Hosted by The Gaelic Park Players
at Chicago Gaelic Park
6119 West 147th St.
Oak Forest, IL 60452
Phone: 708-479-8380
FÁILTE
Gaelic Park Players are proud to host the sixth annual Acting Irish International Theatre Festival, at Chicago Gaelic Park, 6119 West 147th St., Oak Forest, IL 60452,May 25 through 30, 1999. This event is scheduled to run in conjunction with Gaelic Park’s annual memorial Day Weekend Irish Fest. The festival is a publicly adjudicated presentation of classical and modern Irish plays by Irish playwrights or by non-Irish playwrights, with a distinctly Irish theme. Last year’s festival was hosted by Winnipeg, Canada and consisted of seven productions, representing the work of three American and four Canadian Irish theatre groups. This year’s Festival broadens its scope with nine groups from across the US and Canada.
Nine full-length plays will be performed over six days, kicking off with Gaelic Park Players’ own production of “The Chastitute” by John B. Keane at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday May 25. The remaining eight groups will perform Wed, May 26 through Sat, May 29 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. daily.
PARTICIPATING GROUPS
5/25/99 – 7:30 p.m. – “THE CHASTITUTE” by JOHN B. KEANE performed by GAELIC PARK PLAYERS, CHICAGO, IL.
5/26/99 – 1:30 p.m. – “MONDAY NIGHT IN A COUNTRY TOWN” by TOM O’BRIEN performed by THE IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTRE THEATRE, CHICAGO, IL.
5/26/99 – 7:30 p.m. – “DRAMA AT INNISH” by LENNOX ROBINSON performed by TORONTO IRISH PLAYERS, TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.
5/27/99 – 1:30 p.m. – “WAITING FOR GODOT” by SAMUEL BECKETT performed by TÍR NA NÓG THEATRE, DENVER, CO.
5/27/99 – 7:30 p.m. – “RHAPSODY IN STEPHEN’S GREEN” by FLANN O’BRIEN performed by NA FÍANNA, ST. PAUL, MN.
5/28/99 – 1:30 p.m. – “FRUGAL COMFORTS” by EAMON KELLY performed by INNISFREE THEATRE, BOCA RATON, FL.
5/28/99 – 7:30 p.m. – “THE COUNTRY BOY” by TOM MURPHY performed by MILWAUKEE IRISH ARTS, MILWAUKEE, WI.
5/29/99 – 1:30 p.m. – “44 SYCAMORE STREET” by BERNARD FARRELL performed by TARA PLAYERS, WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA.
5/29/99 – 7:30 p.m. – “A LITTLE LIKE PARADISE” by NIALL WILLIAMS performed by TARA PLAYERS THEATRE OF OTTAWA, OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA.
5/30/99 – 2:30 p.m. – “THE COUNTRY BOY” by TOM MURPHY performed by MILWAUKEE IRISH ARTS, MILWAUKEE, WI.
5/30/99 – 7:30 p.m. – “RHAPSODY IN STEPHEN’S GREEN” by FLANN O’BRIEN performed by NA FÍANNA, ST. PAUL, MN.
5/31/99 – 1:30 p.m. – “THE CHASTITUTE” by JOHN B. KEANE performed by GAELIC PARK PLAYERS, CHICAGO.
5/31/99 – 5:30 p.m. – “MONDAY NIGHT IN A COUNTRY TOWN” by TOM O’BRIEN performed by THE IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTRE THEATRE, CHICAGO, IL.
ADJUDICATING
Each group presents a full length play and all performances are judged by a panel of competent adjudicators. This year’s panel is composed of:
Michelle Volansky
Dramaturg
Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago.
Cecilie O’Reilly
Director, Actor, Voice Coach
Teaches Irish Theatre at Columbia University, Chicago.
Ray Yeates
Actor and Director, New York,
formerly the youngest director ever appointed to the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, Ireland.
Ticket Information
Show Times:
May 25, 26, 27, 28, & 29 evening performances: 7:30 p.m.
May 26, 27, 28, & 29 matinee performances: 1:30 p.m.
For Tickets:
Call Gaelic Park 708 687 9323 or Maureen 708 479 8380
May 25, 26 and 27, $8.00 per day
May 28, 29 and 30, $10.00 per day, (includes admission to Irish Fest)
AWARDS
BEST PLAY
FRUGAL COMFORTS By Eamonn Kelly
Presented By Innisfree Theatre, Boca Raton, FL.
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Tony Cohen as Estragon in WAITING for GODOT by Samuel Beckett
Presented by Tír Na Nóg Theatre, Denver, CO.
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Amy Flynn as Julia in THE COUNTRY BOY by John Murphy
Presented by Milwaukee Irish Arts, Milwaukee, WI.
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Teige Reid as Eddie Twohig in DRAMA AT INISH By Lennox Robinson
Presented by Toronto Irish Players, Toronto, Canada.
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Vera Kelly as Eva Kishock in THE CHASTITUTE by John B. Keane
Presented by Gaelic Park Players, Oak Forest, IL..
Following an Irish Breakfast, served in the Tara Room at Gaelic Park, the awards were presented by
Mr Eamon Hickey
Consul General, Irish Consulate, Chicago.
We sincerely hope everyone had an enjoyable time at the festival and we are looking forward to next year (Y2K) and another week of great entertainment. Again we sincerely congratulate the winners and hope they enjoy their trophies for many,many years to come.
Gaelic Park Players' Core Committee to host the Acting Irish International Theatre Festival
Josephine Craven
Chair, Group Liaison
Maggie Murphy
Fundraising, Publicity, Promotion
Pat Deane
Lighting, Sound, Decorating
Jim Kearney
Transportation/Hospitality/Awards
Margaret Conway
Seating/Hotel Accommodations
Mike Giblin
Construction, Stage Design.
Eileen Deane
Treasurer
