The Irish Repertory Theatre is an off-Broadway theatre company founded in 1988.
History The Irish Repertory Theatre was founded by Ciarán O'Reilly and Charlotte Moore and opened its doors in September 1988 with Sean O'Casey's The Plough and the Stars.
In 1995, the company moved to its permanent home in Chelsea on three completely renovated floors of a former warehouse, allowing for both a Main Stage theatre and a smaller studio space, the W. Scott McLucas Studio. The Irish Repertory Theatre is the only year-round theatre company in New York City devoted to bringing Irish and Irish American works to the stage.
The theater has been recognized with a 2007 Jujamcyn Award, a special Drama Desk Award for "Excellence in Presenting Distinguished Irish drama," and the Lucille Lortel Award for "Outstanding Body of Work". Its productions draw more than 35,000 audience members annually.
Irish American Writers & Artists Inc. honored the theatre with the Eugene O'Neill Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.
In 2014, The Irish Repertory Theatre started a renovation of their home in Chelsea. For the 2014–15 season, Irish Rep's performances were held at the DR2 Theater near Union Square.
During the holiday seasons of 2016 and 2017, the American Irish Historical Society headquarters on Fifth Avenue was home to the Irish Repertory Theatre's production of The Dead, 1904. The show was an adaptation of James Joyce's short story "The Dead", adapted by novelist Jean Hanff Korelitz and her husband, Irish poet Paul Muldoon. For The Dead, 1904, the building had 57 guests at a time, who for part of the performance joined the cast for a holiday feast drawn from the original novella."Irish Rep Brings James Joyce’s “The Dead” to Life", Hilton Als, The New Yorker, 4 December 2017
In 2017, the company received an Obie Grant from the Obie Awards presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Village Voice.
Season history 2023
Endgame by Samuel Beckett 2021–2022 Season Bikeman by Tom Flynn, Produced by Robert Cuccioli, in honor of the 20th Anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, An Immersive Audio Event Angela's Ashes: The Musical, Produced by Pat Moylan, Music and Lyrics by Adam Howell, Book by Paul Hurt, Based on the book by Frank McCourt Autumn Royal by Kevin Barry A Girl is a Half-formed Thing by Eimear McBride, Adapted by Annie Ryan The Streets of New York written by Dion Boucicault, directed by Charlotte Moore Made By God by Ciara Ní Chuirc, directed by Olivia Songer A Touch of the Poet by Eugene O'Neill, directed by Ciarán O'Reilly Two By Synge by JM Synge, directed by Charlotte Moore
2020–2021 Season Irish Rep Online Digital Fall Season Belfast Blues written and performed by Geraldine Hughes, A Performance on Screen Give Me Your Hand A Poetical Stroll through The National Gallery of London, Poems by Paul Durcan, A Performance on Screen A Touch of the Poet by Eugene O'Neill, A Performance on Screen On Beckett/In Screen conceived and performed by Bill Irwin, A Performance on Screen Meet Me in St. Louis, Book by Hugh Wheeler, Songs by Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane, Adapted & Directed by Charlotte Moore, A Holiday Special in Song and on Screen The Aran Islands by J.M. Synge, adapted & directed by Joe O'Byrne John Cullum: An Accidental Star, Conceived by John Cullum and Jeff Berger, Written by David Thompson, in association Vineyard Theatre and Goodspeed Musicals with Jeff Berger, Directed by Lonny Price and Matt Cowart Little Gem by Elaine Murphy The Man Who Wanted to Fly, directed by Frank Shouldice, A NY Film Premiere starring Bobby Coote Digital Summer Season Ghosting by Jamie Beamish and Anne O'Riordan, A Theatre Royal, Waterford & Throwin Shapes Production, A Performance on Screen The Cordelia Dream by Marina Carr, A Performance on Screen
