Bringing the literary work of James Joyce to the stage for both academic and general audiences
Artwork for Waywords & Meansigns by Heather Ryan Kelley
Finnegans Wake ...in on-line audio!
The Here Comes Everybody Players are delighted to be included in the "Open-door edition" of Waywords and Meansigns, an on-line recording of Finnegans Wake set to music, "in its Whole Wholume". HCE Players music and spoken word contribution encompasses the first eight pages of the book, including the first "Thunderword" and the Willingdone Museyroom. The edition was launched on line on May 4, 2017 (the anniversary of the publication of Finnegans Wake in 1939). To listen go to: www.waywordsandmeansigns.com/listen/opendoor-edition/ HCE Players' piece is first track.
“A way a lone a last a loved a long the,” read the first words, here lilted by a female representative of the Here Come Everybody Players midst Celtic instrumentation before her compatriots follow along: “riverrun, past Eve and Adam’s, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs.” The troupe, professional Joyce interpreters, veer from spectral tones befitting Lord Of The Rings narration past rough-and-tumble sea shanties to a place far weirder and darker than any audio book dare dream.
Jay Horton, Music review, Paste Magazine, May 12, 2017
Don't dip your toes into the fast-flowing waters of the Wake. Plunge in. The HCE Players's powerful dramatization gives you the full immersive experience. It's not just reading, it's not merely hearing, -- the HCE Players bring you as near as you'll get to actually experiencing the exhilarating energy of Joyce's colliderscape.
Joseph Nugent, Assistant Professor, Irish Studies Program and English Department, Boston College
The Here Comes Everybody Players are delighted to be included in the "Open-door edition" of Waywords and Meansigns, an on-line recording of Finnegans Wake set to music, "in its Whole Wholume". HCE Players music and spoken word contribution encompasses the first eight pages of the book, including the first "Thunderword" and the Willingdone Museyroom. The edition was launched on line on May 4, 2017 (the anniversary of the publication of Finnegans Wake in 1939). To listen go to: www.waywordsandmeansigns.com/listen/opendoor-edition/ HCE Players' piece is first track.
“A way a lone a last a loved a long the,” read the first words, here lilted by a female representative of the Here Come Everybody Players midst Celtic instrumentation before her compatriots follow along: “riverrun, past Eve and Adam’s, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs.” The troupe, professional Joyce interpreters, veer from spectral tones befitting Lord Of The Rings narration past rough-and-tumble sea shanties to a place far weirder and darker than any audio book dare dream.
Jay Horton, Music review, Paste Magazine, May 12, 2017
Don't dip your toes into the fast-flowing waters of the Wake. Plunge in. The HCE Players's powerful dramatization gives you the full immersive experience. It's not just reading, it's not merely hearing, -- the HCE Players bring you as near as you'll get to actually experiencing the exhilarating energy of Joyce's colliderscape.
Joseph Nugent, Assistant Professor, Irish Studies Program and English Department, Boston College
Future Performances
Lit Crawl Boston 2019
Contemporary Poetry from Ireland with music
Read by members of the The Here Comes Everybody Players
Lit Crawl Boston 2019—produced in partnership with the Boston Book Festival and the Boston Literary District—is a free night out for book lovers. Readers will choose from three evening sessions featuring unique literary events (one provided by the HCE Players): poetry, performances, games, readings, and more. While programs are sure to delight those of all bookish tastes and backgrounds, there will also be food and drink at many of the events.
Boston’s beautiful Back Bay will serve as venues. Attendees will be able to stroll down the sidewalk and pop in on the action happening at each unique venue—from furniture stores to salons. So, don some reading glasses, slip on those comfy walking shoes, and “crawl” your way through a truly memorable evening.
The Here Comes Everyone Players presentation will feature modern Irish poetry that reflects the energy and freshness of a changing society and how these changes are addressed by a new generation of younger poets, mostly women. The experience of motherhood, the question of the Irish language, the pull of the past, and the dilemmas of the present are treated with passion, lyricism, simplicity, and humor, punctuated with some traditional Irish music.
