GAELIC PARK PLAYERS

WHO WE ARE

'Way back in the Spring of 1992 a handful of like-minded individuals on
Chicago's South Side gathered together with the idea of forming an
Irish Theatre Group, where everybody could work in the performing
arts and have fun doing so at Gaelic Park. Our hope was to present
the best in Irish culture and tradition to the community surrounding
Gaelic Park and indeed to Chicago at large, in the shape
of Irish drama and comedy. We called ourselves Gaelic Park Players.

Our first production consisted of two one-act plays by Seán O'Casey
entitled "Pound on Demand" and "Bedtime Story". Both plays were well
received and the group was encouraged to expand its horizons.
We now present two full length productions per year, one in the Spring
and one in the Fall in addition to performing at various Irish Festivals
over the Summer months. Productions to date have concentrated
on drama, comedy and farce from the pens of Seán O'Casey
and Brian Friel to John Murphy, Bernard Farrell and John B.Keane.

Our best effort was Murphy's "Country Boy" directed by Joanne Lamar
followed closely by Joyce Minford's "Changing Patterns" directed by
Myra McWilliams, however, there will always be a special appreciation
for Gerald Healy's "The Black Stranger" directed by Joanne Lamar, to
commemerate the 150th anniversaryof the Great Hunger in Ireland,
1847 thru 1850. A erformance of "The Black Stranger" was presented
at the Irish American Heritage Center to raise funds for "An Gorta Mór".
Another play that got loud applause was John B Keane's
"The Year of the Hiker" directed by Josephine Craven.

We are active participants in Acting Irish International Theatre Festival
(AIITF) and hosted the Festival here at Gaelic Park in 1999.
We hosted the Festival again in 2005.   In 2006 we participated in AIITF
with "The Able Dealer" in Toronto, and look for us in Milwaukee in 2007.
In Milwaukee Gaelic Park Players received the coveted
"Adjudicators Award" for "Getting Buried"
Deborah Sampson was nominated for Best Actor in a female role.
Kate McNally was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a female role.

In 1994 a Performing Arts Stage was added to the Programme for
Gaelic Park's Irish Fest held each year over the Memorial Day Weekend.
Our group has been delighted to host the Performing Arts Stage
over the four day festival, featuring local talent from the Chicagoland area,
visiting groups from Milwaukee WI. and St. Paul MN. and wonderful
storytelling with Batt Burns and Tommy Makem.

To celebrate our 15th Anniversary Gaelic Park Players will be taking our
Spring Production to Ireland in March 2007. Fifteen Years!! and still going strong!!

The mission of the Gaelic Park Players is to promote, foster and develop
Irish Theater. Our purpose in coming together to stage a play is to enrich social life,
energize debate, encourage creativity and stimulate cultural cohesiveness within
our community at Gaelic Park and within communities far and wide where the
Irish dramatic tradition is revered, and 'tis great craic!

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The present Board of Directors (2007/2008) consists of:

May you have the hindsight to know where you've been
And the foresight to know where you're going
And the insight to know when you're going too far.