Trinity Irish Dance Company

Trinity Irish Dance Company
Friday, March 13, 2015; 3 & 7:30 pm
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
MARK HOWARD
ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
ELLEN G. WALLER
THE COMPANY
KIERNAN DONAHUE
MAGGIE DOYLE
PETER DZIAK
ERIN GENTILE
ERIN GRADUS
OLIVIA HARE
CARLY HASLEE
MACKENZIE HOLLAND
CHELSEA HOY
SHANNON KEHOE
MOIRA KRAMP
OLIVIA LIVELLI MARY CLAIRE MCDONNELL
SYDNEY NIEWIEDZIA
MAGGIE NOWAKOWSKI
MEGAN OBLEIN
GRACE REIF
SHANNON STALLMAN
MYAH TRILLING
SUSANNE WIECEK
MARISSA WURSTER
THE BAND
BRIAN HOLLERAN, PAUL MARSHALL, BRENDAN O’SHEA, CAITLIN WARBELOW
WITH SPECIAL GUEST ARTIST
ANDREW VICKERS
Additional Choreography by
Sean Curran, Sandy Silva
Additional Movement by
The company, Richard Griffin, Andrew Vickers
Original Music by
Liz Carroll, Different Drums of Ireland, Mike Kirkpatrick, Kila, Brendan O’Shea, Stone
Costumes by
Kristine Fachet, Cathy Fitzmaurice, Rie McGarry, Shamrock Stitchery, Brigit Rattenborg Wise
PRODUCTION STAFF
Production Stage Manager – Dustin Derry
Production Sound Engineer – Jake Reich
Tour Support - Kim Niewiedzial
34 SPRING 2015 PROGRAM GUIDE B www.harriscenter.net
Trinity Irish Dance Company
PROGRAM
DAWN
ANDREW & CAITLIN
SEVENS
1982
JOHNNY
CAITLIN
BLACK ROSE
THE 4
COMMUNION
Intermission
OUT OF THE WOODS
PUSH
STILL
HOOLEY HUSTLE
CURRAN EVENT
CHAIRS
ROY
ABOUT TRINITY
The Trinity Irish Dance Company quickly dispel whatever
notions you may have about Irish dance. Founded in 1981 by
Artistic Director Mark Howard, this innovative dance group is
constantly searching for original means of expression while
maintaining a high regard for old traditions.Trinity, a uniquely
Irish-American group, was the birthplace of progressive Irish
dance which opened new avenues of artistic expression that
led directly to commercial productions such as Riverdance.
Continued
Over the past several years, Trinity has also collaborated with
many noted contemporary choreographers which have led
them to an increased vocabulary of movement. Two of Mr.
Howard’s students, Deirdre Mahoney Vrbancic and Ellen Gahl
Waller, were named as Associate Artistic Director of the group
in 2003 and 2005 respectively. Deirdre and Ellen are the first
of many young choreographers that will emerge from the
bridges built by the unique Trinity program.
The Trinity Irish Dance Company has performed to great
critical and popular acclaim on stages throughout the world,
with sold-out tours in Europe and Asia and appearances in
such distinguished venues as Washington’s Kennedy Center,
New York’s Joyce and New Victory Theatres, and Los Angeles’
Royce Hall. Trinity has appeared in feature films by Disney,
Dream Works, Touchstone and Universal including Backdraft
and The Road to Perdition and on countless National television
programs including The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
and Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, CBS This Morning,
Live with Regis, Good Morning America, and the Martha Stewart
Show. The group has toured internationally as invited guests
for dignitaries as varied as the Royal Family in Monaco,
Ireland's President Mary Robinson, and Indian meditation
master Gurumayi Chidvilasananda. Trinity has appeared on
the PBS Television Specials One Step Beyond and World Stage,
and were featured in the ABC special, Dignity of Children,
hosted by Oprah Winfrey.
Trinity holds a unique place in the dance world, offering both a
highly skilled presentation of traditional Irish step dance and a
brilliantly engaging interpretation of contemporary world vision.
