With Labor Day behind us, the Irish arts scene in New York City and beyond is moving into top gear for the fall season.
So, what’s happening? Well, here are just a few offerings, from the world of the theatre and literature to the visual arts, that will begin in the week or two.
Watch this space for more in the coming weeks.
‘THE MAP,’ FROM SEPT. 6
Looking for a feast for the eyes? This two-part exhibition from thought-provoking artists Alice Maher and Rachel Fallon is a textile sculpture honoring Mary Magdalene. ‘The Map’ will be presented as part of New York Textile Month at the Irish Arts Center from Sept. 6-29.
Meanwhile, from Sept. 6 through Jan 15, “The Map: Untying The Knots” will feature an expansive array of art and installations that mixes not only its media but its themes, ranging from concepts of bodily autonomy to colonialism. (For more information, go to irishartscenter.org.)
‘THE BEACON,’ SEPT. 11-NOV. 3
Making its North American debut at the Irish Repertory Theatre, Nancy Harris’s “The Beacon,” praised by the Irish Times as “an intelligent and grimly funny play,” examines the ulterior side of transparency. Kate Mulgrew (“Star Trek: Voyager”) stars as Beiv, a reviled artist who moves into a rural house of glass when her son comes knocking with questions about his father’s death. Anyone keen for a mystery they can laugh along to should peer into “The Beacon.” (For more information, go to irishrep.org.)
‘DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS,’ SEPT. 13-29
As we begin to bleed into Fall, we creep into all things occult. Gordan Greenberg and Steven Rosen’s production of “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors” teases a tongue-in-cheek take on the Bram Stoker classic. Swooping from its successful run at New World Stages now to the Irish Classical Theatre Company, Buffalo, N.Y., this fanciful retelling was noted by The New York Theatre Guide as proving that “there’s still fresh blood in this vampire”. (For more information, go to irishclassical.com.)
JAN CARSON, SEPT. 17
The Belfast-based novelist is “In Conversation” at the Irish Arts Center with a personal look into her playful yet honest short story collection “Quickly, While They Still Have Horses.” It spans a life of angsty adolescence to anxious adulthood in Northern Ireland. For more on Carson's wry writing, take a trip to the Irish Arts Center library on Sept. 17. (For more information, go to irishartscenter.org.)
Writer Jan Carson.
‘FOR THE LOVE OF ME,’ SEPT. 17
Those looking for a dose of Irish lore can find their fix at the American Irish Historical Society. From director Conor Bagley and writer Kate McLeod comes “For The Love of Me,” a play following the plight of two Irish immigrants who have escaped to New York during the Famine. (For more information, go to aihsny.org.)
‘A NIGHT OF IRISH VAUDEVILLE,’ SEPT. 25
A mashup of Irish and American culture will commence at the American Irish Historical Society during “A Night of Irish Vaudeville.” For a history lesson with a melody, join this musical look back on the intersection of the vaudeville scene with Irish immigration in 19th century America.
"The Irish have had a massive impact on American song writing," AIHS Executive Director Elizabeth told the Echo. "Figures like William Jerome, real name: William Flannery, and George Cohan, also Irish, Eddie Foy, real name: Edwin Fitzgerald, Tony Hart, Ed Harrigan, and Maggie Cline dominated New York and nationals stages.
"The songs chart their journey as immigrants - missing the old land and being a bit sentimental about it perhaps, but also dealing with problems and characters they encountered in their new lives," Stack said. "As such, the songs were recognizable to immigrants of all backgrounds, and so it's not surprising they became so popular."
The executive director said, "This presentation is a collaboration between the AIHS and Opera on Tap, and we hope to bring back some old favorites and shed a little light on the history behind the stories." (For more information, go to aihsny.org.)
