The Streets of New York is adapted, directed & features original music by Charlotte Moore (Meet Me in St. Louis). Set design is by Hugh Landwehr (Beyond the Horizon) and costume design by Linda Fisher (The O'Casey Cycle). Musical Direction is by Mark Hartman (Pageant) with choreography by Barry McNabb (On A Clear Day You Can See Forever). Pamela Brusoski (A Child's Christmas in Wales) serves as Production Stage Manager.

The performance schedule is as follows: Wednesdays at 3pm & 8pm; Thursdays at 7pm; Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 3pm & 8pm; Sundays at 2pm. Exceptions: the performance on Thursday December 9 will be at 7:30pm. The performance on Sunday December 12 will be at 2:30pm. There will be no performances on Wednesday December 15 at 3pm, Friday December 24, Saturday December 25, or Saturday January 1. There will be additional performances on Monday December 20 at 3pm & 8pm, Tuesday December 21 at 7pm, Monday December 27 at 8pm and Tuesday December 28 at 7pm.

Casting, additional creative team, and ticket information for The Streets of New York will be announced at a later date.

A GIRL IS A HALF-FORMED THING

On the W. Scott McLucas Studio Stage

By Eimear McBride

Adapted by Annie Ryan

Directed by Nicola Murphy

Previews Begin November 10, 2021

Opening Night Set for November 18, 2021

Limited Run through December 12, 2021

Based on the acclaimed novel of the same name, A Girl is a Half-formed Thing follows the inner narrative of a girl from birth until the age of twenty with vivid intensity and originality. This is a character of astonishing resilience and intelligence; someone determined to make sense of things amidst the crushing Catholicism and poverty of her Irish childhood.

Winner of numerous literary awards including the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction 2014, The Desmond Elliott Prize 2014, The Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year 2014, The Goldsmith Prize 2013 and listed in Best Books of the Year by The New York Times, The Guardian, NPR and many more, Eimear McBride's tale plunges us into the psyche a girl with breathtaking fury and intimacy.

Adapted for the stage by Annie Ryan for The Corn Exchange, Eimear McBride's A Girl is a Half-formed Thing premiered at the Dublin Theatre Festival 2014. The show had its North American premiere at the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York City in April 2016

A Girl is a Half-formed Thing will feature Jenn Murray (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil) and is directed by Nicola Murphy (Pumpgirl).

The performance schedule is as follows: Wednesdays at 2:30pm & 7:30pm; Thursdays at 7pm; Fridays at 7:30pm; Saturdays at 2:30pm & 7:30pm; Sundays at 2pm. Exceptions: the performances on Wednesday November 24, Saturday November 27, Wednesday December 1 and Saturday December 4 will be at 3pm & 8pm. The performances on Friday November 26 and Friday December 3 will be at 8pm. There will be no performance Thursday November 25.

Additional creative team and ticket information for A Girl is a Half-formed Thing will be announced at a later date.

BIKEMAN

A Special Audio Event

By Thomas F. Flynn

Directed by Joseph Discher

Produced by Robert Cuccioli

With Robert Cuccioli, Stephen Eng, April Ortiz & Richard Topol

Available On Demand September 11-18, 2021

On September 11, 2001, journalist Tom Flynn set off on his bike toward the World Trade Towers not knowing what he was riding into. Bikeman is one man's journey back to the horrors of that day and to the humanity that somehow emerged from the dust and the death. Both heartbreaking and haunting, his words will stay with you like that "forever September morning" (Meredith Vieira, NBC's "Today").

Modeled on Dante's Inferno, veteran journalist Thomas F. Flynn's Bikeman chronicles the morning of September 11, 2001, like no other published work. Flynn delivers a personal account of his experiences beginning with the first strike on the World Trade Center when he decided to follow his journalist's instinct and point his bike's handlebars in the direction of the north tower. His story continues as he transitions from reporter to participant hoping to survive the fall of the south tower. Now Flynn, as both journalist and now survivor, must come to terms with the harrowing ordeal and somehow find peace in the very act of surviving.

Bikeman features Robert Cuccioli (A Touch of the Poet), Steven Eng (Hold These Truths), April Ortiz (In the Heights) & Richard Topol (Indecent).