A majority of Trinity’s dancers came through the ranks of
the prestigious Trinity Academy of Irish Dance, the Chicago/
Milwaukee-based school that has garnered an unprecedented
17 world titles for the United States at the World
Championships of Irish Dance. Many of them have
danced together since they were children; building an
instinctual bond that allows them to take risks no other dance
group would dare attempt. Their years of rigorous training are
evident in every perfectly paced spin, leap and click, making
them a lethal powerhouse of speed and sound
that has electrified audiences around the world.
Not content to be simply the world’s best however, Founding
Artistic Director and Emmy Award-winning choreographer
Mark Howard has moved outside the framework of ethnicity,
expanding Trinity’s range and repertoire in a host of
imaginative and new directions. By using Irish dance as an
instrument and a metaphor, Trinity crosses both cultural and
disciplinary boundaries in important ways. The result is a
thoroughly fresh and engaging artistic vision that goes beyond
the source without losing touch with its essence.
www.harriscenter.net SPRING 2015 PROGRAM GUIDE B 35
Trinity Irish Dance Company
Dancers
CARLY HASLEE
CHELSEA HOY
ERIN GENTILE
ERIN GRADUS
KIERNAN DONAHUE
MACKENZIE HOLLAND
MAGGIE DOYLE
MAGGIE NOWAKOWSKI
GRACE REIF
MARISSA WURSTER
MARY CLAIRE
MCDONNELL
MEGAN OBLEIN
MOIRA KRAMP
MYAH TRILLING
OLIVIA HARE
OLIVIA LIVELLI
PETER DZIAK
SHANNAN STALLMAN
SHANNON KEHOE
36 SPRING 2015 PROGRAM GUIDE B www.harriscenter.net
SUSANNE WIECEK
SYDNEY NIEWIEDZIAL
Trinity Irish Dance Company
MARK HOWARD (Artistic Director/
Founder) For the past thirty
years, this Emmy Award-winning
choreographer has been striving
for and achieving that which
is profoundly significant and
equally difficult to attain — the
transcendence of craft to art and
the synthesis of forms to create
something that is forward-looking
and new. His work maintains integrity while simultaneously
going beyond the framework of ethnicity to carve new
traditions. Born in Yorkshire, England, and raised in Chicago,
Mr. Howard began his dancing career at age nine. A North
American champion Irish dancer himself, he launched the
Trinity Academy of Irish Dance at age 17, subsequently leading
them to an unprecedented 37 World Championship titles for
the United States, the first when he was only 23 years of age.
Since its inception 30 years ago, the Trinity Academy has
grown from a dozen students practicing in a church basement
to the largest Irish dance program in the world. Mr. Howard
continues to choreograph new works as well as expanding his
independent career to work in theater, television, concert, and
film. In 1994 and 2001, he was named one of Irish American
Magazine’s “Top100 Irish-Americans” for his innovative work
in Irish dance. In 1991, his PBS production of Green Fire and
Ice aired nationally, and in 2002, PBS began airing One Step
Beyond. Howard’s early work found a common rhythm and
movement between African and Celtic dance, which was an
integral part of the 1993 Emmy Award-winning PBS special
World Stage. In 1995 his choreography was presented in the
ABC special About Us: The Dignity of Children, hosted by Oprah
Winfrey. Mr. Howard has done extensive film work for Disney,
Touchstone, Universal, and Dream Works, working with the
likes of directors Ron Howard (Backdraft) and Sam Mendes
(American Beauty). Lara Flynn Boyle (Twin Peaks) and Kate
Hudson (Almost Famous) are among the celebrities who have
been his students. He also became the personal dance coach
for actor Tom Hanks over a two month period while working on
the film, Road to Perdition. Howard was a regular guest on The
Johnny Carson Show from 1988 until 1990, has accumulated
a multitude of national television credits and has worked in
a variety of stages from commercials to theater and being
awarded numerous choreographer fellowships and grants in
the arts.