2019–2020 Season Kingfishers Catch Fire by Robin Glendinning Dublin Carol by Conor McPherson Pumpgirl by Abbie Spallen The Scourge by Michelle Dooley Mahon, in association with Wexford Arts Centre London Assurance by Dion Boucicault Lady G: Plays and Whisperings of Lady Gregory by Lady Augusta Gregory, additional material by Ciarán O'Reilly Incantata by Paul Muldoon, in association with Galway International Arts Festival and Jen Coppinger Productions Irish Rep Online Summer Online Season Molly Sweeney by Brian Friel, A Performance on Screen The Gifts You Gave to the Dark by Darren Murphy YES! Reflections of Molly Bloom From the novel Ulysses by James Joyce, Adapted for stage by Aedín Moloney & Colum McCann, A Performance on Screen The Weir by Conor McPherson, A Performance on Screen Love, Noël written and devised by Barry Day, A Performance on Screen Postponed Due to COVID-19 The Smuggler by Ronán Noone A Touch of the Poet by Eugene O'Neill
2018–2019 Season Wild Abandon by Leenya Rideout On Beckett conceived and performed by Bill Irwin with writings by Samuel Beckett Two by Friel by Brian Friel A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas, adapted and directed by Charlotte Moore The Dead, 1904 based on the short story by James Joyce, adapted by Paul Muldoon & Jean Hanff Korelitz The Seán O'Casey Season The Shadow of a Gunman by Seán O'Casey Juno and the Paycock by Seán O'Casey The Plough and the Stars by Seán O'Casey YES! Reflections of Molly Bloom From the novel Ulysses by James Joyce, Adapted for stage by Aedín Moloney & Colum McCann Love, Noël written and devised by Barry Day Little Gem by Elaine Murphy
2017–2018 Season The Home Place by Brian Friel Off the Meter, On the Record by John McDonagh It's A Wonderful Life by Anthony Palermo The Dead, 1904 based on the short story by James Joyce, adapted by Paul Muldoon & Jean Hanff Korelitz Jimmy Titanic by Bernard McMullan Disco Pigs by Enda Walsh Three Small Irish Masterpieces by W. B. Yeats, Lady Gregory, and John Millington Synge The Seafarer by Conor McPherson Woman and Scarecrow by Marina Carr On A Clear Day You Can See Forever by Alan Jay Lerner
2016–2017 Season Afterplay by Brian Friel Finian's Rainbow music by Burton Lane, book by E.Y. Harburg & Fred Saidy, lyrics by E.Y. Harburg The Pigeon in The Taj Mahal by Laoisa Sexton The Dead, 1904 based on the short story by James Joyce, adapted by Paul Muldoon & Jean Hanff Korelitz Crackskull Row by Honor Molloy The Emperor Jones by Eugene O'Neill Rebel in the Soul by Larry Kirwan Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie devised by David M. Lutken with Nick Corley and Darcie Deaville, Helen Jean Russell & Andy Teirstein The Aran Islands by J.M. Synge, adapted & directed by Joe O'Byrne
2015–2016 Season The Quare Land by John McManus A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas The Burial At Thebes by Seamus Heaney A Celebration of Harold Pinter with Julian Sands Shining City by Conor McPherson Quietly by Owen McCafferty
2014–2015 Season Port Authority by Conor McPherson A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote, adapted by Larry Grossman and Carol Hall Da by Hugh Leonard The Belle of Belfast by Nate Rufus Edelman The Weir by Conor McPherson
2013–2014 Season Juno and the Paycock by Seán O'Casey A Mind-Bending Evening of Beckett by Samuel Beckett It's a Wonderful Life adapted by Anthony E. Palermo Transport book by Thomas Keneally, music and lyrics by Larry Kirwan Sea Marks by Gardner McKay
2012 – 2013 The Freedom of the City by Brian Friel It's a Wonderful Life adapted by Anthony E. Palermo A Celebration of Harold Pinter starring Julian Sands, directed by John Malkovich The Songs I Love So Well starring Phil Coulter Airswimming by Charlotte Jones Donnybrook! book by Robert E. McEnroe; music and lyrics by Johnny Burke For Love by Laoisa Sexton Who's Your Daddy? by Johnny O'Callaghan The Weir by Conor McPherson Gibraltar by Patrick Fitzgerald
2011 – 2012 Weep for the Virgins by Nellise Child Noctu conceived and directed by Breandán de Gallaí Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel Beyond the Horizon by Eugene O'Neill Give Me Your Hand by Paul Duncan Man and Superman by George Bernard Shaw New Girl in Town book by George Abbott, music and lyrics by Bob Merrill
