Between plummeting temperatures and 4 p.m. sunsets, winter in New York is not for the thin-skinned. Take it from an Irishman -- who moved here under the false security blanket of summer and didn’t think to pack a coat – one needs a distraction when the tan lines have been traded in for red noses. As the streets of Manhattan get colder, the upcoming arts season in New York only warms up, and there’s plenty of pick-me-ups in the frosty air to remind us of the true meaning of the Holiday season: theatrical stage productions of classic Christmas-adjacent literature. I wanted to know more about what to expect from these festive favorites, and was fortunate enough to chat with some of the minds behind these happenings.
“The Dead, 1904,” through Jan. 5
James Joyce’s short story “The Dead,” published in his 1914 collection “Dubliners,” has had a long life through adaptations, and the Irish Repertory Theatre are rekindling the classic for the fourth time. “The Dead, 1904” follows a comfy dinner party on the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany in 1904. Beyond the glowy windows of the American Irish Historical Society, audiences will be invited to an interactive dinner and a show where the actors and the guests become one. Michael Mellamphy (“Red Dead Redemption”), who plays Mr. Brown, spoke on the whimsically immersive twist this production has to offer. “The minute you walk in, you’re struck by [the sight of] people dancing, people singing,” Mellamphy told the Echo, “It’s like stepping into another world.”
This is Mellamphy’s first time taking on “The Dead, 1904,” though his 12th overall with the Irish Rep. “It’s an absolute privilege to be sharing space with such a wonderful cast,” he said about the experience. Another personal highlight for Mellamphy -- the audience members aren’t the only ones in for a feast. “It’s a full Christmas dinner. I’m eating turkey and spuds and string beans every night.” Anyone keen for a festive show and a full belly should make sure to RSVP to this intimate get-together (for more information, go to irishrep.org).
Origin Theatre Company’s New Year Season
Mr. Mellamphy also had lots to tease about Origin Theatre Company’s upcoming season, wearing his hat as artistic director. Theatregoers should keep an eye on Origin early in the New Year, with highlights being the Fundraiser Gala at the American Irish Historical Society on Jan. 23 and their Valentine’s Day production of “Letters of a Country Matchmaker.” Delving deeper into 2025, Origin offers its annual 1st Irish Theatre Festival from April 1-28. And as the summer season blossoms it’s back to Joyce for Mellamphy as Bloomsday comes around once more and Origin promises some artful fun to be had for the increasingly popular literary holiday (for more information, go to origintheatre.org).
“A Child’s Christmas in Wales,” through Dec. 29
Originally written and recorded for BBC Radio in 1952, Dylan Thomas’s prose piece about the magic of Christmas from the perspective of a young boy has lingered in our minds each year like nostalgia often does. For the seventh time, the Irish Repertory Theatre is bringing this cozy tale to life with a melodic twist, as the Charlotte Moore-directed production features both classic and modern Christmas music,
“It’s all these glorious classical hymns knitted so beautifully into the text,” cast member Ashley Robinson revealed to the Echo. “You don’t get lost in the text [as] the music keeps the ball in the air.” Thomas’s story of a simpler time will be harmoniously captured by these songs with the help of an ensemble choir
“Charlotte has done a beautiful job of making [the prose] linear,” Robinson had to say about Tony-nominated director Moore, whose previous work includes “London Assurance,” “Love, Noël,” and “Three Small Irish Masterpieces.” Like Mellamphy, Robinson feels a strong affinity with the Irish Repertory Theatre. “The Irish Rep is my home in terms of theatre,” he told the Echo, and his admiration is seen in the show itself, “there’s a real warmth to [the production]...it’s very soulful and tender.” Those inclined towards a more thoughtful and serene experience over the more typically boisterous displays of Holiday cheer this season should spend it at the Thomas’. “It’s not a Christmas show that screams at you, it invites you in,” Robinson promised. (For more information, go to irishrep.org).
