I do not know how music lovers in the south of Ireland are going to find €20 by November 11th, in these recessionary times, but find it somehow they must.
After what can only be described as a sensational 10 night run in The Helix Theatre in Dublin last September, the cast of NYMT‘s Spring Awakening are now headed down ‘the Waterford way’.
This unbelievably talented cast which, I am happy to relate, include top Tipperary performers Chris Britton, Ed Leamy and Shane Willoughby, latter playing the role of ‘Georg‘, are preparing to take this incredible show to the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera 2010.
The Most Exciting Piece Of Musical Theatre Ever To Be Staged In Ireland
Spring Awakening, which tells the story of teenagers who are discovering for the first time the inner and outer tumult of their sexuality, will take to the stage of the Theatre Royal on Thursday November 11th.
If you missed it the first time around, you now really have no excuse not to attend. This is a one night only event, so climb in through an open theatre window, dig an underground tunnel, get a Leader grant, distract the doormen or maybe simply buy a ticket. Miss this show and you’ll miss out on one of the most original and exciting pieces of musical theatre ever to take to the stage here in Ireland.
Remember the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera is regarded on the Irish theatre scene as the “Mother of All Festivals” and is the premier event of its kind presently in Ireland. Congrats to all concerned, on your celebrating your 50th anniversary.
Expect a large contingent in attendance from the Premier County and remember we expect tea during the interval.
Tickets are available from the Theatre Royal website and you can book your seat by clicking HERE .
By the way Anne Marie, I’m deathly serious about the tea, – one sugar and a small drop of milk for me.
I attended the second nights performance of the Irish Premier of the landmark musical “Spring Awakening” in the Helix on Saturday last.
Spring Awakening.
Firstly, what a beautiful theatre and so easy to find for rural ‘hicks’ like myself, who rarely travel into the big smoke. This latter fact, plus the provision on the theatre’s doorstep of easy, cheap parking, had me relaxed and in stress-free mood long before the show began.
I was aware that “Spring Awakening” is a rock musical adaptation of the controversial 1891 German play of the same title, by Frank Wedekind and it featured music by Duncan Sheik with lyrics by Steven Sater.
Set in late-nineteenth century Germany, it concerns teenagers who are discovering the inner and outer tumult of sexuality, but more than that they are discovering that their emerging thoughts and feelings are not just individual and personal, rather part of the development of every young teenager. In the early 19th century, the original play was banned in Germany for a while, due to its portrayal of masturbation, abortion, homosexuality, rape, child abuse and suicide.
In the past Spring Awakening was nominated for eleven Tony Award, winning eight, including Tony’s for best musical, direction, book, score and featured actor. The show has also won four Drama Desk Awards, while its London production, last year, won four Olivier Awards.
With this endorsement and my passion for all things theatrical, it became essential that I should attend, together with some close friends.
Forget Broadway, The Helix May Never Be The Same Again!
For those of you planning to attend Spring Awakening, which will run for only the next four nights, let me tell you it is nothing short of exhilarating. It is a delightful electrifying fusion of comedy, sadness, morality, sexuality and rock and roll and should be made compulsory to attend.
This show is maybe somewhat adult in nature, in both theme and content and possibly not suitable for those under 16 years, but for everyone else it is a ‘must see‘.
The set is modern and well lit. The orchestra are a group of amazingly talented, well rehearsed and dedicated musician. The talent on stage is, I believe, unlike anything I have ever seen in previous shows.
Songs like “Mama Who Bore Me”, “The Bitch of Living”, “The Dark I Know Well”, “Touch Me”, “I Believe”, in act one, followed by “Totally Fucked”, “The Song of Purple Summer”, “Don’t Do Sadness/Blue Wind” in act two, to name just a few of the numbers, are delivered professionally with high energy and with obvious passion, by each performer.
Here is a perfect opportunity for RTE Hosts to up their ratings, by showing some new, exciting, talent on our TV sets, instead of the washed up performers currently forced upon us, nightly.
I can happily report that Musical Theatre in Ireland, unlike most else, is safe into the next half century. I am also happy to report that no fewer than three of those associated with this cast come from here in Co.Tipperary.
Well done Guys and Gals, I’ve got tickets again for Saturday.
