Milwaukee Irish Arts Ltd

Milwaukee Irish Arts (Cumann Ealaín Éireannach Milwaukee)s a group dedicated to the initiation, presentation and promotion of Irish and Irish American arts in the Midwest with emphasis on theatre, film and the visual arts.  We have offered an ongoing program of cultural events since 1983 when we first introduced theatre performance as part of Milwaukee Irish Fest.

Over the past 17 years Milwaukee Irish Arts has brought to the local stage over one hundred works from the canon of Irish and Irish American drama.  Our production of The Wake at Milwaukee’s Performing Arts Center brought Steve Allen to town for what he termed a “masterful creation” of his play.  We imported the Abbey Theatre’s Ray Yeates to direct Philadelphia, Here I Come, which provided an early opportunity for young actor Barry McEvoy, who has gone on to star on Broadway with Jason Robards and Blyth Danner. We brought the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland to the Pabst Theatre for a spectacular concert that the local press called “the cultural bargain of the year.”  Our presentation of Belfast actress Maggie Cronin’s A Most Notorious Woman played to full houses and rave reviews.

Milwaukee Irish Arts produces the Theatre Tent at Irish Fest in Milwaukee, one of the largest Irish festivals in the United States if not the world. In addition to arranging performances from around the country as well as from Ireland, it mounts its own productions for this event. In the last few years, the group has presented “Bedtime Story” by Sean O’Casey, “Lovers: Loser” by Brian Friel, “Thirst” by Flan O’Brian.

Milwaukee Irish Arts is one of the founders of the Acting Irish International Theatre Festival.

We thank you, the Milwaukee Irish Community and Milwaukee Irish Arts patrons, for helping us to continue to act as a springboard for new writers and performers.

Go néirí an t-ádh linn!