St. Patrick's Choral Society

Another Year, Another Nomination
 
St. Patrick's Choral Society are celebrating after recieving their fourth nomination in 4 years for a much sought after AIMS award. AIMS is the Association of Irish Musicals and is a governing body for amateur musical companies throughout the length and breadth of Ireland. In the previous three years, the company have been nominated for their playing members onstage; Caroline English as Bonnie in Anything Goes (Best Commediene), Timothy Bell as Will Parker in Oklahoma (Best Supporting Male) and Diarmuid Taggart as Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady (Best Actor). However, this year the focus moves from the work on stage to the work behind the scenes. This years nomination is for Best House Management. This includes the staffing, front of house displays, the atmosphere front of house and the general set up of the theatre. The company would like to thank their dedicated front of house team who help out each year- whether it be from selling programmes, organising raffles, greeting guests, ticket collection or organising visual displays. This nomination is for them! 

 
Company PRO, Gareth McGreevy told us that, 'Win, lose or draw; the company are grateful to have recieved another nomination and it is great to see that we, as a company, can continue to provide for the people of Downpatrick and Co.Down, a standard worthy of award nomination.'
The Volkswagen Ireland AIMS Seminar and Awards Ceremony will take place on the weekend 13th- 15th June in the Glen Eagles complex, Killarney, Co.Kerry. Here's hoping that another piece of silverware will be returning to Downpatrick.
 
The companies AGM was held on Tuesday 13th May with several changes in post: The new committee are as follows:
Chairperson: Ann Miller; Vice Chairperson: Mark Johnston; Secretary: Audrey Neill; Treasurer: Marion Dickson; PRO: Gareth McGreevy; Friends Secretary: Diarmuid Taggart; AIMS Reps: Monica Fitzsimons, Maureen and Brendan Keohane; Committee Members: Roisin Smyth, Gary Warnock, Sarah McGreevy, Therese Conway and Ciara McElroy.
 
The company are currently preparing for their Youth Show of Calamity Jane. The company are holding workshops for the musical before the audition stage and are inviting young members of the community to be part of the fun. The next workshop will take place on Tuesday 17th June at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall, behind the Down Recorder. To be part of the fun contact the company at stpatschoral@hotmail.co.uk or telephone Gareth on 07786837198.

With just over two weeks to opening night, St. Patrick's Choral Society are deep in rehearsals for the N.Ireland Premiere of the Revised Cole Porter Classic Kiss me Kate. The show comes from the society who had raving reviews and a box office hit of the Disney Spectacular, High School Musical, last October and this show will be just as good with top class singing, acting, dancing, lights, costumes....the works!!

 A bit about the story of the show- Fred Graham, played by Diarmuid Taggart, is the director of a Broadway-bound musical version of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. He and his diva movie-star ex-wife Lilli Vanessi, played by Audrey Neill, star opposite each other in the roles of Petruchio and Katharine. The pair argue backstage as only people in love can argue. Meanwhile, Fred's girl, Lois Lane, is romantically interested in Bill Calhoun. But Lilli and Bill are also romantically linked. Bill loves to gamble, and it turns out that he has signed Fred's name to a big I.O.U. Also, flowers sent by Fred to Lois mistakenly get delivered to Lilli, and Lilli realizes that she still loves Fred.

Everyone is in the middle of performing The Taming of the Shrew on stage when Lilli discovers that Fred's flowers were really intended for Lois, and she starts an all-out war mid-performance that threatens the production's success. At the same time, a pair of gangsters have come after Fred to collect the gambling debt, since his name is on the I.O.U. Only a successful show will provide the money that Fred needs to avoid getting his fingers broken. Fred slyly uses the gangsters to prevent the furious Lilli from walking out on the show. The gangsters join the cast to keep an eye on Lilli.

After intermission, 'The Shrew' progresses as Petruchio marries Katharine and soon misses the single life. The gangsters find out that their boss has been killed, and so the I.O.U. is worthless, and they leave, noting that guys who know Shakespeare can impress the ladies. Lilli quits the show. On stage, Bianca and Lucentio are finally married. As 'The Shrew' comes to a close, Lilli unexpectedly returns to the stage, and speaking as Katharine, she admits her love for Fred. Lilli and Fred are reunited, Lois and Bill come together.