2010 – 2011 Banished Children of Eve by Kelly Younger, adapted from the novel by Peter Quinn St. Nicholas by Conor McPherson A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas Molly Sweeney by Brian Friel My Scandalous Life by Thomas Kilroy The Shaughraun by Dion Boucicault
2009–2010 The Emperor Jones by Eugene O'Neill Ernest in Love by Oscar Wilde Candida by George Bernard Shaw White Woman Street by Sebastian Barry The Irish ... and How They Got That Way by Frank McCourt
2008–2009 After Luke & When I Was God by Cónal Creedon The Yeats Project by W. B. Yeats Aristocrats by Brian Friel A Child's Christmas in Wales based on the story by Dylan Thomas The Master Builder by Henrik Ibsen adapted by Frank McGuinness Confessions of an Irish Publican from the writings of John B. Keane, adapted by Des Keogh
2007–2008 Around the World in 80 Days by Mark Brown, based on the novel by Jules Verne Prisoner of the Crown by Richard Stockton, Additional Material and Original Concept by Richard T. Herd Take Me Along, Book by Joseph Stein and Bob Russell, Lyrics and Music by Bob Merrill A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas The Devil's Disciple by George Bernard Shaw Sive by John B. Keane
2006–2007 Tom Crean – Antarctic Explorer by Aidan Dooley Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton Defender of the Faith by Stuart Carolan Meet Me in St. Louis, Book by Hugh Wheeler, Songs by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane Irish One Acts: Great White American Teeth by Fiona Walsh and Swansong by Conor McDermottroe The Hairy Ape by Eugene O'Neill
2005–2006 Mr. Dooley's America by Philip Dunne and Martin Blaine The Field by John B. Keane You Don't have to be Irish by Malacy McCourt George M. Cohan, Tonight! by Chip Deffaa and George M. Cohan The Bells of Christmas conceived by Ciarán O'Reilly Mrs. Warren's Profession by George Bernard Shaw Beowulf adaptation and lyrics by Lindsey Turner, music and lyrics by Lenny Pickett
2004–2005 Philadelphia, Here I Come! by Brian Friel She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith Endgame by Samuel Beckett After the Ball by Noël Coward
2003–2004 Triptych by Enda O'Brien The Colleen Bawn by Dion Boucicault Christmas With Tommy Makem by Tommy Makem Eden by Eugene O'Brien Finian's Rainbow by E.Y. Harburg, Burton Lane and Fred Saidy, adapted by Charlotte Moore Let's Put On A Show! with Jan and Mickey Rooney
2002–2003 Bailegangaire by Tom Murphy A Celtic Christmas arranged by Charlotte Moore Bedbound by Edna Walsh The Love-Hungry Farmer by John B. Keane and adapted for the stage by Des Keogh Foley by Michael West Peg O' My Heart by J. Hartley Manners, songs by Charlotte Moore
2001–2002 Save It for the Stage: The Life of Reilly by Charles Nelson Reilly and Paul Linke The Streets of New York by Dion Boucicault, adaptation and songs by Charlotte Moore That and the Cup of Tea by Carmel Quinn and Sean Fuller A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas The Matchmaker by John B. Keane and adapted for the stage by Phyllis Ryan An Evening in New York with W.B. Yeats and John Quinn, adapted by Neil Bradley and Paul Kerry Pigtown by Mike Finn The Playboy of the Western World by J.M. Synge
2000–2001 The Hostage by Brendan Behan A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas The Importance of Being Oscar by Micheál MacLiammóir The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and adapted for the stage by Joe O'Byrne A Life by Hugh Leonard The Irish ... and How They Got That Way by Frank McCourt
1999–2000 Invasions and Legacies by Tommy Makem Eclipsed by Patricia Burke Brogan The Irish ... and How They Got That Way by Frank McCourt The Country Boy by John Murphy Our Lady of Sligo by Sebastian Barry [view photo gallery] Don Juan in Hell by George Bernard Shaw
1998–1999 The Shaughraun by Dion Boucicault Krapp's Last Tape by Samuel Beckett