Bill Text: NY J01481 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Senate Resolution 1481 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Commemorating the 36th Anniversary of Irondale on May 20, 2019

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-05-14 - ADOPTED [J01481 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J01481-Introduced.html


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.