Deirdre O'Connell
Encyclopedia
Eleanore Deirdre O'Connell (16 June 1939 – 9 June 2001) was an Irish actress, singer, and theatre director who founded Dublin's Focus Theatre
.
, one of five children whose parents were Irish immigrants. When she finished school, she pursued her interest in theatre studying first at Erwin Piscator's
Dramatic Workshop
, New York
, and later at the Actors' Studio run by Lee Strasberg
. In her early twenties, O'Connell moved to Dublin, Ireland
, where she set up the Stanislavski Studio at the Pocket Theatre. There she trained a small company of actors in Stanislavski's 'system'. In 1967 she founded the Focus Theatre
becoming its manager, artistic director, and fundraiser—as well as acting in many of its productions.
O'Connell was a noted folk-singer
and performed at the Newport Folk Festival
. She married the Irish singer Luke Kelly
in June 1965.
Deirdre O'Connell died of cancer at her home in Dublin at the age of 61. She is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery
.
Focus Theatre
The Focus Theatre in Dublin is a small but respected theatre which offers a variety of plays from new and established writers.The theatre was founded in 1967 by the late Deirdre O'Connell, and opened on 29 September with a production of Doris Lessing's Play With a Tiger.The Focus Theatre has been...
.
Biography
O'Connell was born in the South Bronx district of New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, one of five children whose parents were Irish immigrants. When she finished school, she pursued her interest in theatre studying first at Erwin Piscator's
Erwin Piscator
Erwin Friedrich Maximilian Piscator was a German theatre director and producer and, with Bertolt Brecht, the foremost exponent of epic theatre, a form that emphasizes the socio-political content of drama, rather than its emotional manipulation of the audience or on the production's formal...
Dramatic Workshop
Dramatic Workshop
Dramatic Workshop was the name of a drama and acting school associated with the New School for Social Research in New York City. It was launched in 1940 by German expatriate stage director Erwin Piscator. Among the faculty were Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler, among the students Marlon Brando, Tony...
, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and later at the Actors' Studio run by Lee Strasberg
Lee Strasberg
Lee Strasberg was an American actor, director and acting teacher. He cofounded, with directors Harold Clurman and Cheryl Crawford, the Group Theatre in 1931, which was hailed as "America's first true theatrical collective"...
. In her early twenties, O'Connell moved to Dublin, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, where she set up the Stanislavski Studio at the Pocket Theatre. There she trained a small company of actors in Stanislavski's 'system'. In 1967 she founded the Focus Theatre
Focus Theatre
The Focus Theatre in Dublin is a small but respected theatre which offers a variety of plays from new and established writers.The theatre was founded in 1967 by the late Deirdre O'Connell, and opened on 29 September with a production of Doris Lessing's Play With a Tiger.The Focus Theatre has been...
becoming its manager, artistic director, and fundraiser—as well as acting in many of its productions.
O'Connell was a noted folk-singer
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and performed at the Newport Folk Festival
Newport Folk Festival
The Newport Folk Festival is an American annual folk-oriented music festival in Newport, Rhode Island, which began in 1959 as a counterpart to the previously established Newport Jazz Festival...
. She married the Irish singer Luke Kelly
Luke Kelly
Luke Kelly was an Irish singer and folk musician from Dublin, Ireland, notable as a founding member of the band The Dubliners.-Early life:...
in June 1965.
Deirdre O'Connell died of cancer at her home in Dublin at the age of 61. She is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery , officially known as Prospect Cemetery, is the largest non-denominational cemetery in Ireland with an estimated 1.5 million burials...
.
Further reading
- O'Connell Cusack, Geraldine, Children of the Far-flung, The Liffey Press (Oct 2003), ISBN 978-1904148333