When: June 6, 2019, 6 PM
Where: Newbury Comics, 348 Newbury St, Boston USA
Admission: Free
Link: https://bostonbookfest.org/year-round-events/lit-crawl-boston/
Bloomsday Festival, Dublin, June 12 - 16, 2019
Of Thyme and Rosemary, A one-act play by Debbie Wiess.
An informal rehearsed reading of the play ‘Of Thyme and Rosemary’, a conversation between James Joyce and Marcel Proust. The authors first met on 18 May 1922 at a private dinner party at the Hotel Majestic in Paris. Among the guests were fellow icons of Modernism Diaghilev, Stravinsky and Picasso. The conversation between Proust and Joyce was variously reported. According to one account, Joyce complained about his eyes and Proust his stomach. ‘Of Thyme and Rosemary’ depicts an imagined second meeting, in which the iconic writers had a true meeting of minds over some white wine. Featuring Jack Walsh as Joyce and Cathal Stephens of the HCE Players as Proust.
When: June 13, 2019, 1.05 PM
Where: James Joyce Centre, N. Gt. Georges St., Dublin, Ireland
Admission €5
Link: https://jamesjoyce.ie/event/bloomsdayfestival.ie
Bloomsday at the James Joyce Centre
Actor Cathal Stephens of the Here Comes Everybody Players will surprise you with stories about James Joyce and the Centre. You’ll be delighted as he performs short extracts from Ulysses. After which, you can explore our exhibition floor, check out the table where Joyce worked on Finnegans Wake and rap at the door of No. 7 Eccles Street. Be sure to be in your best Bloomsday getup for the cameras!
A founding member of Boston-based Here Comes Everybody Players, Cathal Stephens has delighted audiences at Dublin’s Bloomsday Festival for several years.
When: June 16, 2019, 10.30am and 2pm, Duration: One hour approx.
Where: James Joyce Centre, N. Gt. Georges St., Dublin, Ireland
Admission €5
Link:
http://www.bloomsdayfestival.ie/bloomsday-2019-programme/2019/6/16/bloomsday-at-the-james-joyce-centre
Bloomsday Readings and Songs
Cathal Stephens of the Here Comes Everybody Players will be a featured performer at the traditional Bloomsday Readings and Songs from Ulysses. A long-standing and treasured tradition, this afternoon of songs, readings and performances from Ulysses in the heart of the city is an essential part of the Bloomsday experience. Featuring a chaotic cast of noted Irish actors, politicians, musicians, pundits, procrastinators and everyone in between, this is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the book amongst seasoned Joycean veterans and Bloomsday beginners alike.
When: June 16, 2019, 3 - 6 pm
Where: Wolfe Tone Square Park, Dublin, Ireland
Admission Free
Link:
http://www.bloomsdayfestival.ie/bloomsday-2019-programme/2019/6/16/bloomsday-2019-readings-amp-songs
Lit Crawl Boston 2019
Contemporary Poetry from Ireland with music
Read by members of the The Here Comes Everybody Players
Lit Crawl Boston 2019—produced in partnership with the Boston Book Festival and the Boston Literary District—is a free night out for book lovers. Readers will choose from three evening sessions featuring unique literary events (one provided by the HCE Players): poetry, performances, games, readings, and more. While programs are sure to delight those of all bookish tastes and backgrounds, there will also be food and drink at many of the events.
Boston’s beautiful Back Bay will serve as venues. Attendees will be able to stroll down the sidewalk and pop in on the action happening at each unique venue—from furniture stores to salons. So, don some reading glasses, slip on those comfy walking shoes, and “crawl” your way through a truly memorable evening.
The Here Comes Everyone Players presentation will feature modern Irish poetry that reflects the energy and freshness of a changing society and how these changes are addressed by a new generation of younger poets, mostly women. The experience of motherhood, the question of the Irish language, the pull of the past, and the dilemmas of the present are treated with passion, lyricism, simplicity, and humor, punctuated with some traditional Irish music.
