The US premiere of “These Halcyon Days” a new play by Deirdre Kinahan, an eight-show residency by Irish songwriter and singer Declan O’Rourke and the seventh Masters in Collaboration instalment, pairing award-winning Irish traditional musician Karan Casey with vocalist and bluegrass musician Aoife O'Donovan are among the highlights of the Irish Arts Center’s spring season.
The 19-week season opens on February 12th and runs until the Bloomsday (June 16th) literary events at the Irish Arts Center and at several partnering venues across New York City.
The Spring season features the Irish Arts Center’s annual St. Patrick’s Week concert Celtic Appalachia - back by popular demand at Symphony Space on March 15th - featuring Mick Moloney, The Green Fields of America and third generation Carter Family member Dale Jett; and the annual Irish Arts Center Book Day where volunteers distribute thousands of books by Irish and Irish American authors for free across all five New York City boroughs.
Working with the Irish Arts Center for the first time will be the renowned Irish choreographer John Scott who brings his vital, fluent dance work The White Piece to La MaMa which will also feature the US premiere of Irish contemporary dance company ponydance in the Irish Arts Center's inaugural dance season at La MaMa.
Audiences can also look forward to contemporary Irish films; literary readings and talks with leading figures in the arts, politics, business and media; visual art exhibitions with artist John Spinks and “Ulysses seen” artist Robert Berry; comedy nights with one of the longest running comedy shows in New York City, Sundays at Seven; over 30 classes in music, dance and language as well as the annual Féile na Gaeilge / Irish Language Day.
Meanwhile the Center’s acclaimed exhibition of “Fighting Irishmen” travels for the first time to Phoenix, Arizona with a reception honoring local World Heavyweight Champ, Muhammad Ali.
Work being presented at the Irish Arts Center this spring is made possible 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.
Irish Arts Center is located at 553 West 51st Street. Booking and information for all events can be found on irishartscenter.org or by calling 866-811-4111
Full details of the season:
THEATRE
Tall Tales Theatre Company in association with Landmark Productions presents “These Halcyon Days” by Deirdre Kinahan
May 7-June 2
The US premiere of a funny, touching, life-affirming play about facing our fears and bucking against despair.
MUSIC
Size2shoes
February 23
A concert performance and family show performed by the outrageously entertaining Irish Brothers Owen and Moley Ó Súilleabháin
Celtic Appalachia II
Irish Arts Center’s Annual St. Patrick’s Week Tradition
March 16 At Symphony Space
Celebrating the cultural links between Irish traditional music and American folk, old time, country and bluegrass music.
Masters in Collaboration VII: Karan Casey meets Aoife O’Donovan
April 5-7
The seventh Masters in Collaboration installment, pairing award-winning Irish traditional musician Karan Casey with vocalist and bluegrass musician Aoife O’Donovan. Audiences will be welcomed into the IAC artists-in-residence experience for an exclusive midweek conversation as well as three performances in the intimate Donaghy Theatre.
Declan O’Rourke In Residence with a String Quartet
April 20-28
Irish songwriter Declan O’Rourke returns to the Irish Arts Center with a string quartet for a residency of eight unforgettable performances following his thrilling New York appearance in the first installment of SongLives, curated by Grammy Award-winner Susan McKeown.
Songlives
Curated by Grammy Award-winner Susan McKeown
DATES TBD
After two successful seasons including musicians Mark Geary, Declan O’Rourke, Wallis Bird, and Mundy, Irish Arts Center presents the third installment of SongLives, bringing the richness of the busking tradition of Dublin’s Grafton Street to New York City. Participating artists to be revealed at irishartscenter.org.
DANCE
Irish Arts Center At La MaMa
The White Piece by John Scott Dance at La MaMa
March 14-24
Part documentary, part poetry, 14 dancers, backgrounds ranging from Merce Cunningham Dance Company to a retired Royal Ballet ballerina to African Torture Survivors, show, with humor and athleticism, the presence of everything: what we do and dream, for today and tomorrow.
La MaMa in association with Irish Arts Center presents
Anybody Waiting? by ponydance
at La MaMa
March 28-31
Comedic dance theatre champions ponydance show a love for good dancing, good looks and a good time.
FILM
An Saighdiúr (The Soldier)
February 20
2012, 25 minutes
Directed by Sonia Nic Jones
An Saighdiúr follows Sergeant Séamus O Fianghusa, a Brooklyn native of Korean and Irish heritage, as he travels to the frontline in Afghanistan and on a visit to his beloved Donegal Gaeltacht. A panel discussion will follow the film.
Music of Ireland
February 26
2010, 90 minutes
Directed by Phillip J. Marshall
Music of Ireland tells the definitive story of Irish music in America, focusing on the Emerald Isle's greatest musical exports, their influence on America and the music's global impact. An artist talk with the filmmakers and a live performance will follow the film.
Kings
April 14
2007, 88 minutes
Directed by Tom Collins
Kings is a story of a lost generation, rich in humanity and emotion, in search for identity.
