Riverdance the Show – farewell tour

Thrilling audiences across the world RIVERDANCE made its stage debut on Feb. 9, 1995, at Dublin’s Point Theatre, where it sold out five weeks of performances. Shortly thereafter it was first staged in the United States at Radio City Music Hall in New York in March 1996. One of those performances was released on video and became a sensation on PBS. Since then RIVERDANCE has been performed more than 10,000 times in front of more than 21 million people in 32 countries on four continents.

The success of RIVERDANCE can be attributed to the long standing dance tradition of Ireland. Irish dance has entertained in villages of Ireland for centuries so it was really no surprise that the genius behind the success was to have a line of dancers.  There had never before been a celebration of Irish music, song and dance in the form of a professional setting. The creators took the dance tradition of Ireland and gave it some showmanship with music, costumes and choreography. The Show returns to where it was first introduced to American audiences…the famed Radio City Music Hall, to play 8 Farewell Performances.

“Riverdance” won’t end entirely. A third company will take the show to new and developing markets, including China, India, Israel and Lebanon.

Center for Irish Programs, Boston College

Center for Irish Programs, Boston College
Gaelic Roots Music, Song, Dance, Workshop and Lecture Series

Series Director: Séamus Connolly, Sullivan Artist-in-Residence
Thursday, March 18 – Connolly House, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Cape Breton Music and Dance: Concert by Kimberley Fraser and Troy
MacGillivray.
Each a highly sought-after performer and teacher of both fiddle and piano,
Kimberley Fraser and Troy MacGillivray have brought the traditional music
and step dance of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia to audiences as far as
Afghanistan, where they performed for the Canadian Forces base in 2008.
Kimberley’s album, Falling on New Ground, won the 2008 East Coast Music
Award for best Roots/Traditional Album of the Year. Troy MacGillivray’s
album Live at the Music Room won the East Coast Music Award in 2008 for
Instrumental Recording of the Year. Performer info:
http://www.kimberleyfraser.com and http://www.troymacgillivray.com

Irish Film Festival Boston

The Irish Film Festival Boston (IFFB)
March 25-28

Notable filmmakers and established actors have been honored with awards . IFFB was founded in 1999 to introduce Irish filmmaking to the world. Four days of feature films, Documentary, short fiction and animation flicks at the Brattle, Sommerville Theaters.

One short film of interest…Dance Lexie, Dance (1996) 14 mins Director: Tim Loane
Laura, a 12 year old Protestant girl wants to be a Riverdancer when she grows up. However, with her mother dead, will her Dad, Lexie, help her?

www.irishfilmfestival.com

THE YEATS PROJECT at The Irish Repertory Theatre

The Irish Rep’s month long Yeats Project
Charlotte Moore and Ciarán O’Reilly, Directors

THE YEATS PROJECT, a thrilling month-long festival of all 26 plays written by William Butler Yeats – the world’s most popular poet and playwright. Eight of the plays will receive fully mounted productions on the Mainstage of the Theatre. In Cycle A are: The Countess Cathleen, The Cat And The Moon, and On Baile’s Strand. In Cycle B are: The Land of Heart’s Desire, The Pot of Broth, Purgatory, A Full Moon In March, and Cathleen Ni Houlihan. The remaining 18 plays will receive Concert Readings, directed by George C. Heslin in our downstairs Studio Theatre.

In association with the W.B. Yeats Society of New York, the American Irish Historical Society, Glucksman Ireland House, and the Consulate General of Ireland New York, the festival also includes special evenings of dance with the champion step dancers of Darrah Carr Dance, poetry, films, lectures, and more, with some very special guests including Frank McCourt, Ciaran Sheehan, Marian Seldes, John McMartin, and more.

Visit www.irishrep.org for a complete schedule of events.
Call 212-727-2737 to order tickets.
The Irish Repertory Theatre
22 W. 22nd Street
New York, NY

Paddy Moloney with Chieftains and Special Guests

March 13

Symphony Hall Boston

301 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston

8:00 p.m.

617 482-6661 | celebrityseries.org

From the moment Paddy Moloney launches into his lively Gaelic introductions, to the stillness after the last lyrical notes of the tin whistle fade away, and all the rollicking reels and seamless step-dances in between, you will know that no matter where you come from, tonight, you’re at home in Ireland.

 THE CHIEFTAINS AND FRIENDS , THE CELTIC CONNECTION 2009 TOUR

 February 2009 marks 35 years of touring in North America for the group, having made their U.S. debut in 1972 and their first tour in 1974.  The 2009 tour began on February 16 in Portland, Oregon and ends with a St. Patrick’s Day performance on March 17 at Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto, Canada. For times and dates www.thechieftains.com

 Legendary Irish Musical Group Joins With Scotland’s Alyth McCormack And Nashville’s Jeff White and Deanie Richardson For A Celebration Of International Musical Heritage

 The Chieftains original members include founder and frontman Paddy Moloney (Uilleann pipes, tin whistle), Matt Molloy (flute), Sean Keane (fiddle) and Kevin Conneff (bodhran, vocals).  For this year’s tour, Chieftains fans will no doubt miss Sean Keane who will be spending time with his family and will be unable join with the group on these dates.  Other performers to join Paddy, Matt, and Kevin in 2009 include the notable Irish harpist Triona Marshall, and the young Canadian acrobatic dancing team of brothers’ Jon and Nathan Pilatzke, along with traditional Irish dancer Cara Butler. 

