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35-607: The concept of the Acting Irish International Theater Festival (AIITF) was originated by three Irish community theater groups: the Tara Players of Winnipeg, Milwaukee Irish Arts, and Na Fianna Theatre of Minneapolis-St. Paul. These three groups held several invitational performances in each other's city between 1990 and 1993, and all three groups participated in the 1991 Milwaukee Irish Fest . The Tara Players of Winnipeg participated in

70-501: A Female Actor in a Leading Role: Carol McQuarrie ( Doubt, a Parable ); Neasa McCann ( Molly Sweeney ); Imelda Wellington ( Here We Are Again, Still ); Sandy Lucas ( Beauty Queen of Leenane ) Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Greg Ludek ( Is Life Worth Living? ); Mick McEvilley ( Dancing at Lughnasa ); Luke Hurt ( Here We are Again, Still ); Dorin McIntosh ( Beauty Queen of Leenane ) Outstanding Performance by

105-791: A Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Kate McNally ( A Wake in the West ); Kathy Dauer ( Is Life Worth Living? ); Megan Andres ( Doubt, a Parable ); The entire cast of Eclipsed The Festival was hosted by the Irish Theatre of Florida from May 20–25, 2014. The festival took place at the Artns Garage, 180 NE 1st Street, Delray Beach. The adjudicator for the festival was John Countryman, Director of Theatre at Berry College in Georgia. (in order of presentation) Milwaukee Irish Fest Milwaukee Irish Fest (locally known as Irish Fest )

140-457: A few pounds for spending money, and begging the old man to come live with him in England. Da always refused, which hurt Charlie more than the old man could have realized. After Da's death, Charlie receives a visit from Drumm, now an elderly man himself. Drumm still bears some ill will toward Charlie, but has been asked by Da to make sure that Charlie receives his inheritance. To Charlie's horror,

175-472: A job as Drumm's clerk. He imagined the job would be only temporary, but he ended up working for Drumm for 14 years. Like his Da, Charlie kept an unprestigious, low-paying job far longer than he ever intended to. In the late 1950s, as Charlie began to experience success as a writer, he unthinkingly snubbed Drumm in public; Drumm never forgave this crime, and turned against him. About the same time, Da's employers sold their home, leaving Da unemployed. They gave him

210-867: A program of the Rochester Community Players, hosted the 2008 AIITF at the Geva Theatre Center's NextStage Theatre May 13 to 17. The festival included two long one-act plays by the young Dublin playwright, Conor McPherson For the fourth time, the Tara Players of Winnipeg hosted the AIITF, in May 2009. The 2010 AIITF was held May 17 to 22, 2010 at the Irish-American Heritage Center, 4626 North Knox Avenue, Chicago. (in order or presentation) The Liffey Players Drama Society of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, hosted

245-447: A suburb of Dublin, Ireland, after the death of his adoptive father. He finds that the house is filled with ghosts, of his parents and of his younger self. Charlie talks and interacts with all the ghosts, relives important moments from his youth, and comes to grips with his complicated feelings for his adoptive parents. Through Charlie's conversations and interactions with the ghosts in his home, we see both why he loved his parents and why he

280-491: A tiny pension and, as a parting gift, a tacky paperweight made from dozens of discarded eyeglasses. Da received the gift as a grand honor, which only increased Charlie's disdain for his father, a man who felt privileged to receive a worthless knickknack, so long as it came from "the Quality" upper classes. Soon after, Charlie moved to England with his fiancée, and his adoptive mother died. Charlie visited Da regularly, giving him

315-486: A very entertaining, if completely insane, romp through the upper regions of Irish lunacy, confirming the old showbiz adage of 'leave them laughing when you go.'" Honourable Mention: Costume Design for Holding Court Theatre for their production of Summer by Hugh Leonard and also for Toronto Irish Players for their production of At the Black Pig's Dyke by Vincent Woods. In addition to the seven adjudicated productions,

