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It’s hard to describe the magic of candlelight, particularly in church at Christmas time, however we would like you to share with us and experience it for yourself.
To this end “Vocalize,” will perform their new original show “Christmas By Candlelight,” at St Mary’s Church, Church Lane, Thurles, on Saturday 17th December next. The performing group “Vocalize,” are no strangers to Thurles theatre lovers and consist of some of the towns most harmonious and talented voices.
“Vocalize,” Videographer and Sound Technician, Garry Butler has been to rehearsals and sends us just a small clip of what music lovers can expect on the night.
Do come listen to the golden voices of Katie & Claire Lawless, Maria Griffin, Stacey Taylor, Peter Donnelly and Damian Sweeney, together with David McElgunn, and others under the wonderful musical direction of Geraldine Delaney. All will be performing by candlelight and you’ll feel like you’ve just taken a step back in time, when you join them for this most enchanting and emotional of local event.
Expect Christmas songs with a difference and of a new world, songs like; ‘I Need A Silent Night,’ ‘Hope Is Born Again,’ ‘A baby changes everything,’ and my own favourite ‘Christmas is.’
Of course one of the earliest stagings of Christmas music by candlelight began in the 19th century, when Cornish Miners in Moonta, South Australia (As this sites Irish /Australian able ambassador Katie O’Connell Nott will attest. “Happy Christmas from all in Tipperary & Thurles to all of you Katie.”) would gather on Christmas Eve to sing carols lit with candles, stuck to the brims of their safety hats. Today the tradition has spread around the world and is happening here in Thurles this year for the first time in St. Mary’s Church.
Tickets for this event will cost you €10 and are available from Bookworm, in Liberty Square, Thurles, with total proceeds going to a most worthy cause, the Suir Haven, Thurles Cancer support centre.
So come along to St. Mary’s and for a while, enjoy an 18th-century style Christmas by candlelit, and why not take a look around the famine museum while you chat and enjoy a cup of tea after the show.
A word to the wise: Tickets are very limited so do book early, to ensure your space.
 Join Sharon Sexton as ‘Liza Minnelli ‘ for a most remarkable show, in the Source Arts Theatre, Cathedral Street, Thurles, Co Tipperary on next Saturday, June 4th.
Sharon will performs pieces from Liza’s fabulous musical catalogue, pieces that include the hits “Mein Herr“, “Some People,” “Cabaret,” “Stepping Out,” “New York, New York” and much more.
The life story of Liza May Minnelli, is amazing, born March 12th 1946, she has truly earned her reputation as a gifted actress and singer.
Daughter of famous singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli, Liza began performing professionally at age 17, in 1963, in an Off-Broadway revival of the musical “Best Foot Forward,” for which she received the Theatre World Award. The following year, her mother invited Minnelli to perform with her at the London Palladium. She turned to Broadway at aged just 19, and in 1965 she became the youngest woman ever to win a leading actress Tony Award for “Flora the Red Menace.”
But we will allow Sharon Sexton to tell the story in her remarkable tribute.
Sharon portrays the truly captivating character of Miss Minnelli, with wonderful skill, stepping into the shoes of one of the toughest, most fascinating and remarkable ladies in the world of show business!
Be part of this magic as Sharon shares the secrets, stories and memories that make up a mesmerising career, including the memories of what was undoubtedly the most demanding role she ever played, that of “Judy Garland’s Daughter.”
Incidentally, Sharon Sexton’s has an uncanny and striking resemblance to the young Liza Minnelli.
Date: Saturday Night, June 4th Next.
Tickets: €18/€16
 "Redemption Song" On Fri May 6th, a new play entitled ‘Redemption Song‘ comes to Kilcooley Church, near Gortnahoe, here in Co Tipperary.
The play comes courtesy of the Mend and Makedo Theatre Co, written and performed by John MacKenna, and is part of a short tour this May. The play is expected to tour nationwide sometime next Autumn.
