Mark O'Rowe's The Approach Sets U.S. Premiere at Irish Rep

The lineup of productions has been revealed for Irish Repertory Theatre's 2026 spring and summer season, which will include two productions, plus a reading of a play performed in the Irish language.

The season will begin with a reading of Tagann Godot / Godot Turns Up performed in Gaeilge, the Irish language. The performance welcomes Irish speakers of any level, with a side-by-side translation provided and the house lights remaining up. Written by Alan Titley as a sequel to Beckett's acclaimed play, the work follows Waiting for Godot's title character who finally shows up Godot finally shows up. The work was first performed at Dublin's Abbey Theatre in 1990. A radio version, produced by Seán Ó Briain on RTÉ, won the Pater Prize for International plays.

Nicola Murphy Dubey and Caoimhe Nic Giollarnáith will direct the reading, set for March 26 at 7 PM on the Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage. Casting will be revealed at a later date.

The U.S. premiere of The Approach will begin previews April 3 on the W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre, with an official opening night set for April 12. Directed by Conor Bagley, the limited run will play through May 10. Mark O'Rowe's play explores the inner lives of Anna, Cora, and Denise as they desperately try to make sense of their world. The work first premiered at the Project Arts Centre, Dublin, in 2018, in a production by Landmark Productions.

The cast will include Carmen M. Herlihy (The Apiary) as Cora, Kate MacCluggage (Left on Tenth) as Denise, and Danielle Ryan (Aristocrats) as Anna. The Approach will feature set design by Daniel Prosky (An Ideal Husband), costume design by Stephanie Bahniuk (Kokum’s Babushka), and lighting design by Emma Deane (Can’t Drink Salt Water). Dialect Coaching is by Karen Killeen. Michael Palmer (Irishtown) is the production stage manager and casting is by Geoff Josselson.

Erica Murray's The Loved Ones will make its New York City premiere June 13, running until August 2. An official opening night is set for June 23. Directed by Nicola Murphy Dubey, the play is set in a remote farmhouse in West Clare, where Nell is preparing to scatter her late son’s ashes with his grieving wife. Meanwhile, an American tourist settles in for what she expects to be a peaceful countryside retreat. But when a young woman arrives at the cottage unexpectedly, the weekend takes a surprising and darkly comic turn.

The Loved Ones will feature set design by Tatiana Kahvegian (Meet the Cartozians), costume design by Orla Long (Irishtown), lighting design by Kat C. Zhou (Ichabod: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow), sound design by Caroline Eng (Irishtown), and dialect coaching by Barbara Rubin (Holy Day). Bailey Bass (The Smuggler) is the associate director. Mary Garrigan (Making a Show of Myself) is the production stgae manager and Mikki Monfalcone (Romeo & Juliet) is the assistant stage manager. Casting, by Katja Zarolinski of KZ Casting, will be revealed at a later date.