350-662: Is a yearly Irish-American festival held at the Henry Maier Festival Park , on Lake Michigan , United States, every third weekend in August. Over 130,000 people attend the Fest each year to watch nearly 250 acts on 17 stages. The four-day festival started in 1981, founded by Edward J. Ward. Irish Fest is the largest of the ethnic festivals held at the Summerfest grounds which report attendance, and holds claim to

385-594: Is largely autobiographical. Its protagonist, an expatriate writer named Charlie Tynan, represents Leonard, who, like the character, was adopted. The play deals with Charlie's relationships with the two father figures in his life: "Da" – an old-fashioned Irish nickname meaning "Daddy" – his adoptive father, and Mr. Drumm, a cynical civil servant who becomes his mentor. Charlie, a writer who has been living in London for many years, returns to his boyhood home in Dalkey,

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420-914: The 2007 Festival included two special presentations: Townlands , by Dermot Bolger; a reading presented by the students of the Theater Department of the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. Sneak preview of Walking the Road , also by Dermot Bolger. This play about Francis Ledwidge, a young Irish poet who lost his life in Flanders fields in 1917, while serving with the British army in World War I, had its world premiere at Axis Arts Center in Dublin June 9, 2007. The Irish Players of Rochester,

455-585: The 2011 Festival at the Vertigo Theatre at the base of the Calgary Tower, from May 16–21, 2011. The Axis-Ballymun Theatre in Dublin, Ireland, hosted the 2012 Festival from May 14–19, 2012. The Festival was hosted by Chicago's Gaelic Park Players from May 21–25, 2013. The festival took place at Chicago's Gaelic Park, 6119 West 147th Street; Oak Forest, Illinois. The adjudicator for the festival

490-810: The AIITF in 2000. The festival included the North American debt of The Wheeping of Angles by Joseph O'Connor , brother of Sinéad O'Connor . In 2001, the AIITF was held in Denver , Colorado , USA, at the Courtyard Theatre, Auraria Campus , the University of Colorado Denver , on May 15–19, 2001. The festival was hosted by Tir Na nOg, whose name mean in Irish (Gaelic) "everlasting youth". A special performance by PHAMALy (Physically Handicapped Actors and Musical Artists League), as guests artists,

525-845: The Liffey Players of Calgary, and Bag Lady , by Frank McGuiness , presented by Patabesin Productions, Calgary. In 1997, the AIITF was held in Milwaukee , Wisconsin , USA at the Scottish Rite Cathedral, 790 N. Van Buren St. May 14–17. Adjudicators for this festival were Milwaukee actress Laura Gordon; Christopher Foreman, former artistic director of the Northern Arts and Cultural Center in Yellowknife , Northwest Territories , Canada; and Ray Yeates, who

560-695: The Milwaukee Irish Fest in 1992 and 1993 as well, but because that festival was dedicated primarily to Irish music, the three groups co-founded the theater-only AIITF in 1994. The first festival was held in Winnipeg , Manitoba , Canada March 10–13, 1994 and presented at the Tara Players' theater at the Irish Association of Manitoba. One of the founders of the festival was Geoff White of the Tara Player of Ottawa. The 1995 AIITF

595-716: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article of May 14, 1997, lists the group as the Thomas Davis Players. The AIITF in 1998 returned to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and was held at the Gas Station Theatre May 13–16, 1998. Groups from Toronto , Ottawa and Chicago joined the festival. The Gaelic Park Players hosted the AIITF in Chicago , Illinois May 25–30, 1999. The Toronto Irish Players, of Toronto , Ontario , Canada, hosted

630-850: The Tara Players at the Manitoba Theatre for Young People, May 20–22, 2004. The scheduled performance of the Gaelic Park Players was canceled due to weather problems. The AIITF returned to Chicago in 2005, hosted by Gaelic Park Players at the Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., May 18–21, 2005. The 2006 AIITF was hosted by the Toronto Irish Players at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts May 30 to June 3. The festival