The storyline follows one Joseph, a small time builder, whose son has been executed for his leadership of a group of social and political activists. Inspecting a building for renovation work, Joseph tells his side of the story – a story of love; emigration; success; his loss of a son and the hope that he might see him one more time, for there are unconfirmed rumours that the young man may still be living. As Joseph declares and many of us know from experience: ” If a man has hope, he has something.”
Through this play we find theatre at its most intimate, self examining and definitely challenging – a tale of hope against all odds; a new and inventive take on the Passion, and coming from a company whose most recent play, “Breathless,” played to full houses right across the Ireland last Autumn.
Hosting this event is Slieveardagh Rural Development group, a community charity based group working from the Heritage Center on River Street in Killenaule, its purpose to promotes the culture and heritage potential of the Slieveardagh region of CountyTipperary.
This fund raising event have been organised in Kilcooley Church near Gortnahoe, to assist in fundraising for community projects which involve this active local community group.
Tickets are available at the Heritage Centre in Killenaule – Telephone number 052 9156165 and tickets cost just €10 – contact for more details -Doors open 8.30 – Performance 9.00 pm sharp.
Mark your calender folks, this play is one not to be missed.
Date and Venue: – Fri May 6th, Kilcooley Church, Grange, Gortnahoe, Thurles, Admission €10.
 Jonathan Gleeson as Bill Snibson & Michelle O'Connell as Sally Smith in 'Me and My Girl,' Premier Hall, Thurles from Tuesday April 12th - 16th inc. (Photo G.Willoughby) This morning Thurles Musical Societies PRO and well known Tipperary Star reporter Mr Noel Dundon takes us ‘behind the curtain ‘ to report on the Societies latest production – the hit West End show ‘Me and My Girl.’
This wonderful toe tapping show, in conjunction with the Anner Hotel, runs in the Premier Hall, here in Thurles from Tuesday April 12th – 16th and marks the 60 anniversary of the Society’s first performance back in 1951 – The Yeomen of the Guard.
This is the first time that T.M.S. has embarked upon this musical, with book and lyrics by Douglas Furber and L. Arthur Rose and music by Noel Gay.
The Musical ‘Scene ‘ is set in the late 1930′s in the locations of Hampshire, Mayfair, and Lambeth.
The musical had a most successful original run in the West End in 1937 and very successful revivals in both London and New York in the 1980s. The show stopper, “The Lambeth Walk,” was the subject of a news story in The Times of October 1938 with the headline: “While dictators rage and statesmen talk, all Europe dances — to The Lambeth Walk.”
Indeed, while the Lambeth Walk might well be the main musical number from this light, entertaining show, others are equally as well known and include – Leaning on a Lamppost, The Family Solicitor, The Sun Has Got His Hat On, Once You lose Your Heart and Love Makes the World Go Round, to mention just a few.
Thurles welcomes Tralee native and Rose of Tralee Festival Director, Mr Oliver Hurley as Director of this show – his first venture with T.M.S., although he has a wealth of experience with other musical theatre groups throughout Munster. Oliver is joined in production by pianist Mary Rose McNally as Musical Director, Mary Butler as Assistant to Director, and Trisha McElgunn who takes on the roll as the companies Dance Captain. Tommy Sweeney and Rita Loughnane complete the production team as Stage Manager and Stage Director, while Eidin Sweeney is Costume Mistress. Lighting will be by Gerry Taylor with Star Systems undertaking sound and video production.
The Tale Behind The Musical
It’s 1937 and the Earl of Hareford has died leaving no apparent heir. The family members have gathered, eagerly waiting to hear how the estate will be split. However the family solicitor, Parchester (Geraint Fyler), announces that he has tracked down an heir to both the family fortune and the family seat of Hareford Hall. The unlikely beneficiary is one Bill Snibson (Jonathan Gleeson), a barrow boy from Lambeth.