 Says Chieftain Paddy Moloney: “Beyond the Celtic-Scottish connection that we focused on last year, we plan on giving everyone a taste of the overall influence Celtic music has had internationally.  In particular, we’ll be previewing our upcoming project related to the Celtic-Mexican connection.”

In 2009, The Chieftains will be wrapping up a new album focused on this Celtic-Mexican connection, featuring a track with famed singer Linda Ronstadt among other guests.  For the 2009 tour, The Chieftains will perform selections that span their latest and greatest hits, many of which are found on their 2006 release The Essential Chieftains, as well as preview selections from this new album. 

Celtic Woman, Isle of Hope Tour

Celtic Woman Isle of Hope had it’s official opening night on February 13th in St Paul, Minnesota in the Xcel Arena. The new show was unveiled with new songs like ‘Fields of Gold’ ‘ True Colours’ as well as original songs written for the show by David Downes and  Brendan Graham.

 

David was on site for the new show, along with Chloe, Lisa, Lynn, Mairead and Alex, all wearing fabulous new gowns by designer Synan O’ Mahony, and the Celtic Woman band and Aontas Choir.

 

Named the number one Top World Music Artist by Billboard Magazine, Celtic Woman has been winning over audiences worldwide since their March 2005 debut. They’ve appeared on PBS, Live with Regis and Kelly, Martha Stewart, CBS Early Show, Brian Boitano’s Skating Spectacular and The Bonnie Hunt Show. For cities, times and dates visit www.celticwoman.com

 

IRISH FIDDLER KEVIN BURKE & GUITARIST CAL SCOTT ON TOUR TEXAS IN APRIL

Kevin Burke and Cal Scott are one of the freshest new duos in acoustic music. Burke’s legendary, lyrical Irish fiddling, and Scott’s gifted guitar-playing in American folk and jazz, combine for a sparkling repertoire of Celtic, bluegrass, French-styled musettes and sterling originals. The duo’s 2007 CD, Across the Black River (on Burke’s Loftus Music label) was hailed by the New York Times as “one of the top notable world music releases of the year.”

Kevin Burke’s vibrant, expressive style on traditional tunes and original compositions for over 30 years and 24 albums reigns supreme among Irish music enthusiasts. Worldwide, as fiddler in the legendary Bothy Band and super-group Patrick Street, to solo appearances, Kevin brings humor and musical excitement to his immense talents. His long career has included collaborations with Arlo Guthrie, singer/songwriter Tim O’Brien, and The Dillards, as well as with many of the leading Irish musicians of the past three decades. In 2002 he received the NEA’s National Heritage Award.

Portland, Oregon native Cal Scott is a gifted guitarist and mandolinist, equally at home on bluegrass to jazz to traditional folk. He’s also a composer of award-winning scores for TV and film including more than 30 PBS documentaries and specials.
Apr. 17 – Mucky Dick, Houston – iFEST Kickoff Party
www.mcgonigels.com
Apr 18/19 – Houston International Festival – Spotlight on Ireland 2009

http://www.ifest.org/

Apr 22 – Fiddlers Green, Austin (concert and workshops)

http://www.fiddlersgreenmusicshop.com/

Apr 23 – Uncle Calvin’s, Dallas
http://www.unclecalvins.org/ (Sponsored by the Southwest Celtic Music Association)
Apr 24 – House Concert, San Antonio
Apr 25/26 – Houston International Festival – Spotlight on Ireland 2009

http://www.ifest.org/

Chicago Irish Film Festival

March 6-11
Founded in 2000, the Chicago Irish Film Festival is dedicated to contemporary and classic Irish Cinema. The festival has consistently brought a truly representative selection of Irish films that embrace everything from classics to the contemporary.

With nine screenings and two receptions, the will showcase feature films, documentaries, Irish film classics, Irish Sports Film Night, and the popular Short Shots, a program of short films and animations held in conjunction with the closing reception.

Beverly Arts Center (BAC), 2407 W. 111th St. (111th Street south on Western Avenue), Chicago.
www.chicagoirishfilmfestival.net

Black 47 Concert

The 10th anniversary of the Chicago Irish Film Festival will kick off with a concert by Irish rock band Black 47 following the screening of the documentary “Black 47 . . . The Story So Far.” Black 47 is known for its charged political and thoroughly Irish style of rock ‘n’ roll, with songs covering issues from the Northern  Ireland conflict to civil rights and urban unrest. “Black 47 … The Story So Far” features rare live footage, interviews with the band and fans, and “Funky Ceili” and other videos from MTV that document the band’s remarkable career

Beverly Arts Center (BAC), 2407 W. 111th St. (111th Street south on Western Avenue), Chicago.
www.chicagoirishfilmfestival.net

Portraits of Ireland Irish Dance Show

An unforgettable Irish Dance show that blends traditional and contemporary music with innovative choreography set against a background of magnificent imagery of Ireland.  Two shows will be held: Sunday, March 1 at 3:00 pm at Towson University’s Stephens Hall Theatre; and Saturday, March 14 at 3:00pm at Weinberg Center for the Arts in Frederick, Maryland.

Featuring the Teelin Irish Dance Company, Portraits of Ireland is now in its fourth year of production and has enthralled audience members with this celebration of Irish culture.  This show touches the heart with the beauty of Ireland and fuels the spirit with the energy of Irish Dance, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day!

Tickets for Portraits of Ireland are available through the box offices associated with each of the theatres.  Reserved seating ticket prices range $20-$35.  Purchase tickets online or call the Towson University Box Office at 410-704-ARTS, or the Weinberg Center for the Arts in Frederick at 301-600-2828. For more information visit www.teelin.com.