The United States premiere of Maeve’s House - a new commission by Ireland’s National theatre and an eight-night residency with the virtuoso Irish fiddler Martin Hayes and American guitarist Dennis Cahill are among the many highlights of the Irish Arts Center’s (IAC) fall season.
The 16-week season runs September 6 to December 21 and features music, theatre, dance, film, literary events, visual arts, and children’s events from over 70 Irish and American artists with almost all events taking place at the Irish Arts Center (553 West 51st St).
The full program can be viewed here but highlights of the 2013 Fall Season include:
Maeve’s House (Oct 17 to Nov 3)
The U.S. premiere of Maeve’s House is an Abbey Theatre (Ireland’s National Theatre) commission. This one-man show written and performed by Fair City star Eamon MORRISSEY portrays the life and work of the Irish New Yorker writer Maeve Brennan and comes to the IAC directly from its world premiere at the Dublin Theatre Festival.
Hayes and Cahill in Residence (Sept 20 to 29)
Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill are two of the world’s leading artists in traditional Irish music and their adventurous, soulful interpretations are recognized around the world for their exquisite musicality and irresistible rhythm. This rare residency is the only chance this year to see the duo perform in New York and for each of the 8 shows in the wonderful acoustics of the 99-seat IAC theatre, they will collaborate with a wide range of special guests representing various musical genres.
James Salter (Oct 3)
The Pen award–winner James Salter joins Booker Judge and BBC journalist Frank Delaney for the next installment of Pen, Paper and Palate at the Irish Arts Center.
These events are just some of over 30 in the fall season which also welcomes the return of the IAC Political Cabaret with David McWilliams and the 5th annual festival of Irish and Irish American poetry, IAC PoetryFest, which this year features Nuala NÍ Dhomnaill and Jorie Graham among others.
Also in the fall season will be a selection of contemporary Irish films including What Richard Did adapted from Kevin Power’s novel Bad Day in Blackrock; literary readings and talks with leading figures in the arts, politics, business and media including Peter Quinn, IMPAC Award-winner Kevin Barry; a visual art exhibition with artists from Hunter College curated by Brooklyn-based artist Colette Murphy; comedy nights with one of the longest running comedy shows in New York City, Sundays at Seven; and over 40 classes in music, dance, literature and language.
The fall season opens on Friday, September 6 with one of Brooklyn’s most respected Irish songwriters Niall Connolly (last seen at the Irish Arts Center at SongLives in September 2012) with his 5-piece band and special guest Anthony Mulcahy and concludes with a 15-show run of Mick Moloney’s much-loved musical solstice celebration An Irish Christmas - a staple of the New York holiday season, at the Irish Arts Center.
The Irish Arts Center, founded in 1972, is a New York-based arts and cultural center dedicated to projecting a dynamic image of Ireland and Irish America for the 21st century.
Located in New York City, a world capital of arts and culture, Irish Arts Center serves as a dynamic platform for top emerging and established artists and cultural creators to reach a New York, national, and global audience, and as a gateway for other institutions to access first-rate Irish and Irish American culture.
Work being presented at the Irish Arts Center this fall is supported, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature; the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership by the City Council; and Culture Ireland, the agency for the promotion of Irish arts worldwide.
Booking and more information can be found online at www.irishartscenter.org or by calling 866-811-4111.
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