M E S S AG E F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T Greetings! Welcome to The Milwaukee Theatre, and to Riverdance, the next presentation in our 2010-11 season of Broadway shows and concerts, and our first of 2011. This is the show’s Farewell Tour, and it is a privilege to be presenting the tour in Milwaukee. This enduring celebration of Irish dance was so successful in its 1999 Milwaukee premier at the historic Milwaukee Auditorium that it inspired us to remodel the building we now call the Milwaukee Theatre. When capacity crowds filled the venue for all 20 performances, it was clear that a mid-sized facility like the Auditorium still had a vital role in our community, and it soon became clear that we had the capability to continue filling that role. Since then, we are grateful that so many people like you have embraced the Milwaukee Theatre, just as Milwaukeeans have continued to embrace Riverdance each time it has returned. Going forward, the remainder of our 2010-11 season of Broadway shows includes the fairy tale-inspired family classic Disney’s Beauty And The Beast (April 15-17), and finally, the Wisconsin premier of Rock of Ages, starring Constantine Maroulis (April 29-May 1), a hilarious, hard-rocking tribute to 1980s “hair metal” and the rock & roll lifestyle. We also have a growing calendar of independent presentations in the Milwaukee Theatre this season, including Mike Epps & Friends with Special Guest Sheryl Underwood (March 12), the Disney family show Imagination Movers (March 18), Yanni (March 24), Salt n Pepa’s Legends of Hip Hop (April 9), and Celtic Woman (April 27). Next door in the U.S. Cellular Arena, we host Disney on Ice presents Mickey & Minnie’s Magical Journey (February 10-13), the annual Milwaukee Blues Festival (February 18), the Tripoli Shrine Circus (February 23-27), and the remaining 2010-11 home-season games of the UW-M Panthers Milwaukee Wave, and Brewcity Bruisers. New bookings are confirmed regularly, so visit www.wcd.org any time to check the calendar, and sign up for event updates to get timely email announcements and special offers for upcoming shows. Thank you for joining us today, and best wishes for a prosperous and joyful 2011. We hope you will have a wonderful experience here, and return for many more shows at The Milwaukee Theatre! Sincerely,
Richard A. Geyer, President & CEO Wisconsin Center District The Milwaukee Theatre Historic Elegance, World Class Performances Milwaukee Theatre 1
Abhann Productions presents
LEAD DANCERS: CRAIG ASHURST, CATERINA COYNE, ALANA MALLON, JOE MORIARTY, ALAN SCARIFF, CHLOEY TURNER THE RIVERDANCE IRISH DANCE TROUPE, MUSICIANS & SINGERS With Irish and International Soloists from: Spain, Australia and Great Britain Set Designer ROBERT BALLAGH
Costume Designer JOAN BERGIN
Sound Designer MICHAEL O’GORMAN
Lighting Designer & Projection Animation BENJAMIN PEARCY
Original Lighting Designs by RUPERT MURRAY
Poetry Written by THEO DORGAN
Orchestrations by NICK INGMAN & BILL WHELAN
Senior Executive Producer JULIAN ERSKINE
COMPOSER BILL WHELAN PRODUCER MOYA DOHERTY DIRECTOR JOHN McCOLGAN 2 Milwaukee Theatre
Press Representative MERLE FRIMARK ASSOCIATES
CAST
The Riverdance Irish Dance Troupe Lead Dancers: CRAIG ASHURST, CATERINA COYNE, ALANA MALLON JOE MORIARTY, ALAN SCARIFF, CHLOEY TURNER Jessica Baffa, Maeve Croke, Scott Doherty, Maeve Fearon, John Grimes, Katie Hands, Kieran Hardiman, Billy Kanaly, James Keating, Meghan Lucey, Fiona McCabe, Ryan McCarthy, Nicole McKeever, Brian Mullane, Sarah Murray, Deirdre O’Reilly, Sean Regan, Lauren Smyth The Riverdance Band Musical Director/Keyboards – Cathal Synnott Uilleann Pipes/Low Whistles – Matt Bashford; Fiddle– Pat Mangan; Drums/Percussion/Bodhran – Mark Alfred; Saxophone – Daniel Dorrance The Riverdance Singers Members of the Company The Riverdance Baritone Soloist Michael E. Wood The Riverdance Flamenco Soloist Marita Rey-Jimenez The Riverdance Tappers Dewitt Fleming, Jr., Michael E. Wood Poetry Narrated by John Kavanagh ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL IRISH DANCE CHOREOGRAPHY –MICHAEL FLATLEY ORIGINAL CHOREOGRAPHY BY MAVIS ASCOTT, JEAN BUTLER, BREANDÅN DE GALLAÍ, COLIN DUNNE, CAROL LEAVY JOYCE, PAULA NIC CIONNATH, MARIA PAGÉS, TARIK WINSTON. MOSCOW FOLK BALLET COMPANY Cast subject to change without notice.
