The Irish Repertory Theatre Thrives On A String of Hits as It Approaches Another Gala Year

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Parent Category: Film and the Arts

Category: Previews

Published on Sunday, 03 June 2018 22:51

Written by Brad Balfour

One-night-only gala performance celebrating Alan Jay Lerner’s life and music
Monday, June 4, 2018, 7pm

The Town Hall
123 W 43rd Street

When Ciaran O'Reilly and Charlotte Moore founded the Irish Repertory Theatre, they opened in September 1988 with Sean O’Casey’s “The Plough and the Stars.” From that point on, it became a nexus for great play craft and generally superb acting, bringing to the States lots of discoveries from the Emerald Isle and the Irish Diaspora. In its nearly 30 years of putting on more than 200 productions, it has had more than 40,000 audience members annually attend Irish Rep shows.

In appreciation of this heritage and its on-going mission, the company — as directed by Charlotte Moore — will present an unforgettable one-night-only gala performance celebrating benchmark Broadway composer Alan Jay Lerner’s life and music on the centennial anniversary of his birth. Featuring performances by such notables as Jeremy Irons, Melissa Errico, James Barbour, Stephen Bogardus, John Cudia, John Cullum, Donna Kane, Maryann Plunkett, David Staller, Max Von Essen, and more, all will be accompanied by an orchestra and chorus under John Bell’s direction. This will also honor Tina Santi Flaherty for her history of philanthropy and support of Irish Rep. And it takes place on Monday, June 4, 2018, starting at 7pm in The Town Hall (123 W 43rd Street).

Lerner’s most celebrated musicals (written with Frederick Loewe) include “Brigadoon,” “Paint Your Wagon,” “Gigi,” “Camelot,” and “My Fair Lady.” Two-time Tony winner Cullum — an original cast member for Lerner musicals “Camelot” and “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever” (originating the role of Dr. Mark Bruckner) — will join in to perform and share stories about the creation of some of Lerner’s most renowned musicals. In addition, Tony-nominated actors Errico and Bogardus will present a special preview of the Rep’s upcoming revival of “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever” (by Lerner and Burton Lane).

At the heart and soul of the Irish Rep is founders O’Reilly and Moore’s “native understanding” where they offer the company’s engaging perspective on the Irish and their unique contributions to the world of drama. The Theatre is currently the only year-round company in New York City devoted exclusively to bringing Irish and Irish-American works to the stage. It has been recognized through many awards, including 2013’s Outer Critics Circle Special Achievement Award, 2007’s Jujamcyn Theatres Award (a special Drama Desk Award for “Excellence in Presenting Distinguished Irish drama”) and the Lucille Lortel Award for “Outstanding Body of Work,”

The Irish Rep has celebrated the very best in Irish theater for 28 years, from the masters to a new generation of Irish and Irish-American writers who are transforming the stage. And in 1995, the theater made its permanent home on West 22nd Street in Chelsea on three completely renovated floors of a former warehouse, allowing for both the Francis J. Greenburger Main Stage and a smaller studio space, the W. Scott McLucas Studio.

For Moore, all this started in America’s heartland. “I grew up in a very small Midwestern town in the United States. It was a mining town heavily populated with Sicilians and Irish. Such different aspects! I think I learned to appreciate the beauty of different cultures very early on and never forgot it.

“I only saw movies in my town. No theater. But I wanted to be a movie star — what kid doesn't? And once I got to University there was a great deal of theater and I became involved immediately. I was besotted. After that, there was never anything else I wanted to do.”

As for O’ Reilly, he has roots in another heartland. “I grew up in Virginia Co Cavan, Ireland. It was a small town with a population of 500 people when I was a lad. I learned the value of community spirit. Virginia won the National Tidy Town’s competition two years in a row and I have never forgotten the pride when a group gets together to get something done and then be rewarded.”

But both had discovered a love for the arts and in particular, theater. Added O’ Reilly, “I was discovered in a bar. I was enjoying a pint in a pub across the street from a theater where the actor didn’t show up. Someone in my company asked if I would put down my pint and step into the role of the actor. I did and I never returned to that pint.”

As for Moore, her passion led her to work with the best. “Benchmark moments in my career are hard to define. I have been very lucky to work with the very best in my profession.... And that leads into the question about my most memorable moments. I've done lots of classics and Shakespeare; conquering those tough plays is always memorable. I've also had memorable moments with the glamour pusses: Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor were pretty memorable, and I've done four plays directed by Harold Prince.”

