Trinity Irish Dance CompanyFriday, March 13, 2015; 3 & 7:30 pm

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

MARK HOWARD

ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTORELLEN G. WALLER

THE COMPANY

MYAH TRILLING SUSANNE WIECEK MARISSA WURSTER

THE BANDBRIAN HOLLERAN, PAUL MARSHALL, BRENDAN O’SHEA, CAITLIN WARBELOW

WITH SPECIAL GUEST ARTISTANDREW VICKERS

Additional Choreography bySean Curran, Sandy Silva

Additional Movement byThe company, Richard Griffin, Andrew Vickers

Original Music byLiz Carroll, Different Drums of Ireland, Mike Kirkpatrick, Kila, Brendan O’Shea, Stone

Costumes byKristine Fachet, Cathy Fitzmaurice, Rie McGarry, Shamrock Stitchery, Brigit Rattenborg Wise

PRODUCTION STAFFProduction Stage Manager – Dustin DerryProduction Sound Engineer – Jake Reich

Tour Support - Kim Niewiedzial

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KIERNAN DONAHUEPETER DZIAK ERIN GRADUS

CARLY HASLEE CHELSEA HOYMOIRA KRAMP

MARY CLAIRE MCDONNELL MAGGIE NOWAKOWSKI

GRACE REIF

MAGGIE DOYLEERIN GENTILEOLIVIA HARE

MACKENZIE HOLLANDSHANNON KEHOE

OLIVIA LIVELLI SYDNEY NIEWIEDZIA

MEGAN OBLEIN SHANNON STALLMAN

Trinity Irish Dance Company Continued

PROGRAM

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Intermission

OUT OF THE WOODSPUSHSTILLHOOLEY HUSTLECURRAN EVENTCHAIRSROY

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.

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 havedanced 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 soundthat 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.

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.

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CARLY HASLEE

KIERNAN DONAHUE

MARY CLAIRE MCDONNELL

OLIVIA HARE

SHANNON KEHOE

CHELSEA HOY ERIN GENTILE GRACE REIFERIN GRADUS

MACKENZIE HOLLAND MAGGIE DOYLE MAGGIE NOWAKOWSKI MARISSA WURSTER

MEGAN OBLEIN MOIRA KRAMP MYAH TRILLING

OLIVIA LIVELLI PETER DZIAK SHANNAN STALLMAN

SUSANNE WIECEK SYDNEY NIEWIEDZIAL

Trinity Irish Dance Company Dancers

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 Graduatedegree 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 laterwith 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 whowould also later influence Brian's playing. In addition to these four men, Brian has also found inspiration in recordingsof 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, singer-songwriter 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,

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 TeasgicoirChoimisiún 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

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Trinity Irish Dance Company Profiles

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 bandDifferent 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 honorsfrom 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 ofAmerica, 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

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 ofImagine 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.

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Trinity Irish Dance Company 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.