Milwaukee Irish Arts is once again the producer for all performances at The Theatre Pavilion at this year’s Milwaukee Irish Fest, the largest Irish festival in the country. We are also mounting a number of the productions for the festival. Your ticket to Irish Fest includes free entry to The Theatre Pavilion. Here are the entertaining shows to be presented this year Friday, August 17 through Sunday August 19:

A Couple of Blaguards

Authors: Frank McCourt and Malachy McCourt

Presented by Milwaukee Irish Arts

A Couple of Blaguards,a two-man show by literary greats Frank and Malachy McCourt, is a bubbling stew of their well-known humor with a dash of poignancy to sharpen the flavor. It contains stories and songs from and about their childhood in Limerick and was originally performed by the two brothers. A comedic springboard for Frank’s Angela’s Ashes and Malachy’s Tis A Monk Swimmin’,this brilliantly structured comedy is a proven crowd-pleaser offering solid entertainment.

Cast and Crew

Malachy McCourt – Brian Faracy
Frank McCourt – Dylan Bolin
Director – James J Gallagher

The Good Father

Author: Christian O’Reilly

Presented by Milwaukee Irish Arts

A love story of how two people starting at the end try to reach a new beginning. Tim and Jane are from different sides of the class divide, but after a random meeting at a New Year’s Eve party, they attempt to form a relationship against all odds. According to the Irish Independent, “The Good Father portrays a relationship that shouldn’t happen, but must, and it drags two people, whether they like it or not, from skepticism, to love, to grief, and to hope…”

The Good Father is a full length play that was presented at the Acting Irish International Theatre Festival in Calgary Canada in May of this year. Nate Press won the award for Best Male Actor in a Leading Role and James J Gallagher was nominated for Best Director as the festival.

Cast and Crew

Tim – Nate Press
Jane – Becky Cofta
Director – James J Gallagher

Mná na hÉireann/Women of Ireland

Presented by the UWM Celtic Studies program

Short program of poetry, prose and songs that mark some contributions women have made to the world of literature, culture, and politics in Ireland.

Come Away – to Your Own Ones

Presented by the book’s author Síle Post

A love story of the land, the people and the heart of Ireland. A dramatic reading by the author from her book, which was reviewed as “…A contemporary tale that feels almost mythic in scope. Post has taken on some weighty environmental and economic issues, but at the core of the book is the desire to know oneself and find the elusive ‘home’ we as humans desire. Written in lyrical prose with lashings of Gaelic, Your Own Ones takes the reader from Canada to Ireland. “

Cast

Síle (Sheila) Post (Book Author)
Robert Emmet Reidy

 

Stitching a Few Yarns Together

Stories from Eamonn O’Neill

Presented by Milwaukee Irish Arts

A selection of Irish stories told in classic style by Milwaukee Irish Arts’ beloved resident shanachie.

Cast

Eamonn O’Neill

 

Milwaukee Irish Fest Information:

To find the schedule of events at the Theatre Pavilion go here and chose Theatre Pavilion on the right: https://irishfest.com/Schedule.htm

For ticket information to Irish Fest go here:  https://irishfest.com/tickets.htm