Dedicated to producing classic Irish theatre and plays by Irish-American writers, the Irish American Theatre Company will start off with a bang, Jan. 17. Their first show is called, Some Things You Need To Know Before The World Ends (A Final Evening With The Illuminati) and it's written by Larry Larson and Levi Lee.

A dark religious satire, World is "one part Marx Brothers, one part J. Edgar Hoover and one part Billy Graham," as two men of the cloth desperately try to find light amid the darkness of our approaching millennium. "The time is now!" reads the press release, "You must believe nine out of 10 prophets say to buy beachfront property in Nevada!"

Mark Lang, who plays Reverend Eddie, will direct the comedy, which also stars Matthew Lai. Jung H. Griffin has designed the sets, Mike Appel the lighting, Zita Davis the costumes, and Mike Schmetterer the sound.

Larson and Lee have collaborated on such shows as Tent Meeting, Hamlet...The Musical, Blood Orgy Of The Bermuda Triangle Zombie Assassins, and The Salvation Of Iggy Scrooge (staged at Seattle's Empty Space Theatre, 1994 & 1995), dubbed "a rock 'n' roll Christmas Carol" and co-written with Ed Key.

The Irish American Theatre Company will be the third Off-Broadway Irish troupe in NYC, joining Irish Repertory and the Irish Arts Center. This company will be unique in that their productions will play in Manhattan and then go on to tour Ireland. Artistic director Thomas Henry, a native of County Sligo, studied at the Royal Academy Of Dramatic Arts in the UK. For tickets ($12) and information on Some Things You Need To Know Before The World Ends, which plays at Performance Space 19 on First Ave. at 12th St., Jan. 16-Feb. 1, call (212) 352-4274.

--By David Lefkowitz