Villanova Partners With Ireland's National Theater For 'Historic' Exchange
VILLANOVA, Pa. (CBS) - A historic exchange begins today at Villanova University. The school is beginning an intellectual and artistic partnership with the Abbey Theatre, Ireland's national theater.
So, what does this mean for Villanova? Joseph Lennon, Irish Studies program director, says it creates a bridge between Villanova's past and its future.
"There are 40-million Irish Americans, and the Abbey has a mission to educate and reach out to people in Ireland and well as in the Irish diaspora."
Plus, numbers vary but it's believed that between 50 and 70% of all Villanova students have some Irish heritage. Lennon says another great feature of the Abbey is it reaches out to the mainstream and hopes to keep a conversation going.
He says this is a new chapter for Villanova, "This is the first program of its kind that is Irish studies and theater and is making the stage cross-Atlantic."
Tonight, Abbey director Patrick Mason will be speaking at Villanova's Dougherty Hall at 7 p.m. Father David Cregan, of Villanova's theater department, says tonight's speaker will be an inspiration for everyone.
"Patrick Mason is an excellent international example of an artist with a vision to create work that has a social impact, so that's a wonderful opportunity for our students to engage with a world-class practitioner."
The program will bring the Abbey's professionals here, and allow Villanova students to intern and study at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin.
Reported by Kim Glovas, KYW Newsradio 1060
