LIVE at 1st Irish Festival, Act I: Labhaoise Magee & Crissy O'Donovan, Theatre Makers

A native of Cork Ireland, Mellamphy is a busy New York actor who is a member of the Irish Repertory Theatre and a founder of The Pigeon Theatre Company, as well as a former owner of the Irish bar Ryan’s Daughter where he produced a number of immersive theater productions. Before helming the 13th annual Origin 1st Irish (with Sarah Street)which hosted 20 virtual events and showcased the work of 34 contemporary Irish playwrights, Mellamphy had already become a familiar 1st Irish presence, winning two Best Actor awards in previous years. In addition to making numerous television appearances over the years, he is also the performance capture artist of the cheeky Irish gunslinger Sean MacGuire from Rockstar’s hugely popular video game “Red Dead Redemption 2.”

Michael is a graduate of the Performing Arts program at Colaiste Stiofain Naofa/ The Firkin Crane Theatre in Cork City, Ireland, and also graduated from the three-year conservatory Theatre Studies program at Inchicore College, Dublin, Ireland. His earliest memories of theater were sitting with his grandmother at the Cork Opera House for the annual Christmas panto. She would tell him, “You could be up there, doing that for a living”. Even then as a young child, Michael was excited and inspired by theatre and its power to bring communities together, challenge people, and foster new ideas. To have the opportunity to continue this work in the Theatre Capital of the World, with a company so dear to his heart, is something that humbles and excites him at the same time.

Labhaoise Magee is currently Producer and GM of the Irish National Tour of Sinéad O’Brien’s No One Is Coming. She currently works with Mercury Store, Mabou Mines and Origin Theatre. Previous work includes The Shed, Daryl Roth Theatre, Irish Repertory Theatre, Vineyard Theatre, and The Classical Theatre of Harlem, where she collaborated with Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, and The Acting Company on several co-productions. Her international work includes: Blue Elephant Theatre (London), The Playhouse Derry (Ireland) and White Horse Theatre touring productions in Germany, France and Belgium.

Crissy O’ Donovan joined Big Telly on secondment in August 2020 and took on the post full time in January 2021 where she is now Producer and Company Manager. Crissy has over 7 years experience in producing national and international touring work, with a specific focus on digital and site responsive work. Previously, Park Theatre, London, Young Actors Studio, London and Creation Theatre Company, Oxford. She has worked as an actor, director and producer and a member of faculty at Oxford School of Drama from 2015-2019, where she taught Devising and Professional Development.