Bikeman is directed by Joseph Discher and produced by Robert Cuccioli, with sound design by Karin Graybash. Butch Jones serves as Consulting Engineer with Daniel Sanint at Flux Studios as Recording Engineer.

Tickets to Bikeman are free, with a suggested donation of $25. 50% of all donations will go to the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund. Advance registration is required. Tickets are available now to Irish Rep members, will open to the public on September 2 and will be available at IrishRep.org.

To listen to Bikeman, registered audiences can access the production by logging in to athome.irishrep.org with the email address used to book their registration.

Irish Repertory Theatre is committed to making theatre that is affordable and accessible. In pursuit of this goal, they have chosen to make this event free to the public. They ask that if you are in any position to support them, you might consider making a donation in conjunction with this digital event. Your contribution will ensure that they can continue to offer top-quality digital events, hire artists and actors, keep their staff employed, and be artistically and financially ready to reopen as soon as it is safe to do so.

AN IDEAL HUSBAND

On the W. Scott McLucas Studio Stage

By Oscar Wilde

Adapted by Ian Holcomb

A One-Night-Only Reading on September 27, 2021

This new cutting of the play by Ian Holcomb features a cast that reflects biting contemporary relevance, laugh out loud honesty, and a stylish joy that is perfectly matched to Oscar Wilde.

An Ideal Husband will feature Kaliswa Brewster ("Release") as Lady Gertrude Chiltern, Allen Darby (Arms and the Man) as Mrs Marchmont, Ianne Fields Stewart (Of the Man) as Mabel Chiltern, Ian Holcomb (London Assurance) as Lord Goring, David Lee Huynh (Henry VI) as Nanjac/James, Colin McPhillamy (Hangmen) as Lord Caversham, Olivia Oguma (Brooklynite) as Lady Basildon, Caroline Strange (Sweeney Todd) as Mrs Cheveley, Jason Veasey (The Lion King) as Sir Robert Chiltern and Zoë Watkins (The Pigeon in the Taj Mahal) as Lady Markby and Phipps.

More information about how to attend this reading as part of their New Play Program and additional cast and creative team will be available soon.

Irish Repertory Theatre leapt into digital theatre in May of 2020 with full-length programming created during the COVID-19 shutdown. The resulting Performances on Screen include works by Brian Friel, James Joyce, Conor McPherson, Eugene O'Neill and more. After their initial public release, Irish Rep is proud to partner with Broadway on Demand to offer all productions for rent, allowing theater fans to watch (or re-watch) the productions that inspired Theatermania to call Irish Rep "the leader in streaming theater."

The Performances on Screen that are available to rent include Brian Friel's Molly Sweeney**; Yes! Reflections of Molly Bloom, adapted from the novel Ulysses by James Joyce by Aedín Moloney and Colum McCann; Conor McPherson's The Weir; Love, Noël: The Songs and Letters of Noël Coward, written and devised by Barry Day; Belfast Blues, written and performed by Geraldine Hughes; Give Me Your Hand with poems by Paul Durcan performed by Dermot Crowley and Dearbhla Molloy; Eugene O'Neill's A Touch of the Poet; On Beckett / In Screen, an exploration of the works of Samuel Beckett conceived and performed by Bill Irwin; Meet Me in St. Louis, adapted from the 1989 Broadway production and directed by Charlotte Moore; The Aran Islands by J.M. Synge, adapted and directed by Joe O'Byrne; Little Gem by Elaine Murphy; Ghosting by Anne O'Riordan and Jamie Beamish; The Cordelia Dream by Marina Carr; and George M. Cohan Tonight!: An Abridged Performance on Screen, starring and adapted for the screen by Jon Peterson. **Please note: Molly Sweeney is available to rent in North America only and is a limited release through September 7, 2021.

Rentals are $25 and will be available for 48 hours from the time of check-out. Irish Rep Members are eligible for discount and complimentary rentals. Learn more at irishrep.org/membership. To rent an Irish Rep production, visit irishrep.org/show/irish-rep-online-2021/irish-rep-on-demand.

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