The Irish Repertory Theatre to Honor Brian Friel With Memeorial

The Irish Repertory Theatre will honor the legacy of the late Irish playwright Brian Friel with a memorial celebration to be held on December 7 at Manhattan Theatre Club’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. The event is open to the public but attendees must RSVP to friel@irishrep.org and indicate number of attendees.

The program will include remembrances and readings from colleagues and friends including Gabriel Byrne, Loretta Brennan Glucksman, Barry Grove, Gregory Harrington, Doug Hughes, Todd Haimes, Geraldine Hughes, Irish Consul General Barbara Jones, John Keating, Emily Mann, Lynne Meadow, Charlotte Moore, Paul Muldoon, Ciaran O'Reilly, Bill Whelan, and more to be announced.

Brian Friel was a prolific writer who produced more than 30 plays in a career spanning six decades. His best-known works are Philadelphia, Here I Come! (1964), The Freedom of the City (1973), Aristocrats (1979), Faith Healer (1979), Translations (1980, 2007), Dancing at Lughnasa (1990), Molly Sweeney (1993), Give Me Your Answer Do (1997), and The Home Place (2005).

"Brian Friel was our hero," said Irish Repertory Theatre artistic director Charlotte Moore. "He was as generous as he was gifted and gave our company life and breath and golden words."

"In numerous collaborations over a quarter of a century, we have been honored to stage more of Brian’s plays than any other author," added Irish Rep’s producing director Ciarán O’Reilly. "Both the man and his work were one-of-a-kind. He will be missed."