Senate Resolution No. 5311

BY: Senator MONTGOMERY

COMMEMORATING the 35th Anniversary of Irondale to
be celebrated on May 10, 2018

WHEREAS, The arts, in whatever form, are central to human
expression; they are truly a universal language and their contribution
to the development of friendship and understanding among all peoples
cannot be underestimated; and

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those artistic organizations 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 35th Anniversary of Irondale to be celebrated with a
Gala on Thursday, May 10, 2018, at the Norwood Club, New York, New York;
and

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

WHEREAS, After working together for six years at the Long Wharf
Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut, Barbara Mackenzie-Wood, Jim Niesen
and Terry Greiss decided to create the kind of theatre that could only
come from the work of a true ensemble; and

WHEREAS, Established in 1983, Irondale began as a theatre company
long before there was a theatre space; from its earliest days,
education, engagement and outreach became its central mission, and the
group found audiences in public schools, prisons and shelters; and

WHEREAS, From about 1984 until 1999, the group 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, During this time, Shakespeare, Chekhov and Brecht were
performed regularly, on and off text; and

WHEREAS, Today, having performed 60 productions, the company's work
ranges from precise, accurate versions of classics to radical
reinterpretations of the same; much of what is done today is still
strongly influenced by the devising processes of the first years; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, this extraordinary ensemble has taught
thousands of workshops from Staten Island to Cape Town, and their work
has been seen from the Lower East Side to the former Soviet Union; and

WHEREAS, The physical Irondale Theatre was developed from an
abandoned 152-year-old church in 2008, giving the company the ability to

present not only its own work, but the work of other companies they
admire; 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 35 years, Irondale has contributed to the
richness of Brooklyn, 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 35th Anniversary of Irondale to be celebrated on May 10,
2018; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Barbara Mackenzie-Wood, Jim Niesen and Terry Greiss,
Irondale, Brooklyn, New York.