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| Lucy Healy-Kelly, George C. Heslin, Gwen Orel at Origin Benefit (James Higgins) |
How It’s New York: The view from the windows on the 35th floor of Mutual of America, where Origin Theatre Company holds many of its parties, is quintessential Gotham: sunset over Park Avenue. With Broadway singers, cultural reps, politicos, artists and vips mingling, there’s a feeling of elegant New York style in the room. If you get an invitation to an Origin party, you always want to go. Waiters circulate plates of yummy nibbles and the buffet is wonderful too; there are two open bars, and everyone’s there. It’s better than many a wedding.
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| Mingling at the Party (James Higgins) |
How It’s Irish: Run by Limerick man George C. Heslin, Origin launched the 1st Irish Festival in 2008, New York’s first Festival of Irish theatre.  I wrote about its 2008 debut for the New York Times.  Their mission is to do American premieres of European plays, which during the year may also include Irish talent (see our post about their Mondays in May series).  The talent in the room was amazing, including Keven Melendez (who starred in Ivan and the Dogs, reviewed here); Malachy McCourt, Fiona Walsh, Rosemary Fine; Consul Noel Kilkenny and Northern Ireland Bureau Lorraine Turner were there, and many others! Photographer James Higgins was there and took loads of shots, including the ones here (mine are the ones in the slideshow). Check his out at his site.
The party included a Silent Auction, Raffle, Performances and Video.
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| Malachy McCourt and Noel Kilkenny |
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| James Higgins |