ELLEN G. WALLER (Associate
Artistic Director) A native of
Cincinnati, Ohio, Ellen first trained
with the McGing Irish Dancers as a
competitive solo and team dancer
and later as an instructor. In 2005,
Ellen received her Teasgicoir
Choimisiún le Rinci Gaelacha
(T.C.R.G.): the official teaching
certification from the Irish Dancing
Commission in Dublin. Upon graduating from the Ohio
State University with a degree in Dance Education, Ellen
joined Trinity Irish Dance. Her love of the art form, skill, and
instinctual leadership lead her to become Associate Artistic
Profiles
Director at the young age of 24. She has toured around the
globe with tours in Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, El
Salvador, France, Guatemala, Italy, Japan, Spain and across
the United States as both dancer and Associate Artistic
Director. Her recent choreographies include work for: Irish
Theater Company of Chicago (2010), Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon
(2009), Chicago Symphony Orchestra (2009), and DePaul
University (2008). She recently completed her Graduate
degree in Exercise Science and is also a lead instructor for the
Trinity Academy of Irish Dance.
BRIAN HOLLERAN (flute/whistle)
grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey
in an Irish family. His interest in
Traditional Irish music was first
piqued at the age of twelve after
listening to the session recording,
Music at Matt Molloy's and later
with his father's trad vinyl
collection. His mother found him
initial tin whistle lessons with
Maura Vesey and finally flute lessons with Mike Rafferty of
Ballinakill, East County Galway. Mike taught Brian the bulk of
his music and would become Brian's biggest influence and
source of encouragement. In addition to many tunes, Mike also
taught Brian about the many musicians who came out of East
Galway and the distinctive traits of that regional style. Brian
was also influenced by Willie Kelly and Patrick Ourceau, two of
the greatest exponents of Traditional Irish Fiddle Playing in the
United States. They shared a love and common respect for the
music Mike played as well as the music of Jack Coen who
would also later influence Brian's playing. In addition to these
four men, Brian has also found inspiration in recordings
of Joe Cooley, Bobby Casey, and Matt Molloy. He has taught
at the Chris Langan weekend in Toronto and at Irish Week at
the Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins, West Virginia. He also
performs and teaches with Patrick Ourceau every year at the
Whit's End Flute and Fiddle Weekend in Orillia, Ontario.
BRENDAN O’SHEA (Guitar/Vocals)
Originally from Killarney in the
South West of Ireland, singersongwriter Brendan O’Shea
moved to the United States in
the late 90s. Since then, he has
become a veteran of New York
City’s songwriter scene and has
released two albums which have
garnered praise from critics and
press around the world. Irish music magazine HotPress rated
his last release, Be Here Still an 8 1/2 out of 10 and XM Radio’s
Mike Morrone called it one of his “Favorite records of the
year.” Brendan’s songs can also be heard in such films as Ron
Howard’s Academy Award nominated film Backdraft and the
wildly successful Karen Gehres documentary Begging Naked.
In addition to headlining his own shows in both the United
States and Europe, Brendan has embarked on two tours of
Japan in collaboration with the Trinity Dance Troupe as well
as sharing stages with his contemporaries The Frames, The
Swell Season, Cowboy Junkies, 10,000 Maniacs, Elliott Smith,
www.harriscenter.net SPRING 2015 PROGRAM GUIDE B 37
Trinity Irish Dance Company
and Interpol, to name but a few. In 2007 Brendan became a
founding member of Fairplay Collective, a unique endeavor
in which songwriters have come together to support and
promote each other’s individual projects as independent
artists. 2008 Brendan, Pete and friend Karl Geary (Sin-e)
began hosting a successful Sunday night concert series
in NYC’s East Village called the Scratcher Sessions which
features musicians from around the world. With or without a
guitar in hand, Brendan O’Shea excels at drawing people in.
Brendan is currently writing songs for his fourth full length
release to follow up from his 2011 release, Songs From
A Tenement.
PAUL MARSHALL (Percussion) is a
Northern Irish musician and artist.
He has been playing drums since
age 5 and specializes in playing
the Irish frame drum, the bodhran
(pronounced boron). Paul has
toured the world with the band
Different Drums of Ireland where
he plays the traditional thunderous
Lambed drum as well as the
African Djembe and drum set. Paul is a musical instrument
design consultant and has greater unique instruments for
stage performances by STOMP and Evelyn Glennie. He also
creates large scale interactive public artworks and is studying
for a Masters Degree in Frine Art with a focus on fine art
photography and video. Paul is very proud to have known
Founder Mark Howard and the Trinity Family for over 10 years
and has played with them in the USA as well as touring in
Europe and Asia.
