Michael Flatley, known for Riverdance, Lord of the Dance and Feet of Flames, created Celtic Tiger which debuted in 2005.[1] After being retired for four years[citation needed], Flatley announced he was going to tour with a new show. In the summer of 2004 Flatley started the rehearsals of a new show in the SFX Theatre in Dublin, Ireland[citation needed]. In the autumn of 2004 the rehearsals moved on in the Shepperton Studios in London[citation needed]. Michael tried his best to keep the details including the name of the show a secret[citation needed]. Michael announced on his website in April 2005 that he was going to have a preview show of his new show Celtic Tiger in June 2005[citation needed].
Celtic Tiger had its first performance at a private, invitation-only performance at the NIA Birmingham, England on 17 June 2005.[2] The show was first performed for the public on 9 July 2005 in the Puskás Stadion (formerly the Népstadion) in Budapest, Hungary. Another preview show was planned for Prague in the Czech Republic, but at the last minute that show was cancelled due to the venue (which included a massive stage specially built for the show) was unsafe for the dancers.[citation needed]
The next show, a preview show for the US tour, was held in Worcester, Massachusetts, on 24 September 2005, followed by a gala performance in New York City's Madison Square Garden on 27 September 2005, the show's official US premiere. The show then toured through Canada and sections of the US, with the final 2005 performance at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia on 26 November 2005.[citation needed]
Celtic Tiger started its European World Tour on 20 April 2006 at the Point Theatre in Dublin. That show was the first time Flatley had danced in the Point Theatre since he debuted Lord of the Dance.[citation needed] On 15 November 2006, the Autumn and Winter tours for the Celtic Tiger tour of Europe and Asia were cancelled when Flatley was hospitalised for a viral infection for two weeks.[3] Flatley claimed in his website that he would release future touring dates in early 2007 but never did[citation needed].
Meaning
In the press release announcing the European preview of the show, Michael Flatley explained 'Celtic Tiger portrays the oppression of the Irish people through the ages and the tiger symbolises the awakening of their Spirit and their struggle for freedom. Celtic Tiger is my finest work to date. Budapest is one of my favourite cities in the world and I can think of no greater place to preview my new show."[4]
Credits
Director – Michael Flatley
Producer – Michael Flatley
Choreographer – Michael Flatley
Leading role – Michael Flatley
Numbers
Act 1
1. The Heartbeat of the Tiger
2. Dancing in the Dark
3. St. Patrick
4. The Sleeping Tiger
5. The Vikings
6. Celtic Fire
7. The Garden of Eden
8. The Redcoats
9. The Famine
10. Four Green Fields
11. Bloody Sunday
12. A Call to Arms
13. The 1916 Rising
14. The Banshee
15. A Nation Once Again
Act 2
16. Freedom
17. A New World
18. The Last Rose
19. Celtic Kittens
20. Capone
21. Forever Free
22. Cowboy Cheerleaders
23. Yankee Doodle Dandy
24. Celtic Fire II
25. The Celtic Tiger
26. Encore – Yankee Doodle Dandy Reprise
Cast
Michael Flatley
Thomas Badger
Dancers
Lisa Anderson
Thomas Badger
Desmond Bailey
Lynsey Brown
Cherie Butler
Ciaran Connolly
Martin Connolly
Siobhan Connolly
Arlene Cooke
Sarah Doherty
Alison Epsom
David Folan
Odette Galea
Jason Gorman
Damon Griffiths
Cassandra Halloran
Louise Hayden
Mark Hennessy
Niall Holly
Laura Jones
Joanne Kavanagh
Megan Luke
Maeve Madden
Debbie Maguire
Rachel Martin
Owen McAuley
Kathleen McCarthy
Brian McEnteggart
Leigh Ann McKenna
Kevin McVittie
Niamh O’Brien (later married to Flatley)
Damien O’Dochartaigh
Roisin O’Donnell
Andrew O'Reilly
Ian Oswald
Zoltan Papp
Gary Pender
Chris Piper
Katie Pomfret
Sarah Redmond
Margaret Revis
Sarah Spratt
Keagan Van Dooren
Bryana Verner
Scott Walker
Stephen Walker
Band
Jason Duffy — Drums and Percussion (DVD)
Gary Sullivan -Drums and Percussion (Canada & US tour)
