ORIGIN THEATRE COMPANY INC

ORIGIN BEGAN ITS FISCAL YEAR 2024 WITH OUTREACH TO POTENTIAL PRODUCERS FOR ORIGIN 1ST IRISH 2024, WHICH WE DECIDED TO MOVE TO LATE MARCH/APRIL INSTEAD OF THE USUAL JANUARY SLOT. THIS DECISION WAS MADE WITH SEVERAL FACTORS IN MIND. CHIEF AMONG THEM WAS THE CONTINUED IMPACT OF COVID AND FLU SEASON ON AUDIENCE ATTENDANCE IN JANUARY. WE ALSO FELT THAT A FESTIVAL CELEBRATING IRISH CULTURE WOULD BENEFIT FROM ALIGNING WITH ST. PATRICKS DAY FESTIVITIES IN MID-MARCH FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES. PREPARATIONS FOR FUNDRAISING BEGAN ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE NEW FISCAL YEAR, INCLUDING PLANS FOR A NEW SEASON OPENER EVENT HELD AT TAVERN 29 ON SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2023. THE EVENING FEATURED A TALKBACK WITH BLACK 47 FRONTMAN AND CELEBRATED IRISH PLAYWRIGHT LARRY KIRWAN. A RAFFLE WAS HELD TO RAISE FUNDS, AND WE SHARED OUR VISION FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON. ORIGINS LARGEST FUNDRAISER OF THE SEASON TOOK PLACE AT A BEAUTIFUL MANHATTAN PENTHOUSE ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 30TH, 2023. WE HONORED THE CONSUL GENERAL OF IRELAND TO NEW YORK, HELENA NOLAN, AND HER HUSBAND, SAMI DAHDOUH, WITH THE TOM MORAN BUSINESS TO ARTS AWARD FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING SUPPORT OF IRISH THEATRE IN NEW YORK, BOTH DURING AND FOLLOWING THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC. WE ALSO RECOGNIZED THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF IRISH AMERICAN ACTOR ROGER CLARK FOR HIS WORK ON STAGE AND, IN PARTICULAR, FOR HIS PERFORMANCE CAPTURE IN RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2. AS MENTIONED, WE MOVED THE 1ST IRISH FESTIVAL TO LATER IN THE YEAR, BUT THAT DIDNT MEAN THERE WASNT MORE GREAT WORK BEING PRODUCED BY ORIGIN. IN DECEMBER, WE LAUNCHED A NEW INITIATIVE, SCAL NUA (MEANING NEW STORY IN IRISH)A PLAYWRIGHTS LAB AIMED AT FOSTERING THE WORK OF LOCAL, IRISH- INSPIRED PLAYWRIGHTS. LED BY SARAH STREET AND SUPPORTED BY THE IRISH ARTS CENTER, THE PROGRAM ACCEPTED 8 PARTICIPANTS FROM OVER 100 APPLICANTS, HELPING THEM DEVELOP THEIR IDEAS AND OFFERING A PLATFORM FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF IRISH-INFLUENCED VOICES IN NEW YORK. FOR VALENTINES DAY, WE PARTNERED WITH THE AMERICAN IRISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND ITS NEWLY APPOINTED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DR. ELIZABETH STACK, TO PRESENT READINGS FROM JOHN B. KEANES LETTERS OF A MATCHMAKER. IN LATE MARCH/APRIL, WE PRESENTED THE 16TH ANNUAL ORIGIN 1ST IRISH THEATRE FESTIVAL 2024. THIS YEARS FESTIVAL FEATURED 11 FULL PRODUCTIONS, A SERIES OF READINGS, AND A FILM SCREENING. WE PRESENTED KING BY PAT KINEVANE, PRODUCED BY FISHAMBLE: THE NEW PLAY COMPANY, AT 59E59, SUPPORTED BY CULTURE IRELAND. OTHER NOTABLE PRODUCTIONS INCLUDED: PHILADELPHIA, HERE I COME BY BRIAN FRIEL AT THE IRISH REP HERSELF BY TIM MCGILLACUDDY AT THE GURAL THEATRE THE DOUBLE BASS BY SEAN GORMLEY AT THE CELL THEATRE PEACE AND LOVE IN BROOKLYN BY EAMONN OTUAMA AT THE CELL THEATRE BUMBLED BY BERNARD MCMULLEN AND COLIN HAMMEL AT THE NEW YORK IRISH CENTER LAST CALL FOR BABE REILLY BY MARIANNE DRISCOLL THE WORST CAF IN THE WORLD BY BIG TELLY AT RYANS DAUGHTER FROM THE BQE TO THE Q.E.D. WITH WBAIS JOHN MCDONAGH BOANN AND THE WELL OF WISDOM BY JOHN KEARNS AT THE GREEK CULTURAL CENTER RUNNING WITH COFFEE BY EILEEN BYRNE RICHARDS AT AN BEAL BOCHT IN THE BRONX WE ALSO SCREENED ROBBIE WALSHS HARD-HITTING CRIME MOCKUMENTARY S.P.L.I.T. AT RYANS DAUGHTER ON THE UPPER EAST SIDE. THERE WAS A MINI-FESTIVAL OF READINGS FROM OUR SCAL NUA PROGRAM AT THE IRISH ARTS CENTER, AS WELL AS READINGS OF THE WOMEN OF KILMAINHAM BY THOM MOLYNEAUX, NANCY AND MICHAEL BY DAVID GILNA, AND DRY ROT BY DON CREEDONALL HELD AT THE AMERICAN IRISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY. ADDITIONALLY, WE HOSTED TALKS ON THE AMERICAN PRESS AND THE IRISH QUESTION BY MARK HOLAN AND THE IRISH WAR OF INDEPENDENCE WITH CONAL CREEDONS ART IMITATING LIFE IMITATING DEATH. THE FESTIVAL CULMINATED ON APRIL 28TH WITH OUR ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY, HELD AT THE FAMED IRISH REPERTORY THEATRE. IN MAY, WE PRESENTED ANOTHER ORIGIN INITIATIVE, PLAYS IN MAY,FEATURING DUBLIN NOIR BY NYC IRISH PLAYWRIGHT HONOR MOLLOY AND OFF THE METER BY JOHN MCDONAGH AT THE AMERICAN IRISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY. ORIGINS SEASON CAME TO A FESTIVE CLOSE WITH OUR ANNUAL BLOOMSDAY CELEBRATION AT BLOOMS TAVERN ON EAST 58TH STREET, WHERE WE PRESENTED READINGS FROM JAMES JOYCES ULYSSES, ALONG WITH LIVE MUSIC FROM LOCAL MUSICIAN ALAN GOGARTY.