When: June 6, 2019, 6 PM
Where: Newbury Comics, 348 Newbury St, Boston USA
Admission: Free
Link: https://bostonbookfest.org/year-round-events/lit-crawl-boston/
Bloomsday Festival, Dublin, June 12 - 16, 2019
Of Thyme and Rosemary, A one-act play by Debbie Wiess.
An informal rehearsed reading of the play ‘Of Thyme and Rosemary’, a conversation between James Joyce and Marcel Proust. The authors first met on 18 May 1922 at a private dinner party at the Hotel Majestic in Paris. Among the guests were fellow icons of Modernism Diaghilev, Stravinsky and Picasso. The conversation between Proust and Joyce was variously reported. According to one account, Joyce complained about his eyes and Proust his stomach. ‘Of Thyme and Rosemary’ depicts an imagined second meeting, in which the iconic writers had a true meeting of minds over some white wine. Featuring Jack Walsh as Joyce and Cathal Stephens of the HCE Players as Proust.
When: June 13, 2019, 1.05 PM
Where: James Joyce Centre, N. Gt. Georges St., Dublin, Ireland
Admission €5
Link: https://jamesjoyce.ie/event/bloomsdayfestival.ie
Bloomsday at the James Joyce Centre
Actor Cathal Stephens of the Here Comes Everybody Players will surprise you with stories about James Joyce and the Centre. You’ll be delighted as he performs short extracts from Ulysses. After which, you can explore our exhibition floor, check out the table where Joyce worked on Finnegans Wake and rap at the door of No. 7 Eccles Street. Be sure to be in your best Bloomsday getup for the cameras!
A founding member of Boston-based Here Comes Everybody Players, Cathal Stephens has delighted audiences at Dublin’s Bloomsday Festival for several years.
When: June 16, 2019, 10.30am and 2pm, Duration: One hour approx.
Where: James Joyce Centre, N. Gt. Georges St., Dublin, Ireland
Admission €5
Link:
http://www.bloomsdayfestival.ie/bloomsday-2019-programme/2019/6/16/bloomsday-at-the-james-joyce-centre
Bloomsday Readings and Songs
Cathal Stephens of the Here Comes Everybody Players will be a featured performer at the traditional Bloomsday Readings and Songs from Ulysses. A long-standing and treasured tradition, this afternoon of songs, readings and performances from Ulysses in the heart of the city is an essential part of the Bloomsday experience. Featuring a chaotic cast of noted Irish actors, politicians, musicians, pundits, procrastinators and everyone in between, this is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the book amongst seasoned Joycean veterans and Bloomsday beginners alike.
When: June 16, 2019, 3 - 6 pm
Where: Wolfe Tone Square Park, Dublin, Ireland
Admission Free
Link:
http://www.bloomsdayfestival.ie/bloomsday-2019-programme/2019/6/16/bloomsday-2019-readings-amp-songs
Recent Performances
Finnegans Wake End, Dublin, May 4, 2019
Circling the Wake at James Joyce Centre
(Part of the Finnegans Wake End, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the publication of Finnegans Wake)
Circling the Wake was evening for both seasoned readers and newcomers to Finnegans Wake. This epic piece of literature has baffled and delighted countless readers. Readings and performances throughout the evening will open up the text. The Finnegan Wakes Film Project will continue with Everybody invited to read a full page to a piece of wordless music that has impacted on their life. Darina Gallagher and Sinead Murphy from Songs of Joyce will perform excerpts from their Misses Liffey show, which brings us on a riverrun journey through the city of Dublin. They’ll introducing us to many of James Joyce’s women characters that live, work, sing and laugh along her banks. The evening will also include performances from Cathal Stephens of The Here Comes Everybody Players and Breda Cannon-Courtney and Bertha Reilly of Wilde Irish Productions.