CAITLIN WARBELOW (Fiddle)
began her studies at age three in
the Boston Suzuki program, and
went on to win honors
from the National Foundation for
the Advancement of the Arts and
the National Suzuki Conference,
as well as scholarships at the
Meadowmount School (where
she studied with Sally Thomas of
Juilliard), Boston University, and Columbia University. In the
folk and traditional realms, she holds championship titles at
the New England Fiddle Championship and the Fleadh Cheoil
(All-Ireland Competition). In 2014, Caitlin became the violinist/
fiddler for Riverdance's new production, Heartbeat of Home,
as well as a substitute violinist for Sting's new musical on
Broadway, The Last Ship. Caitlin has toured and performed
with Cherish the Ladies, Mick Moloney and the Green Fields of
America, The Brock McGuire Band, Michael Londra and Celtic
Fire, The Prodigals, and The Mickey Finns, among many
others. In addition to her large private teaching studio, she
is on the faculty at Manhattan's Irish Arts Center and is an
artistic coordinator and guest artist at the Fairbanks Summer
Arts Festival and the Far North Fiddle Festival. Caitlin recently
recorded and produced Manhattan Island Sessions, a live
recording of traditional Irish music in NYC pubs. The CD was
nominated for a 2012 Independent Music Award. Caitlin
received a masters degree in Urban Planning from
38 SPRING 2015 PROGRAM GUIDE B www.harriscenter.net
Profiles
Columbia University at the age of 24, and double bachelors
degrees from Boston University in Violin Performance and
Anthropology at the age of 20.
ANDREW VICKERS (Guest Artist)
began dancing competitively at
the age of 9 whilst living in London
and continued his training after a
move to Galway 3 years later. At
the age of 15 he began performing
internationally as principal dancer
for shows Spirit of Ireland, To Dance
on the Moon, Dance of Desire and
Magic of The Dance. Along with
some of these shows Vickers is credited with choreography
for Canadian based productions The Magic of Ireland and
The Echoes of Ireland, the latter, a stage show written by
Limerick brothers Frank and Malachy McCourt. He has been
invited to perform by various music groups and orchestras
including Frankie Gavin and De Dannan and The Dubai
Philharmonic Orchestra among others. Since graduating
from The Irish World Academy with a MA (Hons) in Traditional
Dance Performance, Andrew has gone on to work with Dance
Theatre of Ireland and their collaboration with Soul Steps
(NYC) entitled Every Little Step...The Rhythm of Hope. This show
premiered at The Joyce SoHo NYC as part of
Imagine Ireland in 2011.
DUSTIN "D" DERRY (Production Stage Manager) has been
lighting shows professionally since 2001 and is a member of
United Scenic Artist Local 829. Some of Dustin's more recent
project highlights include designing The Moscow Ballet's
Great Russian Nutcracker, Cinderella, and The Dying Swan. He
enjoys touring with internationally acclaimed Muntu Dance
Chicago since 2004, Natya Dance Theatre, and The Magic of Bill
Blagg LIVE!, a critically acclaimed illusion show. When he is
not touring with dancers, you can find Dustin working actively
in the Chicago entertainment industry designing lights for
theatre, dance, live music, and corporate events. Dustin has
won the Black Theatre Alliance’s Best Lighting Design for
Bride From the South with Muntu Dance Chicago. Dustin also
serves as the master electrician and Lighting Designer for the
North Shore Center for Performing Arts in Skokie where he
has worked with a multitude of companies including Hubbard
Street Dance, River North Dance, Thodos Dance, Momix Dance,
and the Joffrey Ballet as well as many musical acts such as
Clint Black, The Indigo Girls, Kurt Elling, Ahmad Jamal, Aaron
Neville, and the Ides of March.
JACOB REICH (Audio Engineer) has been involved with live
audio for over 10 years but it has been a life-long affair.
He has had the honor to work with many talented dance
companies, live bands, and other performing artists in a
variety of shows and venues. He is inspired by the magic live
shows bring to audiences and performers alike. He would like
to thank Trinity for this wonderful opportunity and sincerely
hopes you are amazed by this show.