The Theater
About the Irish American Theater Company
The Company is a collective of professional and community artists who are dedicated to bringing to life the stories and people of Ireland for the enjoyment of audiences of all ages. Founded by Company Artistic Director Maureen A. Kennedy and a group of actors, musicians, educators and friends in 2004, the company is now in its tenth year. Since the inception of the Irish American Theater Company in 2004 this enthuiastic Company has grown into a Cincinnati favorite. This years production of Dancing at Lughnasa ia a continuation of the collaboration of the talent and skills of artists coming together to create theatrical magic!
Starting rehearsals on the back deck of the founder's home, the Irish American Theater Company is no longer homeless and is now housed within the Irish Heritage Center in the Columbia Tusculum area of Cincinnati. Since 2010 the Irish Heritage Center has been a home for pereserving, entertaining and educting in all things Irish.
The theater group has brought the stories and people of Ireland to life with many hours of Story-telling and through the following Theatrical productions:
Kathleen ni Hoolihan by William Butler Yeats and Lady Gregory
A Pot of Broth by W B Yeats
Original Musicals:
Maggies Murphy's Home by Bill Williams
Raised on Songs and Stories by Kent Covey
The Cincinnati Premires of:
The Irish And How they Got That Way by Frank McCourt
A Little like Paradise by Niall Williams
Blood by Larry Kirwan
Moll by John B. Keane
What Happened Bridgie Cleary by Tom MacIntyre
A Couple of Blaguards by Frank and Malachy McCourt
and is now presenting:
Dancing at Lughnasa
"One of Brian Friel's best, richest, most enlivening plays" - The Irish Times
In 2008 The Irish American Theater Comapny was invited to become a participant in the Acting Irish International Theater Festival, (AIITF). (Participation is by invitation only, and it is an adjudicated festival.) The company takes its productions on tour each year and has traveled within Ohio, Kentucky, New York, Iowa, Illinois, Canada and, most recently, to Ireland! The Company has been resident within the Irish Heritage Center since 2010.
While a part of the AIITF the Irish American Theater company has received much critical acclaim for their work. The companybeen honored with awards and several nominations for awards at the Acting Irish Festival for three consecutive years, including --
For Moll by John B Keane-- Presented in Chicago, IL
- Best Actress Barb Kenny
- Best Supporting Actor Tim Murphy
- Nomination for Best Show
- Nomination for Best Supporting Actor Mick McEvilley
What Happened Bridgie Cleary by Tom MacIntyre -- Presented in Calgary Canada
- Best Acress Award Katelyn Groh
- Nomination for Best Supporting Actor Mick McEvilley
- Nomination for Best Show
A Couple of Blaguards by Frank and Malachy McCourt -- Presented in Dublin Ireland
- Nomination for Best Actor Mcik McEvilley
Currently the company is on the calendar to bring the Acting Irish International Theater Festival to Cincinnati in 2015 or 2016 which will entail performances Monday thru Saturday one in the afternoon and one in the evening. These performances will be open to the public and the Irish American Theater Comapny will be calling on the theater community plus all interested artistis to help make this Festival a success.
We wiill be hosting Irish Theater groups from Milwaukee/ Chicago / Winnipeg / Calgary /Toronto /Dublin / Ennis/ Boca Raton / Rochester and others to be named, all participating in a friendly and convival competition with the purpose to grow and improve performance and production skills through the genius of Irish theater.
Dancing at Lughnasa
By: Brian Friel
Directed By: Maureen Kennedy
Technical Director: Jim Hunt
Stage Manager: Sara Marschall
Prop Master: Kate Lester
Michael...Eric Marschall
Maggie...Kat Reynolds
Chris...LeeAnn Hall
Agnes...Samantha Isler
Rose...Michelle Crowley
Kate...Tara Pitts
Father Jack...Mick McEvilley
Gerry...Justin Leonti
Dancing at Lughnasa cast and crew bios can be found here.
Performance Dates: May 10th, 11th, 7:30 p.m., 12th 2:30 p.m. May 17, 18, 7:30 p.m., 19th, 2:30 p.m.
A Couple of Blaguards Success in Ireland!
Maureen Kennedy on RTÉ.ie Radio 1 for the Acting Irish International Theatre Festival
What Happened Bridgie Cleary
A potent meditation on love, desire and magic. What Happened Bridgie Cleary centers on the infamous true story of Bridgie Cleary and what happened to her in Tipperary in 1895. Tom Mac Intyre's dramatic fantasia delves into the reuniting of Bridgie, her husband Mikey, and lover William, both of whom are haunted by their love for her. An alliance of superstition, fear and afterlife based on Ireland's rural country life in the late 19th century.
| Bridgie Cleary | Kaitlyn Groh |
| Mikey Cleary | Mick McEvilley |
| William Simpson | Kent Covey |
| Director | Maureen A. Kennedy |
| Stage Manager | Sara M. Marschall |
| Costume Design | Jessica Kehoe |
| Dialect Coach | Sean Flanagan |
| Producer | Barb Kenny |
The world premier took place at the Abbey Theater (Peacock), Dublin Ireland in 2005.
Anyone interested in becoming a member of this exciting theater company, auditioning, helping behind the scenes, reading, or contributing by funding, talent, or treasures, please contact the Artistic Director Maureen A. Kennedy at irishamericantheaterco@fuse.net or call her at 513-225-6915.
Our greatest current need is for lighting - equipment, design and technical crew.
Maureen
IrishAmericanTheaterCo@fuse.net