When: May 4, 2019, 8 PM
Where: James Joyce Centre, N. Gt. Georges St., Dublin, Ireland
Link: https://jamesjoyce.ie/event/finnegans-wake-end/
Finnegans Wake End, Dublin, May 4, 2019
Circling the Wake at James Joyce Centre
(Part of the Finnegans Wake End, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the publication of Finnegans Wake)
Circling the Wake was evening for both seasoned readers and newcomers to Finnegans Wake. This epic piece of literature has baffled and delighted countless readers. Readings and performances throughout the evening will open up the text. The Finnegan Wakes Film Project will continue with Everybody invited to read a full page to a piece of wordless music that has impacted on their life. Darina Gallagher and Sinead Murphy from Songs of Joyce will perform excerpts from their Misses Liffey show, which brings us on a riverrun journey through the city of Dublin. They’ll introducing us to many of James Joyce’s women characters that live, work, sing and laugh along her banks. The evening will also include performances from Cathal Stephens of The Here Comes Everybody Players and Breda Cannon-Courtney and Bertha Reilly of Wilde Irish Productions.
When: May 4, 2019, 8 PM
Where: James Joyce Centre, N. Gt. Georges St., Dublin, Ireland
Link: https://jamesjoyce.ie/event/finnegans-wake-end/
Flan and Joyce - the Insoluble Pancake
Donal O'Sullivan represented The Here Comes Everybody Players at this Literary Symposium, at Boston College, reading excerpts from Finnegans Wake. When: March 30, 2019 Where: Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA The Art of James Joyce - 26th Annual James Joyce Symposium The Here Comes Everybody Players was represented at the 26th International James Joyce Symposium, The Art of James Joyce this year in Antwerp, Belgium When: June 11 - 16, 2018 Where: University of Antwerp Link: uahost.uantwerpen.be/joyce2018/ We were represented in Antwerp by Cahal Stephens who performed a solo piece, Parodies and lists in Cyclops and elsewhere in Ulysses and Finnegans Wake. He also performed in the concluding "Happening" of the Symposium, So Prettly Prattly Pollylogue, as part of the 8-person Waywords and Meansigns ensemble, performing an improv multi-media piece based on Finnegans Wake The Here Comes Everybody Players participation in this conference was supported by the Toronto 2017 Diasporic Joyce Travel Grant to Artists. Joyce and Journalism Conference The Here Comes Everybody Players performed a piece called Murder, Marriage and Mammamuscles Most Mouseterious, featuring vignettes from Ulysses, Finnegans Wake and Joyce's writing in Il Piccollo della Sera. the HCE Players appearance was part of a full-day academic conference at Boston College entitled James Joyce and Journalism. When: Saturday, April 21, 2018; 9 AM - 4 PM Where: Connolly House, 300 Hammond St. (Boston College), Chestnut Hill, MA Link: http://events.bc.edu/event/joyce_and_journalism_conference#.WtJ6tq3Mwcg St. Parick's Day Weekend 2018 The Here Comes Everybody Players appeared at the Aeronaut Brewing Company's St. Patrick's Day weekend celebrations in a lighthearted interpretation of selections from James Joyce's work, complete with music by the Here Comes Everybody Trio and audience participation. When: Sunday, March 18, 2018; 4 - 5 PM Where: The Aeronaut Brewing Company, 14 Tyler Street, Somerville MA 02143 Link https://www.aeronautbrewing.com/events/ Of Thyme and Rosemary - a conversation between James Joyce and Marcel Proust Written and directed by Debra Weiss, the one-act play was presented as a staged reading at two venues in March with Donal O'Sullivan as James Joyce and Cahal Stephens as Marcel Proust. A discussion with the author and the actors followed each performance. When: Tuesday, Mar. 13, 2018; at The Boston Atheneum, 10 1/2 Beacon St Boston and Tuesday, Mar. 20, 2018; at The Boston Playwrights Theatre, 949 Comm. Ave., Boston music by The Here Comes Everybody Trio (Lidia Chang, Tony Keegan and Sean Connor)
 Lit Crawl Boston 2017; Donal O'Sullivan as Fr. Arnall from A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (photo Karen Moore)