Mick Lally, probably best known for playing Miley Byrne, latter for which he won a Jacob’s Award in 1979, passed away this morning after a short stay in hospital, at the age of 64.
Born in November 1945 in Tourmakeady, Co Mayo, Mick was the eldest of a family of seven children; five sisters and one brother. He was educated at the local national school in Tourmakeady and went from there to St Mary’s College in Galway. He later studied History and Irish at UCG going on in 1969 to teach History and Irish in Tuam for approximately six years.
This Mayo born teacher, later turned actor appeared in numerous TV shows including ‘Glenroe’, ‘Ballykissangel’, ‘Bracken’, and the ‘Ballroom of Romance’. He also featured in Oliver Stone’s ‘Alexander’, ‘Ros na Rún’ and ‘The Secret of Kells’ and was also cast in Tyrone born Brian Friel‘s ‘Translations’ back in 1980. He went on to become a member of the Field Day Theatre Company and co-founder of the much lauded Druid Theatre Company with Garry Hynes and Marie Mullen, as well as treading the boards in many of John Millington Synge‘s plays.
No stranger to Thurles town, Mick regularly appeared at the Source Arts Centre where in recent months he performed opposite his Westmeath born and ‘Glenroe’ co-star Mary McEvoy in J.B. Keane’s ‘The Matchmaker’ and with George McMahon in ‘Caught in the Net’.
A fluent speaker of the Irish language, Mick confessed and classified himself as an atheist and regarded religion as the stuff of nonsense and “codology”, but his love of studying local characters and his passion for all things Irish was for ever evident in his unique stage performances.
In July last he launched ‘Tuar Mhic Éadaigh: Stair agus Seanchas’, a new book on the history and folklore of the Tourmakeady area by Fr Pádraig Standun.
One of Irelands most loved actors of his generation, Mick will be dearly missed by the public and by his many colleagues both in theatre and television. His national and international reputation truely earned him the deserved status of an icon of Irish theatre.
Thurles would like to express their sympathy to his wife Peige, their children Saileog, Maghnus and Darach and to his parents.
Spring Awakening comes to The Helix September 16th to 25th
Described by many critics and writers as the musical that will define this generation, the groundbreaking ‘Spring Awakening’ is merely weeks away from its highly anticipated Irish premiere in the Helix Theatre in Dublin.
National Youth Musical Theatre will present Spring Awakening from September 16th to 25th with director John Donnelly at the helm of what promises to be one of the definitive Irish musical experiences of the year.
Winner of 8 Tony Awards on Broadway, including best new musical, Spring Awakening won the 2010 West End musical of the year and has thrilled audiences and critics alike, the world over.
Set in 1890’s Germany, but with a contemporary rock soundtrack, Spring Awakening is like nothing you’ve ever seen before.
This is one show true music lovers in Tipperary really can’t afford to miss.
As stated, Spring Awakening runs from the 16th to the 25th of September 2010 at the Helix DCU. Tickets are on sale now priced at €20 from the Helix box office, Tel:(01) 700 7000 or visit the Helix online here
Note: There are also a limited number of on-stage seats available for every performance at just €15.
The recipe for any outstanding musical performance, guaranteed to pack a theatre every night, is really quite simple.
Ingredients:
1 X Aishling Doyle (Director/Choreographer). 1 X David Wray (Musical Director). 1 X Gerard O’Brien (Producer). 1 X Trevor Killeen (Production Manager). 1 X Gerry Taylor (Lighting Designer). 1 each X Siobhan King and Mairead Hackett (Dance Captains). 1 X John O’Donoghue (Stage Design). 1 each X Alan Butler and Jack Rossiter (Stage Managers). 1 X Star Systems (Sound). 60 X 1 X Talented Youngsters (Cast)
Directions:
Mix the above ingredients together into a fine paste.
Sprinkle with a fine mixture of locally trained, talented and dedicated Make Up Artists, Stage Constructors and clever General Go – Fors, and stirr well and continuously for six weeks. Cook’s note:
The result is an outstanding musical theatre production called “Oliver” worthy of playing in London’s West End or on New York’s Broadway.
Our video above, prepared earlier, demonstrates a few of the personalities and highlights and out sincerest congratulations to all those talented individuals involved.
The Most Exciting Piece Of Musical Theatre Ever To Be Staged In Ireland
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