Senate Resolution No. 1481

BY: Senator MONTGOMERY

COMMEMORATING the 36th Anniversary of Irondale on
May 20, 2019

WHEREAS, Theatrical institutions, and the many social and
educational benefits they confer, play a vital role in the development
of their neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those artistic landmarks which have brought outstanding
entertainment and cultural enrichment to the citizens of the great State
of New York; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 36th Anniversary of Irondale to be celebrated with a
Gala on Monday, May 20, 2019, at India House Club in New York City; and

WHEREAS, Irondale is a theatre company which brings together artists
who collaborate over long periods of time, who speak a common
performance language and who believe theatre can educate as well as
entertain; and

WHEREAS, Irondale theatre company was established long before the
theatre space when Barbara Mackenzie-Wood, Jim Niesen and Terry Greiss
began making work together at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven,
Connecticut, in 1978; and

WHEREAS, In 1983, following six years of performing in theatres all
over the country, the group decided to create the kind of theatre which
could only come from the work of a true ensemble, artists coming
together over long periods of time to explore the nature and uses of
theatre; and

WHEREAS, From its earliest days, education, engagement and outreach
became central to Irondale's mission; the theatre company found
audiences in public schools, prisons and shelters, and taught thousands
of workshops from Staten Island to Cape Town; in addition, its
extraordinary work has been seen from the Lower East Side to the former
Soviet Union; and

WHEREAS, Irondale's first explorations from 1984 to 1999, focused on
improvisation and its application to text, both classical and
contemporary, with the goal of bringing a strong sense of
improvisational aliveness to scripted performances; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, during this time, Shakespeare, Chekhov and
Brecht were performed regularly, on and off text; and

WHEREAS, Today, with 60 productions under its belt, Irondale's work
ranges from precise, accurate versions of classics, to radical
interpretations of the same; still working in public and private
schools, the company has grown to offer multiple in-house youth and

education programs, with its flagship program being the Young Company
teen ensemble; and

WHEREAS, The success of Irondale is in direct correlation to the
efforts of its dedicated staff, whose involvement is, and always has
been, characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled
enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in all
endeavors on behalf of the organization and the community it serves; and

WHEREAS, A vibrant arts community encourages collaboration, instills
local pride, draws people together, and is essential to a community's
vitality; over the past 36 years, Irondale has greatly contributed to
the richness of New York's cultural palette; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when artistic
societies of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, they should be recognized by all the citizens of this great
Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 36th Anniversary of Irondale on May 20, 2019; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Irondale, Brooklyn, New York.