The Complete Works of James Joyce in under 60 minutes - with music
In association with The Thirsty Scholars* (a Finnegans Wake Reading Group) celebrating the completion of the group's eight-year long reading of the book. Featuring excerpts from all of Joyce's books including Dubliners, A Portrait of the Artist as A Young Man, Ulysses, Exiles and especially Finnegans Wake. When: Wednesday, February 21, 2018; Where: Shahe Hall, Holy Trinity Armenian Church Campus, 145 Brattle Street, Cambridge MA, 02138 Excerpts from each of Joyce's books, Dubliners, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Ulysses, Finnegans Wake and Exiles included audience participation and music. A light hearted but deep dive into Joyce's extraordinary and varied literary works including music and audience participation. *Meeting every Tuesday, the Thirsty Scholars have finished reading every page of Finnegans Wake twice over 22 years. Now while celebrating the completion of the second reading, they welcome new members as they prepare to begin a third round of reading this unique book. HCE Players performers included: Bill Conley; Sean Connor; Tony Keegan; Kevin Kordis; Emma Jayne McKenzie; Donal O'Sullivan and Cahal Stephens. Lit Crawl Boston, October 2017 The Complete Works of James Joyce in 44 minutes – with Music! For the 2017 Lit Crawl, The Here Comes Everybody Players performed excerpts from Dubliners, Finnegans Wake, A Portrait of the Artist as A Young Man, Exiles and Finnegans Wake Lit Crawl Boston 2017 - the second annual night of irreverent literary programming in Boston’s Back Bay. From 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., intrepid readers could choose from a variety of unique literary events including games, performances, provocations and other oddities, all in surprising venues ranging from cafes and art galleries to barbershops and shoe stores. When: October 26, 2017; 7:30 PM Where: Barbershop Lounge, 245 Newbury St., Boston http://www.litquake.org/events/lit-crawl-boston http://www.bostonbackbay.com/event/lit-crawl-boston/ https://www.facebook.com/LitCrawlBoston/?ref=bookmarks |
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Diasporic Joyce, North American Joyce Conference, Toronto, June 21 - 25, 2017.
The Here Comes Everybody Players were the "resident players" at this conference at Victoria College, University of Toronto. Performances included:
- Of Thyme and Rosemary - a conversation between James Joyce and Marcel Proust, a new play, written and directed by Debra Weiss, a staged reading with Donal O'Sullivan as James Joyce and Cahal Stephens as Marcel Proust.
- An Evening of Words and Songs, with Michelle Widden, Soprano, Sebastian Knowles, pianist and The Here Comes Everybody Players (Donal O'Sullivan; Lucia Smyth and Cahal Stephens)
- Several informal performances and reading of the works of Joyce at various times throughout the conference.
https://diasporicjoyce.wordpress.com
Bloomsday 2017, Dublin For the fifth consecutive year, the Here Comes Everybody Players were represented at Dublin's Bloomsday celebrations under the auspices of the James Joyce Centre (http://jamesjoyce.ie) and the Upper Leeson Street Area Residents Association (ULSARA; www.ulsara.ie).
Performances included:
- Public readings and performances from Ulysses, Meetinghouse Square, Dublin 2, June 16, 2017
- Performances at the James Joyce Centre, Dublin 1, June 16, 2017
- Performance of parodies from the Cyclops episode of Ulysses, Dartmouth Square Tea Party, Dublin 6, June 17, 2017
Waywords and Meansigns recreating Finnegans Wake [in its Whole Wholume] A diverse cast of musicians, readers, and artists are creating what may be the year’s most innovative musical-literary project: James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake set to music. The Here Comes Everybody Players music and spoken word contribution encompasses the first eight pages of the book. See more details at top of this page.
Launched on-line: May 4, 2017
www.waywardsandmeansigns.com
Joycespring - an introduction, through drama, to the works of James Joyce. Sponsored by the Amherst Irish Association as part of the Association's Event Series for 2016 -17.