Some may say it is a typical romance story but this production  promises to be a hit with some rousing foot-tapping numbers, including a very visually exhausive performance of the classic, Too Darn Hot.

The Society's Vice Chairman, Gareth McGreevy commented on the show thus far, ' It is going to be a top-class show with a super line up in store. We have some of Co. Down's finest performers on stage with 3 of our leading roles having been nominated for prestigious AIMS Awards in the past 5 years. Other performances are been given by the comical Doleres Kearney as her role of Hattie and an excellent portrayal of Bianca by Sarah McGreevy.'

Audrey Neill was nominated for her Best Female Singer as Anna in The King and I while last year Diarmuid Taggart was nominated for Best Male Actor and in 2006, Timothy Bell was award the Best Supporting Male award at the prestigious awards. Here's hoping with this specatular show, they can add another award nomination to their list!

Even if you have not seen the show, make this a first; and come along to see St. Patrick's N.Ireland Premiere of Kiss Me Kate, it promises to be a great hit as the company brings top class theatre to the Down area.

The show is being sponsored by Alexander Reid and Frazer, Ciaran Taggart Architects, M.B McGrady &Co., McNabb Bros and Premier Chiropractors.

The show will run from Tuesday 8^th- Saturday 12^th April 2008 in the Great Hall, Downshire, Downpatrick.

Tickets can be obtained from Gordons Chemist, Downpatrick; Smyths Musique, Newcastle or by calling Gary on 07894014551

St. Patrick's Choral Society are currently going through intense rehearsals in order to stage the Northern Ireland Premiere of the Cole Porter Classic, Kiss Me Kate (revised edition). The show is written by Samuel and Bella Spewack, with the music and lyrics by Cole Porter.

This smash-hit musical proved to be Cole Porter’s biggest hit and was the only one of his shows to run for more than 1,000 performances on Broadway. It won the first Tony Award presented for Best Musical, in 1949.

The show is structured as a play within a play. The show in the show is a broadway-bound musical version of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

The show sees some great local names back in leading roles such as local songbird, Audrey Neill taking on the role of Katherine with last year’s AIMS Best Actor Award Nominee, Diarmuid Taggart taking up the role of Fred. After returning from music and drama college, Sarah McGreevy assumes the role of Lois Lane with Timothy Bell, AIMS award winner for their production of Oklahoma! staring as Bill. Other leading roles are taken by Gareth McGreevy as Paul, Brian McElroy as the General, Doleres Kearney as Hattie and Gary Warnock staring in numerous roles.

This Northern Ireland Premiere promises to be an excellent show from the Award Winning company with foot-tapping numbers such as Another Opening, Another Show; Too Darn Hot and Brush Up Your Shakespeare.

The show will run from Tuesday 8^th- Saturday 12^th April 2008 in the Great Hall, Downshire, Downpatrick and ticket bookings have already started to come in fast so people are urged to book tickets at their earliest possible convenience to avoid disapointment. Tickets can be obtained from Gordons Chemist, Downpatrick; Smyths Musique, Newcastle or by calling Gary on 07894014551.

The committee and artistic team are pleased to announce the cast for Kiss Me Kate

Fred Grahame - Diarmuid Taggart
Lilly Vanessi- Audrey Neil
Lois Lane - Sarah McGreevy
Bill Calhoun -Timothy Bell
Paul - Gareth McGreevy
Hattie - Dolores Kearney
First Gangster - Drew Reid
Second Gangster- Bill Turner
The General- Brian McElroy
Baptista- Kevin McReynolds
Pops - Gary Warnock
Dance Captain - Karen Strain
Flynt - Ryan Campbell
Riley - Mark Johnston
Wardrobe Lady - Ciara McElroy

The show will run from Tuesday 8th- Saturday 12th April 2008 in The Great Hall, Downpatrick