Irish Repertory Theatre will celebrate the completion of renovations and the official opening of its new theatre September 24 with a starry ribbon-cutting ceremony and free performances open to the public. Slated to attend are Tony winners Matthew Broderick and Trent Kowalik, and Tony nominee Melissa Errico, along with local officials and Irish government representatives.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony will kick off at 12:30 PM. Programming, set to continue through 4 PM, will include staged readings, pipers, poets, musicians, dancers, magicians, face painters and singers on three stages, both indoors and outdoors. Errico will perform a medley of songs from the upcoming Irish Rep production of Finian’s Rainbow.
“With this renovation, Irish Rep now has a space that best represents the cultural richness of Irish and Irish-American theatre. This event is our way of saying thank you to everyone who has been along with us on this journey,” commented artistic director Charlotte Moore in a press statement. “Our doors are open to everyone whom would like to come and celebrate with us.”
“The renovation of our theater is helping us embark on the next phase of our creative mission as an Irish theatre, particularly as we look ahead to our 30th anniversary next year. And we are thrilled to continue to play our role in the cultural vitality and diversity of Chelsea and New York,” added producing director Ciarán O’Reilly.
The Cultural partners Origin Theatre and the Irish Arts Center will also be part of the afternoon’s events, bringing together New York City’s Irish creative community. In addition, the Irish Repertory Gallery, located on the second floor of the theatre, will exhibit images of the Irish Rep’s journey from acquisition in 1994 through two major renovations.
On the Outdoor Stage, Master of Ceremonies Paul Keating will introduce a blend of musical styles, including traditional, folk and jazz. Among the artists performing are Aoife Scott, Andy Irvine, Donie Carroll, Mike Maloney, James Keane, Tony DeMarco, The Erin Loughrin Junior Ceili Band from The Irish Arts Center, jazz singer Caroline Toibin, Dan Gurney, Christina Dolphin and Tony winner Kowalik (Broadway’s Billy Elliot).
For more information about Irish Repertory Theatre, visit irishrep.org.