Maria, Duchess of Dene (Maria McElgunn), decides to turn Bill into a gentleman worthy of the Hareford name, despite the advice of Sir John Tremayne (Brendan Bailey) to simply pay him off. She also tries to get him to marry Lady Jaqueline (Cathy Keane), who is so eager for money and the title, that she breaks off her engagement to the Hon. Gerald Bolingbroke (John Butler). Despite Lady Jaqueline’s advances, Bill is determined to marry his sweetheart from Lambeth, Sally Smith (Michelle O’Connell).
Sally does not want to ruin Bill’s chances and tries to convince Bill that he is too good for her, despite loving him deeply. She even resorts to gatecrashing his party with a group of raucous Lambeth locals. However, everyone joins in and does The Lambeth Walk.
Despite having won over Sir John, Sally decides to leave Hareford and return to Lambeth. After drowning their sorrows, Bill and Sir John hatch separate plans to bring her back. Bill travels to Lambeth to find her but returns empty handed as Sir John has packed her off to a certain speech professor he knows!
The Duchess decides to throw another party but Bill is not in the mood. The Duchess begins to realise how much Sally means to him and, in a reflective mood, accepts Sir John’s proposal of marriage. Jaqueline also recognises her folly and returns to Gerald. With the party in full swing, Sally makes a second uninvited entrance and, displaying her new-found elegance, shows she is a suitable wife for an Earl.
Nothing like a happy ending to lift a little of the woes we are currently going through. Other notable parts are Lord and Lady Battersby ( Pat Hayes and Breda Byrne), Bob Barkin (Finbarr Shelly), Major Domo (Barry Cagney), Constable (Gary Dempsey), Maids (Katie Lawless and Joan Farrell), Charles (Barry Derby) and Lord Jasper (Brian Gleeson).
The opening night of the show is being run as a Charity Night in conjunction with Thurles Lions Club, with the proceeds going towards the Club’s 2011 nominated charity, namely the Order of Malta Building Fund.
Tickets for this special show cost €20 and include a cheese and wine reception along with a number of other surprises.
For the remaining nights, tickets cost just €15 and €12 for adults in the balcony and downstairs; and €10 and €8 concessions for children.
Other concessions are also available by contacting:
Booking Office in Hickey’s Pharmacy in Liberty Square, Thurles, Tel: 0504- 21423. Get in there and book now folks, to be sure of a guaranteed seat and a most enjoyable night out.
Note Your Calender: Show runs Premier Hall, Thurles from Tuesday April 12th – 16th inc.
Thurles.Info, on behalf of Co Tipperary residents everywhere, would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Thurles Musical Society for not just giving us 60 wonderful years of top quality entertainment, but also for their huge achievements in fostering the love of music and stage craft, down through the years here in the Cathedral Town.
Happy Birthday ‘Thurles Musical Society’ and here’s to 60 more successful and enjoyable years .
 National Chamber Choir of Ireland Hot on the heels of their performances at the White House for last St Patrick’s Day, the National Chamber Choir of Ireland now head for Andrew Lloyd Webber country, to Fethard, Co Tipperary, performing ‘Tristes Tropes ‘ with Artistic Director Paul Hillier at the helm.
‘Tristes Tropes ‘ is a interesting programme of repertoire, beginning from the 15th century, covering right up to the present day, including works by Dufay, Josquin and Senfl alongside the music of Kurt Weill, Andriessen and Gorecki.
In addition, the National Chamber Choir will also perform the European premiere of Credo-Ani-Ma’amin by Israeli-American composer Shulamit Ran as part of this programme.
The Abymill Theatre Seats 150 people, providing a venue not only for plays and musicals but also a film club, folk club, school plays and shows, variety shows, classical musical ensembles, large meetings and lectures.
The Choir looks forward to performing in Fethard for the very first time on Friday April 8th next at 8.00pm here in the Abymill Theatre, Fethard, Co Tipperary.
Tickets: Cost just €15/€13 (conc) for this premier event.
Bookings: Contact Tel No’s: 052-6131254 or 087-1604260.