WARNING THE USE OF ANY RECORDING DEVICES, AUDIO OR VIDEO, AND THE TAKING OF PICTURES, WITH OR WITHOUT FLASH, WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF RIVERDANCE MANAGEMENT, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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T H E S H OW
ACT I Reel Around the Sun............................................................................The Irish Dance Troupe The Heart’s Cry......................................................................................................................Singers The Countess Cathleen.......................................................................The Irish Dance Troupe Caoineadh Chú Chulainn (Lament)..........................................................................Irish Piper Thunderstorm.............................................................................. The Male Irish Dance Troupe Firedance...............................................................................................................Flamenco Soloist and The Male Irish Dance Troupe Shivna.................................................................................................... Singers & Irish Drummer Slip into Spring - The Harvest......................................................................................Musicians Riverdance............................................................................................... The Irish Dance Troupe, Singers and Drummers
ACT II American Wake........................................................................................................The Company The Harbour of the New World: Heal Their Hearts – Freedom........................................................................... Baritone Soloist Trading Taps..........................................................................................................................Tappers Macedonian Morning....................................................................................................Musicians Andalucia.............................................................................................................Flamenco Soloist Oscail an Doras (Open the Door)............................ The Irish Dance Troupe and Singers Slow Air/Tunes..................................................................................................................Musicians Heartland.................................................................................................The Irish Dance Troupe Finale............................................................................................................................The Company
THERE WILL BE ONE INTERMISSION
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BIOGR APHIES The Riverdance Irish Dance Troupe Many of the Riverdance Irish Dance Troupe are World Champion Irish Dancers. The troupe hails mostly from Ireland, but also from Great Britain, the United States, and Australia. Between them, the dancers can boast of literally hundreds of championships won in Ireland and abroad. Most started dancing at three or four years of age at local dance schools and progressed to World Championship level before being chosen to perform in Riverdance. The dancers would have known and competed against each other at various competitions, including the World Championships. Riverdance has given them the opportunity to perform together for the first time in a non-competitive way. The grace and eloquence of their soft-shoe dance, the power and precision of their hard shoe routines clearly display the endless hours of practice and their dedication to the art of Irish Dance. Caterina Coyne (Lead Dancer) was born in London and started dancing at age four. After moving to Ireland, she was consistently ranked in the top 10 at the World and All Ireland Championships with the Costello O’Brien School of Dancing. Highlights of Caterina’s career include dancing for 90,000 people for both the All Ireland Hurling and Football Championships Finals in Croke Park, Dublin, and at the Opening Ceremony of the Ryder Cup. Caterina has traveled with Riverdance in Europe and America and is delighted to be dancing lead in the show. Alana Mallon (Lead Dancer), the only Scottish dancer ever to perform lead in Riverdance, started dancing at age three, and within a few months had already won her first championship. She progressed to win various competitions throughout the UK and Ireland, consistently ranking in the top three at the All Scotland and British Nationals and the top ten at the World Championships. Alana has toured with Riverdance all over the world with her most memorable performances in the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, The Kremlin, Moscow and on the Great Wall of China.
Chloey Turner (Lead Dancer) was born in England and started Irish dancing at eight years old. Her competitive career with Jenny Flower (Matthews Academy) has seen her compete at national and international feiseanna and qualifying for the World Championships. Chloey joined Riverdance in 2008, touring Europe, Japan and China. Her personal highlight was dancing with Riverdance in Radio City Music Hall, NYC. Craig Ashurst (Lead Dancer) started his competitive dancing career at age five in Melbourne, Australia. By the age of seventeen, he had won nine State and ten national titles and went on to win many major titles including the British Nationals, North American Nationals and All Ireland Championships. After placing second at the World Championships three times with the Doherty Academy, Craig started performing professionally. He has toured Asia, North America and Europe with Riverdance and is delighted now to perform the lead role. Joe Moriarty (Lead Dancer) was born in Columbus, Ohio. Encouraged by his uncle, Edward, he took up Irish dancing aged eight, joining the Richens-Timms Academy of Irish Dance. Within a couple of years he was winning titles at the US Regional and National Irish Dancing Championships. Before joining Riverdance in 1997, Joe had progressed to competing at World Championship level on three separate occasions. On his third appearance at the World Championships he was ranked in the top five. Joe is the second North American dancer to dance the lead role in Riverdance. Alan Scariff (Lead Dancer) started dancing for his cousin Mairead O’Flaherty in Galway, Ireland when he was four years old. Since then, Alan has enjoyed huge success in his competitive years obtaining first place at the World Irish Dancing Championships. Leaving the world of competition behind, he has traveled extensively with other Irish dance shows and is delighted to be performing with Riverdance.
