By Ernio Hernandez
24 Nov 2003

Gabriel Byrne (A Moon for the Misbegotten, Brian Dennehy (A Long Day's Journey Into Night) and Milo O'Shea (Comedians, Mass Appeal) will perform in readings to honor Dublin's Abbey Theatre: Celebrating a Century of Achievement," Dec. 3 at The Metropolitan Club in New York City.

The Abbey Theatre in Dublin, Ireland, celebrates its 100-year anniversary in 2004, having presented over 740 new plays and produced 1,000 — many penned by great Irish writers including W.B. Yeats, James Joyce, Eugene O'Neill, J.M. Synge, Sean O'Casey, Hugh Leonard, Samuel Beckett and Brian Friel among others.

The historic Abbey opened its doors to the public on December 17, 1904. Since then, hundreds of actors including Byrne, Dennehy, Liam Neeson, Peter O'Toole, Sinead Cusack, John Mahoney, Barry Fitzgerald and Pauline Flanagan have played on its stage which is the National Theatre in Ireland. Last season's Broadway revival of Medea was a production of The Abbey Theatre of Dublin.

The Dec. 3 event hosted by Abbey Centenary Committee chairman John McColgan (Riverdance) and vice chair Loretta Brennan Glucksman will an evening of cocktails, a buffet supper and readings by leading Irish actors of works that have been performed on the Abbey stage through its history. Fionnuala Flannagan and The Celtic Tenors will also perform.

Tickets to the evening are available by calling Orla O'Malley at (917) 482-6400.