To that, Cairan noted, “I have enjoyed every aspect of putting together a production whether it be acting, directing, or just producing. I suppose the benchmark moments that came with that would have been in finding, building and opening an Off-Broadway theatre and then renovating it and opening again 25 years later. There is nothing like having a home of your own.”

This duo has become leading lights within several communities, both among the Irish and beyond, lending them some perspective on it all. “Though imparting advice is always tricky,” Moore demurred, “but I have always try to work with the best. When Ciaran and I met — we were in a play together — we decided to try to do some Irish plays very well, and just started. More than anything, it's important to trust and respect your partner. Right through the tough times and the fights, we've never lost that trust and we've never stopped supporting one another's work.”

As for Ciaran’s key moments, he offers this: “I’ve worked with many great actors –some well known and many who should be. I loved working with Matthew Broderick on two plays recently and all the cast of ‘The Seafarer.’ I loved ‘The Emperor Jones’ and the two emperors over two productions: John Douglas Thompson and Obi Abili. And I love our current cast of Marina Carr’s ‘Woman and Scarecrow.’ But I love working with Charlotte Moore — my favorite director of all."

With that rich sentiment in mind, O’Reilly concluded as to what he would impart on someone as to the lessons learned in not only doing his art as actor/director/creator but also in running an organization such as the Irish Rep, “Keep at it. On your worst days you have to believe that one day the hardship will pass and the sun will shine and all sins will be forgiven.”

2018 Tony Award Nominations: Sponges, Spaniards, & Schoolgirls

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Parent Category: Film and the Arts

Category: Previews

Published on Tuesday, 01 May 2018 19:29

Written by Ellis Nassour

The 72^nd Annual Tony Awards will be presented at Radio City Music Hall in a three-hour live telecast on CBS, Sunday, June 10 at 8 P.M. (Eastern). Sara Bareilles and Josh Groban will co-host.

Best Play

• The Children, Lucy Kirwood
• Farinelli and the King, Claire van Kampen
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 and 2, Jack Thorne
• Junk, Avad Akhtar
• Latin History for Morons, John Leguizamo

Best Leading Actor, Play

• Andrew Garfield, Angels in America
• Tom Hollander, Travesties
• Jamie Parker, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 and 2
• Mark Rylance, Farinelli and the King
• Denzel Washington,  The Iceman Cometh

Best Leading Actress, Play

• Glenda Jackson, Three Tall Women
• Condola Rashad, Saint Joan
• Lauren Ridloff, Children of a Lesser God
• Amy Schumer, Meteor Shower

Best Featured Actor, Play

• Anthony Boyle, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 and 2
• Michael Cera, Lobby Hero
• Brian Tyree Henry, Lobby Hero
• Nathan Lane, Angels in America
• David Morse, The Iceman Cometh

Best Featured Actress, Play

• Susan Brown, Angels in America
• Noma Dumezweni, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 and 2
• Deborah Findlay, The Children
• Denise Gough, Angels in America
• Laurie Metcalf, Three Tall Women

Best Direction, Play

• Marianne Elliott, Angels in America,
• Joe Mantello, Three Tall Women
• Patrick Marber, Travesties
• John Tiffany, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 and 2
• George C. Wolfe, The Iceman Cometh

Best Revival, Play

• Angels in America
• The Iceman Cometh
• Lobby Hero
• Three Tall Women
• Travesties

Best Musical

• The Band's Visit
• Frozen
• Mean Girls
• SpongeBob SquarePants

Best Leading Actor, Musical

• Henry Hadden-Patton, My Fair Lady
• Joshua Henry, Carousel
• Tony Shalhoub, The Band's Visit
• Ethan Slater, SpongeBob SquarePants

Best Leading Actress, Musical

• Lauren Ambrose, My Fair Lady
• Hailey Kilgore, Once on This Island
• LaChanze, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
• Katrina Lenk, The Band's Visit
• Taylor Louderman, Mean Girls
• Jessie Mueller, Carousel

Best Actor, Featured Role, Musical

• Norbert Leo Butz, My Fair Lady
• Alexander Gemingnani, Carousel
• Grey Henson, Mean Girls
• Gavin Lee, SpongeBob SquarePants
• Ari'el Stachel, The Band's Visit

