RIVERDANCE:
THE TEN YEARSHere we have some exciting news... a very special
program about Riverdance on its Tenth Anniversary, to be aired first
on WLIW in New York on February 9, 2005, and then other public television stations
around the country in March. Jean Butler
will be live in the WLIW Studio, and the special will be hosted by none other
than Gabriel Byrne! Jean will be interviewed in WLIW21's studio between
segments of the program. This special airs exactly ten years to the day that
Riverdance debuted at the Point Theatre in Dublin! From WLIW: "Riverdance
- The Show" celebrates its tenth anniversary as a global stage phenomenon
this year, and WLIW21 New York
marks the occasion Wednesday, February 9 at 8 pm with the premiere of RIVERDANCE:
THE TEN YEARS. Jean Butler,
the original female lead in the production, will be live in our studio for the
broadcast. WLIW will distribute the special to public television stations nationwide
this March. RIVERDANCE: The Ten Years Hosted by Gabriel Byrne
Premieres
Wednesday, February 9 at 8 pm on WLIW21 A Decade to the Day of the Show's
Dublin Debut Original Lead Dancer Jean Butler Live in the Studio
RIVERDANCE:
THE TEN YEARS celebrates the rise and rise of Riverdance from a 7-minute Eurovision
Song Contest interval in 1994 to a global dance phenomenon and an internationally
recognized brand. The program premieres Wednesday, February 9 at 8 pm on WLIW21
New York Public Television, exactly ten years to the day the stage show premiered
at The Point Theatre in Dublin. Jean Butler, the show's original female lead,
will be live in the WLIW21 studio sharing her memories of the show and its impact.
WLIW New York will distributethe program nationally to public television stations
this March. The documentary follows the journey of Riverdance from the heady stages
of creation, through the anxious formation of a full-length show and reveals the
daunting logistics of managing a global spectacle. It examines the split with
original male lead Michael Flatley, first night nerves on Broadway, the exclusive
performance at the People's Hall in China and the show's rapid and unprecedented
rise to the heights of International success. The program includes performance
footage never before shown on television. Since its February 9, 1995 premiere
in Dublin, the show has been seen by 18 million people, at 250 venues worldwide
in 30 countries over four continents. It has broken countless box office records
and has been viewed by television audiences exceeding 1.2 billion viewers. Hosted
by actor Gabriel Byrne, RIVERDANCE: The Ten Years features in-depth interviews
with the show's original female lead Jean Butler, producer Moya Doherty, composer
Bill Whelan, director John McColgan, actor Liam Neeson (narrator for the Broadway
production), Senator Ted Kennedy and cast members and dance critics. The documentary
also features performances from the past 10 years of the show, culminating in
the performance of Riverdance at the Opening Ceremony of the 2003 Special Olympics
World Summer Games which featured more than 100 dancers performing in the longest
troupe line ever seen in an Irish dance show. Presented nationally to public television
stations by WLIW New York. Produced by Tyrone Productions Limited of Dublin. WLIW
New York is the fourth most-watched public television station in the United States,
with an average weekly cumulative audience of 1.9 million households in the New
York metropolitan area. As a resource for public television stations, WLIW distributes
live daily broadcasts of BBC World News and is the producer of PBS specials including
the VISIONS aerial series, cultural documentaries celebrating the cultural diversity
of America, and music specials. WLIW CREATE, digital channel 133 on iO Digital
Cable Service from Cablevision, offers the best of public television series for
people passionate about cooking, crafting, collecting and more, 24/7. For more
information, visit www.wliw.org. •
• • RIVERDANCE returns to Radio City Music Hall
for its 10th Anniversary engagement, March 10-17, 2005.
The performance schedule
will be Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8:00 PM, matinees Wednesday and Saturday
at 2:00 PM and Sunday at 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM. The curtain on Tuesday, March 15
is at 7:00 PM. Following this engagement, the show will continue its U.S. tour.
See Riverdance.com for more information. •
• • Watch out for Jean Butler's Irish dance instructional
video, to be released in March in North America! JEAN
BUTLER DANCE An innovative Irish Dance Master class by Jean Butler,
star of Riverdance and Dancing on Dangerous Ground. Featuring step-by-step
exercises designed to improve form and technique, Jean Butler Dance will also
entertain and inspire! Other dancers included are Jean's sister Cara Butler (currently
touring with the Chieftains), Tara Barry, Glenn Simpson, and Michael Patrick Gallagher. Added
extras include an explosive jam session, a stunning solo performance, an in-depth
interview and much more! • • • Feature: Bernadette
Price
Original Web Design: Alexander
Servas
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