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B I O G R A P H I E S ( c o n t .) Cathal Synnott (Keyboards/ Musical Director) graduated from Trinity College, Dublin. His engagements as musical director include Riverdance on Broadway, Guys and Dolls, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Sweeney Todd. Singing is also a large part of Cathal’s life and he has been a member of Anuna, the Irish National Chamber Choir, Opera Ireland, and was recently tenor soloist in Crash Ensemble’s Irish premiere of Van Gogh, an opera by Michael Gordon. In 2009, Cathal received a diploma from Alchemea College of Audio Engineering, London. Patrick Mangan (Fiddle) is from Brooklyn where the two-time All-Ireland fiddle champion studied with renowned fiddler and teacher Brian Conway. At sixteen, Patrick appeared in Riverdance on Broadway, becoming the youngest fiddler in the show’s history. In Spring 2002, Patrick was awarded first prize honors for instrumental composition in the BMG-sponsored World of Expression competition for his piece September Sky. He has toured extensively, playing to enthralled audiences from New York to Paris to Tokyo. Patrick’s debut CD, Farewell to Ireland is available now at www.cdbaby.com/mangan. Matt Bashford (Uilleann Pipes/Low Whistle/Tin Whistle) began playing and touring extensively throughout the world with various Irish music and dance productions at a young age. He has performed on orchestral works including Bill Whelan’s Seville Suite at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, Shaun Davey’s Granuaile Suite and has also appeared at Peter Gabriel’s World Music festival Womad. Matt holds an Honors Degree in Irish Music and Dance Performance from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick and is delighted to be back touring North America with Riverdance. Daniel Dorrance (Saxophone) received his musical education at The Mannes College of Music in New York City. Daniel has toured extensively throughout Europe, South America and South East Asia with several shows including George Gershwin’s opera, Porgy and Bess, The Phantom of the Opera and Kiss of the Spi8 Milwaukee Theatre
der Woman. Daniel has also performed in a variety of jazz ensembles including a Japan tour with world renowned drummer Jimmy Cobb. On Broadway he has been a multi-instrumentalist musician with The Lion King, Tarzan, The Little Mermaid, and most recently The Broadway hit, The Addams Family. Mark Alfred (Drums/Percussion/ Bodhrán) began playing drums at the age of four first studying at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin and then the Performing Arts College Dublin. Mark’s versatile, energetic and distinctive style has seen him in much demand by many leading international acts including The Divine Comedy, Lemar, Gary Moore, Mary Coughlan, Ronan Keating, Westlife, Girls Aloud, Donnie Osmond, Christy Hennessy, to name but a few. Mark also spends much of his time between Los Angeles, London and Dublin recording material for these acts. www.markalfred.com. Michael E. Wood (Baritone Soloist/ Tapper) studied Ballet, Jazz, and first put on his tap shoes at Oklahoma City University. He graduated in 2008 with a degree in Dance Performance. Michael is thankful for all the support and encouragement from his friends and family, and hopes you enjoy the show! DeWitt Fleming Jr. (Tapper) graduated at Marymount Manhattan College with a BA in Acting. Off- Bwy stage credits include: Banana Shpeel, 27 heaven, Dutchman, Dance Bojangles Dance, Richard III, and Finnegan’s Farewell. Regional: Alliance Theater’s Sophisticated Ladies. DeWitt has danced as a soloist with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, The George Gee Swing Orchestra, and with artist such as Wynton Marsalis, Marvin Hamlisch, Christian McBride, and Wycliffe Gordon. He is the host, and also co-creator of the OffBroadway hit Broadway Underground. Marita Rey-Jimenez (Flamenco) Born in Úbeda, Spain, Marita graduated in Spanish dance from the Royal Conservatory of Córdoba in 2001 and a year later in Classical Ballet with AraLeo Moyano. She also studied Flamencology, Cátedra de Flamencologia de Córdoba, as well