Location: Beside the Augustinian Abbey and previously known as Coffey’s Mill.
 The Source Arts Centre The arts here in Co Tipperary are set for a major financial boost following the announcement of nearly €400,000 in funding from the Arts Council.
The Arts Council has confirmed it will invest in five Tipperary organisations around the county, based on their already proven track record to date.
The organisations to benefit are as follows:-
Source Arts Centre Thurles, who will benefit to the tune of €65,000.
North Tipperary County Council Arts Office,who will receive €105,000.
Clonmel Junction festival, in South Tipperary, who will receive €118,750.
South Tipperary County Council arts office, to receive €69,358.
Tipperary Excel Heritage Company, who will benefit to the tune €37,500.
Bosses on the UK X Factor talent finding show have confirmed that no Irish auditions will take place this year.
The word on the street is that X Factor bosses won’t hold trials in Ireland this year, as British music executive, television producer and entrepreneur, Simon Philip Cowell thinks Ireland has no talent.
There’s outright outrage as Irish fans are being told Cardiff is only a stone’s throw away and we’re being told to audition over there.The audition application deadline has passed, but you can still audition at nationwide open days. Just make sure you turn up at 9am at the following times and venues:
- March 20th: Birmingham NEC
- March 26th: Manchester Old Trafford Stadium
(Metrolink has advised that there will be engineering works the weekend of the auditions, please make sure you look into alternative routes if you wish to come.)
- April 9th: Cardiff City Stadium.
Maybe this small summary clip taken by me of Phoenix Productions at work at their recent ‘American Tea Party’ fund raiser, will whet his appetite. The performers are all resident here in Thurles and can take on anything our Simon Cowell can put on show anytime.
Hello Simon Cowell, take off those sun glasses, accommodation and flights don’t come cheap and we don’t all enjoy the luxury and ownership of a private yacht!
We have a wonderful theatre over here in Thurles called The Source and we can let you have it for free for auditions if you have the stomach for it.
If the crowd gets too big, we can move up the road to Semple Stadium
Personally I believe Simon is afraid that the great talent that exists in Ireland, might affect his English acts and he is afraid when the Irish have a vote, same might just affect his little score sheets.
Take care Simon that we do not send some of out outstanding musical talent over to Cardiff City to prove how wrong you really are.
Probably not though, since the troupe will be in full rehearsals for their next production, which is Les Misérables. Such a pity really!
Then again, maybe RTE will rid us of that painful All Ireland Talent Show and replace it with a proper show, using a panel of judges who know something about music, instead of a panel of ‘self styled unqualified celebrities’ and one hit wonder merchants,’ who bore us to death every Sunday evening.
With St Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, so why not take a night out and enjoy some traditional festive fun by attending the Tipperary Drama Festival, in Holycross, Thurles, Co Tipperary.
This major annual event takes to the stage for the week beginning the 18th March next to 26th March inclusive.
The hosts of this hugely attended Tipperary Festival, namely Holycross/Ballycahill Drama Group, have been successfully running this event since 1983.
This year the festival will present some great nights of theatre, performed by passionate theatre groups from all over Ireland, in their newly restored St. Michael’s Community Centre, beside the 13th century Abbey of Holy Cross, former which now boasts comfortable seating, including a balcony area, for some 500 of its patrons.
Curtain rises at 8.30pm nightly during the festival, except for the final night, which will be 8.00pm.
Admission: Each night €12, with Student’s and O.A.P’s enjoying an entrance concession of €6. Of course best value is their Season Ticket costing, I understand according to their Facebook, a mere €60 for all 9 performances.
 Tipperary Drama Festival, Holycross, Thurles, Co Tipperary. Tipperary Drama Festival Programme 2011
Fri 18th March: Holycross/Ballycahill DG ‘Lovers At Versaille ‘ by Bernard Farrell.
Sat 19th March: Skibbereen Theatre Society ‘A Kiss On The Bottom ‘ by Frank Vickery.