665-809: The completion of its run. It was directed by Melvin Bernhardt and produced on Broadway by Lester Osterman, Marilyn Strauss and Marc Howard. It opened at the Morosco Theatre on 1 May 1978 and closed on 1 January 1980 after 697 performances. The scenic design was by Marjorie Kellogg , the costume design by Jennifer von Mayrhauser , and the lighting design by Arden Fingerhut . The original cast included Barnard Hughes as Da, Brian Murray as Charlie Now, Lois De Banzie as Mrs. Prynne, Mia Dillon as Mary Tate, Sylvia O'Brien as Mother, Lester Rawlins as Drumm, Richard Seer as Young Charlie, and Ralph Williams as Oliver. Brian Keith replaced Barnard Hughes toward

700-700: The end of the Broadway run when Hughes went out on a National Tour across the U.S. and Canada. The play won the 1978 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play , the 1978 New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play , the 1977/78 Outer Critics Circle Award for the Most Outstanding Play of the New York Season and the 1978 Tony Award for Best Play . The play is set in Dalkey , County Dublin , in 1968, and times and places remembered, and

735-565: The inheritance turns out to be the paperweight made of eyeglasses, and an envelope containing all the spending money Charlie had ever given to his Da. Charlie is forced to accept that he could never repay his father. In fact, Da adored him, and selflessly gave him his entire legacy: the money and the paperweight. Charlie berates his father's ghost, pledging to leave Ireland forever, outraged that Da never accepted any help, and saddened that Da refused to move to England. The ghost decides to make up for lost time, and come back to England with Charlie. As

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770-537: The largest celebration of Irish Culture in the world. Festival highlights include: The annual closing event is the Scattering, a gathering of many of the festival's musicians playing together in one combined session , with fifty or more musicians on the stage at one time not uncommon. Irish Fest celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2005, which saw the opening of the new Celtic Roots stage. President of Ireland , Mary McAleese also attended that year's fest. There

805-574: The play ends, Charlie leaves his house with the ghost following him. His Da will always remain a powerful presence in his life. The film adaptation of 1988 retained Ireland as the primary setting. Playwright Hugh Leonard wrote the screenplay, adding material from his memoir. In addition, he slightly rewrote the main character, Charlie, as an Irishman who had emigrated to the United States many years earlier, to permit casting of actor Martin Sheen in

840-587: Was Brad Armacost. Attending the Awards Ceremony on May 26 was Aidan Cronin, Counsel General of Ireland, Chicago, Illinois. (in order of presentation) Finalists for awards in 2013: Best production: Doubt, a Parable ; Eclipsed ; Here We Are Again, Still ; Beauty Queen of Leenane Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: Robert Wall ( Doubt, a Parable ); Ken Moroney ( Molly Sweeney ); Robie Saxon ( Molly Sweeney ); Jack Kirwan ( Here We Are Again, Still ) Outstanding Performance by

875-604: Was also presented at this festival. The Best Production award in 2001 was presented to Innisfree Irish Theatre for their production of The Cripple of Innishmaan , by Martin McDonagh . Sean Mac Donnchadha, of Innisfree Irish Theatre, received the acting award for Best Lead Male Actor as JohnnyPateenMike in The Cripple of Innishmaan The AIITF was held in the Capital of Canada, Ottawa , in 2002. The Best Production award

910-486: Was an illegitimate child at a time when this carried a heavy stigma in Catholic Ireland. Although Da accepted Charlie fully, Charlie always felt like an outsider, heavily indebted to Da. Moreover, Charlie never could find a way to repay Da or even fully express his love and gratitude. The genial, undemanding Da was the polar opposite of Charlie's other father figure, Drumm, a high-level civil servant. Since Drumm