When: Sunday April 23, 2017, 2 PM
Where: Unitarian Universalist Church, Amherst MA
Followed by: "Tea and Tunes", Complementary tea, scones and Irish music by Le Chéile, 3 - 4 PM
www.amhertirish.org
St. Patrick's Day Music and Poetry from Ireland, including poetry by classic and modern Irish poets. Presented as part of the Democracy Centre's Aperitif Series of short monthly musical events.
When: March 17, 2017; 6 PM - 7 PM
Where: Democracy Center, Mount Auburn St., Cambridge MA 02138
Joycespeed - the Energy of Modernity the HCE Players performed a stage adaptation of Ithaca, the penultimate chapter of Ulysses, as part of this conference sponsored by the Irish Studies Program at Boston
College.
When: Saturday, November 12, 2016
Where: Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
http://www.bc.edu/centers/irish/studies/calendar.html
The Here Comes Everybody Players were the "resident players" at this conference at Victoria College, University of Toronto. Performances included:
- Of Thyme and Rosemary - a conversation between James Joyce and Marcel Proust, a new play, written and directed by Debra Weiss, a staged reading with Donal O'Sullivan as James Joyce and Cahal Stephens as Marcel Proust.
- An Evening of Words and Songs, with Michelle Widden, Soprano, Sebastian Knowles, pianist and The Here Comes Everybody Players (Donal O'Sullivan; Lucia Smyth and Cahal Stephens)
- Several informal performances and reading of the works of Joyce at various times throughout the conference.
https://diasporicjoyce.wordpress.com
Bloomsday 2017, Dublin For the fifth consecutive year, the Here Comes Everybody Players were represented at Dublin's Bloomsday celebrations under the auspices of the James Joyce Centre (http://jamesjoyce.ie) and the Upper Leeson Street Area Residents Association (ULSARA; www.ulsara.ie).
Performances included:
- Public readings and performances from Ulysses, Meetinghouse Square, Dublin 2, June 16, 2017
- Performances at the James Joyce Centre, Dublin 1, June 16, 2017
- Performance of parodies from the Cyclops episode of Ulysses, Dartmouth Square Tea Party, Dublin 6, June 17, 2017
Waywords and Meansigns recreating Finnegans Wake [in its Whole Wholume] A diverse cast of musicians, readers, and artists are creating what may be the year’s most innovative musical-literary project: James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake set to music. The Here Comes Everybody Players music and spoken word contribution encompasses the first eight pages of the book. See more details at top of this page.
Launched on-line: May 4, 2017
www.waywardsandmeansigns.com
Joycespring - an introduction, through drama, to the works of James Joyce. Sponsored by the Amherst Irish Association as part of the Association's Event Series for 2016 -17.
When: Sunday April 23, 2017, 2 PM
Where: Unitarian Universalist Church, Amherst MA
Followed by: "Tea and Tunes", Complementary tea, scones and Irish music by Le Chéile, 3 - 4 PM
www.amhertirish.org
St. Patrick's Day Music and Poetry from Ireland, including poetry by classic and modern Irish poets. Presented as part of the Democracy Centre's Aperitif Series of short monthly musical events.
When: March 17, 2017; 6 PM - 7 PM
Where: Democracy Center, Mount Auburn St., Cambridge MA 02138
Joycespeed - the Energy of Modernity the HCE Players performed a stage adaptation of Ithaca, the penultimate chapter of Ulysses, as part of this conference sponsored by the Irish Studies Program at Boston
College.
When: Saturday, November 12, 2016
Where: Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
http://www.bc.edu/centers/irish/studies/calendar.html
Photo: June Cloutier
Emma MacKenzie as Bertha and Bill Conley as Richard in the final scene of Exiles, Cambridge MA, February, 2018 |
Photo: Debra Weiss
Donal O'Sullivan as Fr. Arnall from A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Cambridge MA, 2018
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Photo: Christine Banna
Stephen Reinstein as The Sergeant and Josh Way as A Ragged Man in The Rising of the Moon by Augusta Lady Gregory in Out of Bounds - an Evening of Irish Music & Theatre, IIIC, Boston, December, 2014
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