LITERATURE
Vona Groarke
The Middle Kingdom
A Celebration of Poetry, Song and Visual Art
February 28
Poet Vona Groarke joins forces with composers and singers Irene and Annette Buckley, and artists Helen O’Leary and Eva O’Leary to celebrate women’s youth and age, innocence and experience, and the unforeseen of the in between.
A Tribute to William Kennedy
Moderated by Peter Quinn and Special Guests in association with Irish American Writers and Artists
DATE TBD
An evening with William Kennedy, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Ironweed, screenwriter and playwright, celebrated by moderator Peter Quinn and special guests.
Irish Arts Center presents the fifth Pen, Paper and Palate
in association with Ruda Beresford Dauphin
A Panel Discussion: Crime Writing
May 14 at The Half King
Pen, Paper and Palate, a celebration of Irish and American writing, food and culture. The witty and entertaining Frank Delaney, author, BBC host and Booker Prize judge, will moderate on the topic of “Crime Writing” with an esteemed panel.
Bloomsday on Broadway XXXII
June 16 at Symphony Space
The 32nd annual BLOOMSDAY ON BROADWAY, a tradition created by Symphony
Space co-founder Isaiah Sheffer and carries on in his memory, celebrates James Joyce’s Ulysses with Symphony Space and the Irish Arts Center.
HUMANITIES
Black and White and Green: St. Patrick’s Day in Harlem
Two Roads Diverged: A Dialogue on Irish and Black Contributions to American Culture
with Lenwood O. Sloan and Dr. Mick Moloney in associations with Harlem Stage
March 12 at Harlem Stage
Live piano and dance performances accompany the final part of the Two Roads Diverged series examining the cultural relationships between Irish and African communities in America.
KIDS
Kids Film Fleadh with The Craic
March 9
The Kids Film Fleadh features storytelling with special guests Honor Molloy and John Liam Shea; brings the best of award-winning children’s short films, including Pet Hate, Bird Food, Thin Ice and more; and concludes with an Irish step dancing performance.
Annual St. Patrick’s Open Day in association with our neighbors PAL William J. Duncan Center
March 17
Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day the only way you should: by immersing yourself in all things Irish. An afternoon of authentic Irish music, dance, song, language, and crafts. Take part in workshops, take in a performance or two, and take the whole family.
Classes for kids including Celtic Harp for Kids, ModERIN Dance Class, Introductory Step Dance with Niall O’Leary, TCRG, ADCRG and Gaelic Kids
VISUAL ARTS / EXHIBITION
John Spinks
Current Chords
February 1 – April 22
Artist Talk and Reception on February 12
In Current Chords, artist John Spinks examines and reinterprets the language of
music—a language he appreciates but does not “speak”—through his own vocabulary of the brush stroke and collage on canvas.
Ulysses “seen”
An International Bloomsday Celebration by Robert Berry
in association with the James Joyce Centre, Dublin
May 1 – June 30
Irish Arts Center Gallery
Artist Talk and Reception on May 1
An international Bloomsday celebration with an exhibition of illustrator Robert Berry’s original drawings from the Ulysses “seen” project, a web based comic adaptation of James Joyce’s Ulysses. More participating cities to be revealed at irishartscenter.org.
Fighting Irishmen
Celebrating Celtic Prizefighters 1820–Present
January 2013 – May 2013
James J. Houlihan’s popular exhibition on boxing in Ireland and Irish America continues its international journey and opens on January 31st at the McClelland Irish Library at The Irish Cultural Center in Phoenix, Arizona with a reception honoring local World Heavyweight Champ, Muhammad Ali.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Show Your Love: Our Annual Young Patron’s Party
February 22
Honoring Aisling Garvey, Senior Vice President, Teneo Strategy; Jason O’Brien,
Proprietor of Dublin 6, Trinity Place and The Bailey Pub & Brasserie; Patrick Tully, New York Director & National Director of the Young Leaders, The American Ireland Fund. An exclusive party for IAC Young Patron level members celebrating the beginning of another innovative and exciting season at the Irish Arts Center.
Irish Arts Center Book Day 2013
March 15
Irish Arts Center will kick off St. Patrick’s Day weekend with the third annual Irish Arts Center Book Day, handing out 10,000 works by Irish and Irish American authors, free, at eight subway stops and transportation hubs across all five boroughs.
Twelfth Annual Irish Arts Center NYC Dance Festival
At Riverside Park South
Led by Niall O’Leary, TCRG, ADCRG
May 5
Start of the Summer on the Hudson series at Riverside Park South, celebrating Irish dance and culture.
Breezy Point Benefit
February 15-17
Featuring performances of Frank McCourt and Malachy McCourt’s A Couple of Blaguards. Breezy Point Benefit will aid victims of Hurricane Sandy in Queens, NY.
BOOKING & LISTINGS INFORMATION - irishartscenter.org or 866-811-4111.
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