945-950: Was held March 9–11 at the Weyerhaeuser Auditorium in Landmark Center, 75 W. 5th St., St. Paul , Minnesota , USA. Five organizations participated, hosted by Na Fianna of Minneapolis-St. Paul. The adjudicators were Mona Poehling, Dan Sullivan and Ethna McKiernan. In 1996, the AIITF was held in Calgary , Alberta , Canada May 15 to 19, 1996 at the Irish Cultural Center. The festival adjudicators were Christopher Foreman, Pat Benedict, and Dr. Richard Wall. Six groups participated: In addition to these formal festival productions, two "showcase" (non-adjudicated) productions were presented: Winners (from Lovers: Winners and Losers ) by Brian Friel , presented by

980-550: Was hosted by the thirty-year-old Toronto Irish Players, which performed The Plough and the Stars by Seán O'Casey , featuring nine transplanted Dubliners in the cast. Milwaukee Irish Arts hosted the 2007 AIITF at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, May 15 to 20. Note: Starting with this festival, Innisfree Irish Theatre changed its name to the Irish Theatre of Florida. Special Adjudicator Award: Gaelic Park Players "For

1015-456: Was humiliated, and was astonished to learn that, despite everything, Drumm had actually taken a liking to him. Drumm was intelligent, shrewd, and very pessimistic. He saw Charlie as the son he never had, and offered him the unsentimental advice to regard his Da as his enemy, someone who'd hold him back from succeeding in life. Drumm advised Charlie to emigrate from Ireland, which was no place for an ambitious young man. However, Charlie instead took

1050-647: Was no Irish Fest in 2020 as officials cited the COVID-19 pandemic as grounds for scrapping most events & moving others online. Da (play) Da is a 1978 memory play written by Hugh Leonard . The play had its American premiere at the Olney Theatre Center in Olney, Maryland on 7 August 1973. Its New York City premiere came at the off-off-Broadway Hudson Guild Theatre in 1978, and this production transferred to Broadway shortly after

1085-473: Was one of the few prosperous, educated Irishmen in the vicinity, Charlie's parents hoped he could find Charlie a job. In 1945, they invited Drumm to their home to introduce him to 17-year-old Charlie. The introduction went disastrously, as Da made a series of foolish, embarrassing statements (Da believed that a German victory in World War II was imminent, and he was plainly rooting for this outcome). Charlie

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1120-423: Was presented to the Tara Players of Winnipeg for their production of Paddy Irishman, Paddy Englishman, and Paddy. . .? James Bowman won the award for Best Actor in the same production The Irish Players of Rochester, an invitational group at this, their first festival, were awarded "Best Invitational Production" for Someone Who'll Watch Over Me . The 2004 AIITF returned to Winnipeg for the third time, hosted by

1155-453: Was presented to the Toronto Irish Players for their production of Da by Hugh Leonard Innishfree Irish Theatre hosted the 2003 AIITF at The Crest Theatre, Del Ray Beach, Florida, May 11–17, 2003. The 2003 Festival also featured, for the first time, three groups invited from Ireland. This festival featured the first North American production of Paddy Irishman, Paddy Englishman, and Paddy. . .? by Declan Croghan. The Best Production award

1190-426: Was so eager to leave them far behind. Charlie's family was not dysfunctional or abusive. On the contrary, Charlie's parents adored him, and made great sacrifices to give him a good education. His Da, a gardener for a rich Anglo-Irish family, was kind and patient, but also woefully unsophisticated and lacking in ambition. Charlie loved Da, but was also embarrassed by him, and felt guilty for this embarrassment. Charlie

1225-629: Was the youngest director in the history of Dublin's Abbey Theatre . The Best Production award in 1997 was presented to Tara Players of Winnipeg, for their production of The Field . Tadhg McMahon of the Tara Players was also presented with the Best Supporting Male award for his performance as Tadhg McCabe. Note: The 2004 AIITF program lists the New York participant at the 1997 AIITF as the John Fitzgerald Theatre;

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