New York City's Irish Arts Center (IAC) has announced the lineup for its 2024 season, including inaugural programming in their newly rechristened JL Greene Theatre at Irish Arts Center. The flexible theatre space, part of the group's new building that opened in December 2021, is getting a new name to mark a $3 million gift from the Jerome L. Greene Foundation.
The season will kick off with Jean Butler's site-specific dance piece What We Hold, which traces the history of Irish dance throughout Ireland and the diaspora. Running February 14 through March 3, the piece combines visual, aural, and archival work to bring audiences into the cultural evolution. The piece will feature Butler, Tom Cashin, Marion Cronin, Colin Dunne, Kristyn Fontanella, James Greenan, Kaitlyn Sardin, Maren Shanks, and composer Ryan C Seaton.
Throughout the season, IAC will exhibit the work of women artists whose work reclaims traditional physical and cultural spaces using abstract art. Reclaiming a Space, featuring Diana Copperwhite, Erin Lawlor, Helen O’Leary, and Dannielle Tegeder, will be on view throughout the building from January 29 to June 23.
From January through April, the Origin Theatre Company will produced the development lab Scéal Nua, which is designed to supporting emerging voices in the New York Irish theatre community. Program participants will meet weekly in the Irish Arts Center library to read and develop their work.
Singer-songwriter Lisa Hannigan will be in residence from March 21 to 23. Hannigan will be joined by Theodora Byrne on vocals, Jane Patterson on vocals, Karen Cowley on vocals, Yuki Numata on violin, and Clarice Jensen on cello.
In a co-production with Lyric Theatre, Belfast, IAC will present Owen McCafferty’s new play Agreement April 11 through May 12. Directed by Charlotte Westenra, the dynamic new play explores the volatile four-day process of peace negotiations in Northern Ireland that culminated in the Good Friday Agreement. Casting will be announced at a later date.
From June 7 to 9, multidisciplinary performance artist Luke Casserly and perfume artist Joan Woods will collaborate with the Abbey Theatre and Solas Nua production of Distillation to lead audiences on a sensory journey into the Midlands bog Casserly grew up around. Using the evocative power of the olfactory sense, the piece is the latest in the 4d theatrical trend drawing upon audiences range of senses. In a sharp tonal shift, beloved Irish drag queen Panti Bliss will then present her show If These Wigs Could Talk June 13 through 23 to close out IAC's Pride Month programming.
Throughout the spring, IAC will continue its recurring programs, including Pulitzer Prize winning poet Paul Muldoon’s variety show Muldoon’s Picnic on March 11 with Matthew Rohrer, Mona Simpson, and Suzanne Vega with Gerry Leonard, on April 1 with Todd Almond, Adrian Mckinty, and Maggie Millner, and on June 3 with Susan Cho, Helena Nolan, Suzzy Roche, and Lucy Wainwright Roche.
In IAC’s Devlin Café, the Café Concert Series will welcome back Big City Folk Song Club, curated by Niall Connolly. The series will run February 9, March 8, April 4, and May 23, with Traditional Irish Sessions curated by Tony DeMarco on February 2, March 15, April 5, and May 17.
Book Day, when the Irish Arts Center distributes thousands of free books in New York’s five boroughs in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, will return for its 12th year on March 15.
Said Irish Arts Center Executive Director Aidan Connolly in a statement, “We look forward to many moments of artistry and inspiration to come in the JL Greene Theatre. And as we begin our third full year of operation in our new home, we also look ahead to the next phase of our important work: completing our 51st Street redevelopment, and building reserves and an endowment, to complete our vision of a new Irish Arts Center that will be successful and sustainable for future generations.”
For more information on the center's wider programming, visit IrishArtsCenter.org.