B I O G R A P H I E S ( c o n t .) as BA (Hons) Music and History in the Universidad Complutense in Madrid. Her professional experience started in the opera El Cid with Placido Domingo, performed in Seville, Spain in 1999. Later on, she moved to Madrid to join the Ballet Gallego Rey de Viana. She has worked with several companies: Luisillo, Rafael Aguilar and José Greco among others. She has also performed as soloist in the role of Dulcinea in Delirios del Quijote by Sara Lezana. In 2005, Maria joined the Compañia Antonio Gades where she has worked in the productions of Carmen, Bodas de Sangre and Fuenteovejuna. The Riverdance Singers The haunting, beautiful voices of the Riverdance Singers are closely interwoven with all the other elements of the show, their harmonies and solo passages bringing echoes of an ancient mysticism. The singers come from many backgrounds but all have one thing in common—a love of Irish music and an urge to bring it to a world audience in the wonderful new guise showcased in this unique production. BILL WHELAN (Composer) Bill was composer to the W. B. Yeats International Theatre Festival at Dublin’s Abbey Theatre in 1989. His adaptation of HMS Pinafore received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination. His compositional work in film includes Dancing at Lughnasa, Some Mother’s Son and Lamb. The Seville Suite was commissioned for Expo ’92 in Seville and The Spirit of Mayo followed in 1993. The Connemara Suite, a trilogy of pieces written for chamber orchestra, premiered at Carnegie Hall in March 2005. Bill’s production and arranging credits include U2, Van Morrison, Kate Bush, Richard Harris, Planxty and The Dubliners. He was honored with the 1997 Grammy Award for “Best Musical Show Album” for his Riverdance record. Bill is on the boards of Berklee School of Music in Boston, University of Limerick and the recently established music education body Music Generation. He is currently working on a new theatre work which has been commissioned by the New York Metropolitan Opera and Lincoln Center.
MOYA DOHERTY (Producer) Moya Doherty’s career includes theatre, radio and television production, both in Ireland and internationally. Moya is the Producer of Riverdance; is a director of Tyrone Productions, a founding Director of Today FM and in the past ten years has sat on a number of arts-related Boards including The Ark, Dublin Theatre Festival, Walnut Hill Arts School in Massachusetts and Business to Arts. She is a current member of the Board of The Abbey Theatre. Moya has received the Veuve Clicquot business Woman of the Year, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award and Honorary Doctorates from the University of Ulster and from the National University of Ireland in recognition of her ongoing commitment to the world of the arts in Ireland. Moya Doherty and John McColgan are currently producing, and are involved in, a diverse range of projects for the Irish and international stage. JOHN McCOLGAN (Director) John McColgan’s career as a television director began in the mid seventies in RTÉ Television where he went on to become Head of Entertainment. He is a founding Director of Tyrone Productions, Ireland’s premier independent television production company and is Chairman of Today FM radio station. He is Chair of the global website project Gateway Ireland. John played a key role in the evolution of Riverdance from the original sevenminute dance number and went on to direct the full stage-show spectacular. John has been closely involved with The Abbey Theatre—he was on the Board of the Theatre for five years, served as Chairman of the Abbey Centenary Committee and directed a critically acclaimed production of the 19th century melodrama, The Shaughraun, for the theatre. John has received many awards during his career, including an Honorary Doctorate of Law from the National University of Ireland in recognition of his services to the arts and entertainment industry.
