Introduction: Irish Repertory Theatre Company: Celebrating Thirty-Five Years Off-Broadway

This chapter is an Introduction to The Irish Repertory Theatre Company: Celebrating Thirty-Five Years Off-Broadway. The Introduction places the Irish Rep in the context of being the only Off-Broadway theatre company devoted to bringing Irish and Irish American plays to the stage. The Introduction considers how the Irish Rep’s plays and musicals reflect the Irish diaspora, the relationship between Ireland and America, and what it means to be Irish and Irish American, both historically, and in the twenty-first century, including how the Irish Rep is showcasing more diverse voices and experiences, from women, the LGBTQIA + community, and Irish and Irish American people of color. The Introduction compares and contrasts the Irish Rep with twenty other Off-Broadway theatre companies, as well as nine other Irish or Celtic theatre companies in North America, and seven North American arts organizations that promote an Irish, Irish American, or Celtic focus.