Best Actress, Featured Role, Musical

• Ariana DeBose, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
• Renée Fleming, Carousel
• Lindsay Mendez, Carousel
• Ashley Park, Mean Girls
• Diana Rigg, My Fair Lady

Best Direction, Musical

• Michael Arden, Once on This Island
• David Cromer, The Band's Visit
• Tina Landau, SpongeBob SquarePants
• Casey Nicholaw, Mean Girls
• Bartlett Sher, My Fair Lady

Best Revival, Musical

• Carousel
• My Fair Lady
• Once on This Island

Best Original Score

• Angels in America
• The Band's Visit
• Frozen
• Mean Girls
• SpongeBob SquarePants

Best Book, Musical

• The Band's Visit
• Frozen
• Mean Girls
• SpongeBob SquarePants

Best Choreography

• Christopher Gattelli, My Fair Lady
• Christopher Gattelli, SpongeBob SquarePants
• Steven Hoggett, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 and 2
• Casey Nicholaw, Mean Girls
• Justin Peck, Carousel

Best Orchestrations

• The Band's Visit
• Carousel
• Mean Girls
• Once on This Island
• SpongeBob SquarePants

Best Scenic Design, Play

• Angels in America
• Farinelli and the King
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 and 2
• The Iceman Cometh
• Three Tall Women

Best Scenic Design, Musical

• The Band's Visit
• Mean Girls
• My Fair Lady
• Once on This Island
• SpongeBob SquarePants

Best Costume Design, Play

• Angels in America
• Farinelli and the King
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 and 2
• The Iceman Cometh
• Three Tall Women

Best Costume Design, Musical

• Carousel
• Mean Girls
• My Fair Lady
• Once on This Island
• SpongeBob SquarePants

Best Lighting Design, Play

• Angels in America
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 and 2
• Farinelli and the King
• The Iceman Cometh
• Junk

Best Lighting Design, Musical

• The Band's Visit 
• Carousel
• My Fair Lady
• Once on This Island
• SpongeBob SquarePants

Best Sound Design, Play

• 1984
• Angels in America
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 and 2
• The Iceman Cometh
• Travesties

Best Sound Design, Musical

• The Band's Visit
• Carousel
• Mean Girls
• Once on This Island
• Spongebob SquarePants

Special Tony Awards

• John Leguizamo
• Bruce Springsteen

Tony Award, Lifetime Achievement in Theater

• Andrew Lloyd Webber
• Chita Rivera

Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award

• Nick Scandalios, Nederlander Organization

Tony Honors, Excellence in the Theater

• Sara Krulwich, photographer, The New York Times 
• Bessie Nelson, costume beader
• Ernest Winzer, theatre dry cleaning service

Regional Theatre Award

• La MaMa, New York

The 2018 Tony Awards will be presented by Tony Award Productions, a joint with the American Theatre Wing and the Broadway League. Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss, White Cherry Entertainment, executive producers; and, for his 19^th year, Weiss returns as director.

KaZoom Fest Brings Multicultural Stories to the Stage

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Parent Category: Film and the Arts

Category: Previews

Published on Thursday, 19 April 2018 16:51

Written by Brad Balfour

Held at the Harlem School of the Arts (645 St Nicholas Ave, New York, NY) KaZoom Fest takes three titles from KaZoom iStorybooks and turns them into one-act plays performed by the youngsters studying theatre arts at HSA. Running April 20 and 21, the shows will be bilingual (Spanish and English), incorporating music, original songs.

The stories being adapted at KaZoom Fest are Taking the E Train and Everybody Loves Cake by (Film Festival Traveler contributor) Lapacazo Sandoval, and Alyssa Marissa and Her Magical Hair by Angela Williams.(the authors will also be in attendance). These stories aren’t just designed to entertain, they also carry with them a mission as representing and immersing children of color in the arts is an aim that resonates deeply with both KaZoom and Harlem School of the Arts. "It does so much for children's confidence to see themselves in the stories they read. But finding those stories is not always easy for parents of color" explains Donna Beasley, founder, and CEO of Kazoom Kids Books. That is why the HSA has taken a keen interest in this project from KaZoom Books. "Harlem School of the Arts to me, has always felt like an extended family,” says Artistic Director Alfred Pressier. “Students and families come here, experience defining moments in their lives, and stay connected literally through successive generations."

To learn more, go to: https://hsanyc.org/

KaZoom Fest
April 20 - 21, 2018

Harlem School of the Arts
645 St Nicholas Ave.
New York, NY 10030