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S TA F F F O R R I V E R DA N C E
Abhann Productions Limited, Dublin Directors....................................................................................................................Moya Doherty John McColgan Joan Egan David Orr Executive Manager..................................................................................................... Paula Burke PRODUCTION TEAM Line Producer.............................................................................................................. Ciarán Walsh Contracts Manager................................................................................................... Seán O’Brien Financial Controller.......................................................................................... Garrett McCarthy Marketing & Online Manager.......................................................................... Mary O’Donnell Marketing Coordinator ..........................................................................................Nuala Garvan Production Assistant................................................................................................. Gill Costello Dance Director ..............................................................................................Breandán de Gallaí Wardrobe Supervisor.............................................................................................. Monica Ennis Original Costume Designer for Riverdance.............................................................. Jen Kelly Original Riverdance Eurovision Costumes................................................ Margaret Crosse NORTH AMERICAN TOUR STAFF NORTH AMERICAN PRESS REPRESENTATIVE MERLE FRIMARK ASSOCIATES PRODUCTION MANAGER.........................................MARIE B. BARRETT COMPANY MANAGER......................................................................................RYAN PARLIMENT Assistant Company Manager.............................................................................. Oran Ostinelli Production Stage Manager............................................................................... Marc Anderson Technical Stage Manager.................................................................................... Danny Erskine Dance Captain........................................................................................................... Maeve Croke Lighting Supervisor.......................................................................................K.B. Associates, Inc. Ken Billington Associate Lighting............................................................................................................. Ben Krall Production Carpenter......................................................................................Gardner R. Friscia Production Electricians.................................................Michael S. LoBue, Craig Caccamise Production Sound.................................................................................................Willie Mannion Production Wardrobe..............................................................................................Brigid Brown Head Carpenter...........................................................................................................Paul K. Ebert Head Electrician............................................................................................................. Nick Partin Assistant Electrician.......................................................................................... Nicholas Troccoli FOH Mixer/Head of Sound................................................................................ Justin McIntyre Monitor Mixer......................................................................................................Isaac Shepppard Head Wardrobe........................................................................................................Ashley Wilson Assistant Wardrobe.................................................................................................... Nichole Hull 10 Milwaukee Theatre
PROGR A M Medical Officer......................................................................................................... Chris Barbour Merchandising Manager.................................................................................Stephen Griffiths Casting Consultant.........................................................................................Pat McCorkle, CSA Travel Arrangements.......................................................................................... Tzell Travel (US), Alan Braunstein, Andi Henig Banking................................................................................................ Nick Molite, Tanya Hawks, JP Morgan/Chase Payroll Services......................................................................................Castellana Services Inc. International Representation......................................................................... Maurice Cassidy Second Symphony, Ltd. North American Representation......................................................................... Clint Mitchell William Morris Endeavor Entertainment CREDITS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Set Construction...................................................................................................McGuire Scenic Global Scenic Fiber Optics and drapery by.......................................................................... I. Weiss and Sons Lighting Equipment................................................................................................PRG Lighting. Sound Equipment.................................................................................................... Clair Chicago Dance Floor and Covering by.................................................................American Harlequin Drum & Percussion Rig Consultant.............................................................................Ray Fean Percussion Rig Construction.................................................. Anthony Ramirez Level Rack Trucking provided by.............................................................................................Janco Limited Specialty Rigging......................................................................... United Staging and Rigging Photography by..........................................................................................................Joan Marcus Jack Hartin Clark James Mishler Make-up provided by............................................................................ Cosmetics The Musicians and Musical Directors employed in this production are members of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada Backstage and Front of the House Employees are represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (or I.A.T.S.E) ATPAM The Press Agents and Company Managers employed in this production are represented by the Association Of Theatrical Press Agents &Managers
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WISCONSIN CENTER DISTRICT
Wisconsin Center District Board of Directors JFranklyn M. Gimbel, Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, Chairperson James C. Kaminski, Kaminski Consultants, Vice Chairperson Alderman Willie L. Hines, Jr., Milwaukee Common Council President, Secretary W. Martin Morics, City of Milwaukee Comptroller, Treasurer Joel Brennan, Discovery World John J. Burke, Jr., Burke Properties Mayor Jill Didier, City of Wauwatosa Alderman Ashanti Hamilton, City of Milwaukee Stephen H. Marcus, The Marcus Corporation Daniel Schooff, Wisconsin Secretary of Administration Representative Jon Richards, Wisconsin State Assembly Senator Jim Sullivan, Wisconsin State Senate James Villa, Commercial Association of Realtors Alderman Terry Witkowski, City of Milwaukee One seat is vacant Richard A. Geyer, Wisconsin Center District President & CEO Wisconsin Center District 400 W. Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53203 414-908-6001 www.wcd.org The Wisconsin Center District (WCD) is a government body created in 1994 to fund, build and operate the Frontier Airlines Center, and own and operate pre-existing venues now called The Milwaukee Theatre and U.S. Cellular Arena. The WCD board is appointed and it is empowered to issue bonds and collect taxes within strict limits set by the State Legislature. WCD’s targeted sales taxes on hotel rooms, car rentals and tavern/restaurant food & beverage repay Frontier Airlines Center project bonds and fund marketing by Visit Milwaukee; WCD operations are funded by operating revenues. Tickets are sold at the Milwaukee Theatre Box Office and all Ticketmaster retail locations, by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at Ticketmaster.com. For Group Sales information call 414-908-6092 or email GroupSales@wcd.org. For information regarding advertising and sponsorship opportunities in WCD facilities, call Richard Freiberg, Director of Business Development, 414-908-6056 or rfreiber@wcd.org.
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