By Alix Cohen

Charlotte Moore and Ciarán O’Reilly concocted Irish Repertory Theatre picturesquely chatting at a kitchen table, rather like Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, except with credits. From a rental on 18th street in 1988, to the theater’s permanent, subsequently renovated home seven years later, the pair remain a mutual admiration society. Membership increases yearly.

There are two shows running currently. On the mainstage, extended through May 24, is Ulster American by David Ireland (his real name.) What begins as a cordial gathering to discuss an upcoming production starring an Irish American, quickly descends into a brutal psychological brawl as egos, ideologies, and historical baggage collide.

Downstairs, the W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre hosts The Approach which runs through May 10: “A cryptic work about memory and connection… an intricate puzzle of a play, it holds your attention like a transfixing riddle, rationing out clues and folding in on itself artfully.” The Irish Times

Coming next on the mainstage is The Loved Ones by Erica Murray, which was part of the autumn reading series helmed by Director of New Works Nicola Murphy. It’s a sharp, deeply moving, and wickedly funny new Irish play about motherhood, grief, and the families we find when life doesn’t go to plan.

I ask where Irish Rep finds its plays. “We get 10,000 a week. Agents and actors badger us – and we read them!” The two sound surprised hearing this aloud. Periodic trips to Ireland contribute as well. I ask whether the criteria for selections has changed over the years and receive a resounding, “NO!” from both. “Ms. Moore and I still fight out what we think a season should be. It’s always a mixture of classical and new work and hopefully things that people haven’t seen before,” O’Reilly adds with a grin.

The Mission: We are committed to showcasing the finest in Irish and Irish-American classic and contemporary plays as well as championing new works that enrich and expand what we know Irish theatre to be.

Also approaching is this year’s Gala- celebratory cocktails, dinner at Bryant Park Grill, and a one hour, star-studded concert version of My Fair Lady directed by Charlotte Moore & Ciarán O’Reilly with musical direction by Maestro John Bell. “The primary reason being, it’s the greatest musical of all time,” enthuses O’Reilly (The Rep has done many musicals.)

The dazzling Town Hall version will offer all familiar songs (with limited dialogue) performed by four Elizas, four Henry Higgins; one Colonel Pickering, one Freddie, one Mrs. Pierce, and one Mrs. Higgins. Tickets and Information https://irishrep.org/whats-on/gala-2026

I asked if the theater has changed since 1988. “Maybe the change in identity? So many plays we’d been sent or given were plays about The Troubles, about Irish Nationalism. This last season, we’ve had two from another point of view: The Honeytrap –perspective of a vengeful British soldier and Ulster American from a Unionist vantage where a protestant playwright insists she’s British and not Irish.”

“We’ve also made more strides to reflect the changes in Ireland over the years-especially in identity and what defines Irishness.” Fishamble: The New Play Company and Irish Repertory Theatre in association with The Apollo, Harlem, have partnered to commission a second four works by Black Irish playwrights telling their stories. These can be about anything, not just racism.

Last year, one of these, The Black Wolf Tone by Kwaku Fortune, about identity, raging against the machine, and how young men deal or don’t deal with the darkness, ran in Dublin as well New York. All four had readings in San Francisco and Los Angele.
“The Irish story in the US is one of originally not fitting in at all…”
There are also a great many women writers coming out of Ireland now, whereas years ago they had little opportunity.


Ciarán O’Reilly and Charlotte Moore

Like any even established theater company, Irish Rep depends “on the kindness of strangers.” In addition to memberships and donations, there are two theater trips to Ireland each year. In 2026, one goes to Galway for the Galway Arts Festival, one to
The Dublin Theater Festival. Attendees see the best theater, informally meet artists, are given private museum tours, and spend time in the colorful cities. Both happily sold out. If you would like to be invited to future travel opportunities fill out this form And you’ll be among the first to know.

There’s so much theater in the city, one can lose the forest for the trees. Irish Repertory Theatre adheres to high professional standards, presents with variety, integrity, and imagination and still manages a cozy feeling.
Irish Repertory Theatre 132 West 22nd Street https://irishrep.org/

All images courtesy of Irish Repertory Theatre