Colin Broderick

Early life and education

Colin Broderick was born around 1968 and grew up County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. He moved to New York City in 1988 when he was 20.

Career

Books

Broderick's first memoir, Orangutan, was published by Random House in 2009. It describes his first twenty years as an immigrant in New York City, in Broderick's words, "working construction, the drinking, the failed marriages, jail, the usual stuff."

His 2013 follow-up memoir detailing his childhood growing up in Northern Ireland, entitled That's That, was also published by Random House.

Films

Broderick's first feature film, Emerald City, premiered at the Curzon Cinemas theatre in Soho, London on 27 November 2016 as part of The London Irish Film Festival. The movie is loosely based on his own experiences of working in the construction trade in New York City while trying to establish a career as a writer. It was produced with support from Brendan Coyle's Anderson Shelter Productions and Josh Brolin's Brolin Productions. Coyle is listed as a co-producer. John Duddy, a former professional boxer from Derry, Northern Ireland who made his acting debut in Broderick's first stage play, was cast in the film as Podge, an ex-fighter working in construction.

risingAlong with producer Kevin McCann, Broderick co-wrote a historical thriller about the 1916 Irish rebellion, in development and seeking funding since 2015. Brendan Coyle was attached to play Irish politician Augustine Birrell. Also attached were Liam Neeson's son Micheál Richardson, set to play Irish revolutionary Michael Collins (as his father did in the 1996 film Michael Collins); Fiona Shaw as Countess Markievicz; and Colin Morgan and David O'Hara in the roles of revolutionary leaders Sean McDermott and James Connolly, respectively. Neeson's role as Collins was confirmed in 2021.

Theatre

Broderick has had two of his plays performed in New York City. His first, Father Who, ran for three weeks at the Bronx's Macalla Theatre Company, which has since closed. The cast included John Duddy, in his first acting role. The play was also performed at Theatre 80, a historic theater and former speakeasy located on St. Mark's Place in Manhattan's East Village, for a shorter run in early 2014. On 7 March 2014, Broderick tweeted that Liam Neeson had attended a performance.

Broderick and his partners Don Creedon and Stephen Smallhorne co-founded the Poor Mouth Theatre Company in the Bronx in 2010.

Poor Mouth presented Broderick's second play, Spudmunchers in 2012. The production was staged in a popular Bronx bar in 2012. Broderick also directed the play, a story of two Irish brothers living together in Woodlawn Heights, a predominantly Irish-American working-class neighborhood in the Bronx.

References

References

1. (16 December 2012). "Oceans apart". [[The Sunday Business Post]].
2. (16 January 2010). "An 'Orangutan' on his back: BOOK REVIEW". [[Star Tribune]].
3. (December 2009). "Memoir (book review)". Irish America.
4. (26 September 2012). "Colin Broderick". [[Irish Voice]].
5. (28 October 2009). "From Addict to Literary Star". [[Irish Voice]].
6. (21 September 2017). "The Irish American Movie Hooley is back with 3 terrific films (review". [[Chicago Tribune]].
7. (2016). "EMERALD CITY, GLOBAL PREMIERE".
8. (24 June 2015). "Hollywood Shows Its Support for Emerald City".
9. Fitzpatrick, Michael. (24 March 2017). "Derry's John and Grainne Duddy: rising stars of the New York arts scene".
10. (25 February 2021). "Watch: Neeson and son in Made in Italy trailer".
11. O'Doherty, Cahir. "Colin Broderick and Kevin McCann making history with "The Rising" movie".
12. McNary, Dave. (16 July 2015). "'Downton Abbey' Star Brendan Coyle Joins Irish Drama 'The Rising'".
13. Waheed, Jabeen. (26 March 2021). "Liam Neeson shocked son Micheál Richardson auditioned for film role with him".
14. (13 May 2021). "105th anniversary of the execution of Seán MacDiarmada and James Connolly. 'The Rising' Producer Kevin McCann posts a special video from...". The Rising : 1916 Irish Rebellion Movie.
15. "Home".
16. (16 February 2016). "Woodlawn theater troupe debuts with acclaimed McGuinness hostage drama".
17. (7 March 2014). "COLIN BRODERICK'S "FATHER WHO" at THEATER 80 in NYC".
18. Broderick, Colin. (7 March 2014). "Liamneeson stopped in to see my play Father Who Wednesday night. What a class act.".
19. "Poor Mouth Theatre Company".
20. (15 April 2015). "Poor Mouth carves out a niche".
21. "Who We Are".
22. "Past Shows".