Sun 20th March: Conna Drama Group ‘Stolen Child ‘ by Yvonne Quinn & Bairbre Ni Chaoimh.
Mon 21st March: Schull Drama Group ‘Kindly Leave The Stage ‘ by John Chapman.
Tues 22nd March: Silken Thomas Players ‘Angels In America ‘ by Tony Kushner.
Wed 23rd March: Bunclody/Kilmyshall DG ‘The Mai ‘ by Marina Carr.
Thurs 24th March: Brideview Drama Group ‘The Clearing ‘ by Helen Edmundson.
Fri 25th March: Palace Players ‘Doubt – A Parable ‘ by John Patrick Shanley.
Sat 26th March: Nenagh Players ‘Out Of Order ‘ by Ray Cooney.
Promises to be a week we can all look forward too, so to use the well-known idiom in theatre which means ‘good luck’ – “Break A Leg Everyone”
 The Source - Saturday Next - November 20th Phoenix Productions in association with North Tipperary Hospice will take to the stage of The Source in Thurles this weekend for two unique performances of ‘Listen to My Heart: The Songs of David Friedman’.
Directed by Gerard O’Brien and accompanied by Internationally renowned musical director David Wray, (Latter founder member of Music Theatre Ireland) ‘Listen to My Heart’ sees this company stripped down to just five voices familiar to Thurles audiences from Phoenix Productions and Thurles Musical Society; Michelle O’Connell, Maria Griffin, Deirdre Ryan, Tomas Flanagan and Shane Willoughby.
‘Listen To My Heart’ is a musical written from the heart, addressing universal issues that chronicle all the lives, loves and losses of our modern world.
The first performance of its kind here in Thurles, ‘Listen to My Heart’ takes you on a musical journey that will lift your spirits and soothe your soul.
There will be two performances this Saturday November 20th, an early bird performance at 6.00pm for €10 and a traditional 8.00pm performance costing €20. Proceeds will go directly to North Tipperary Hospice. This promises to be something you will not want to miss.
Booking: Contact The Source direct by clicking here or email boxoffice@sourcearts.ie
After what can only be described as a sensational 10 night run in The Helix Theatre in Dublin last September, it was a foregone conclusion that the cast of NYMT‘s Spring Awakening would be invited to compete in this year’s Waterford International Festival of Light Opera 2010, latter celebrating their 50th anniversary this year.
This unbelievably talented cast, under the direction of John Donnelly and which included top Tipperary performers Chris Britton, Ed Leamy and Shane Willoughby, latter playing the role of ‘Georg’, like Julius Caesar, came, performed and conquered.
Amongst the awards at last night’s banquet in Waterford the cast of Spring Awakening walked off with awards for; Best Lighting, Best Costumes, Best Set, The Special Adjudicators Award, Best Musical Direction and the much coveted Best Overall Show Award for this year’s Waterford International Festival of Light Opera.
Adjudicator for this year’s Waterford International Festival of Light Opera was Tony Finnegan, holder of many comedy, acting, singing and directing awards to his own credit, including directing the World Premier of ‘Requiem for Julie ‘ in the Rupert Guinness Theatre, Dublin and author of the children’s musical, ‘Once Upon a Nursery Rhyme ‘, which was premiered in Northern Ireland in 2000.
Running from November 2nd – 13th and showcasing productions from award winning amateur musical societies at home and abroad, this festival takes place each year in the very stylish and newly refurbished Theatre Royal in Waterford city.
Affectionately known as the “mother of all festivals,” the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera is the premier event of its kind in these islands.
The line-up this year included Seussical The Musical, Nunsense, Pirates of Penzance and Jekyll & Hyde. There was also homage to the 80’s with The Wedding Singer, the afore mentioned Irish premiere of Spring Awakening and the Festival closed yesterday with Sweeney Todd.
All in all, it was one of the most adventurous line ups in years and worthy of their 50th anniversary celebration.
Here’s to the next 50 years.
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