RIVERDANCE Announces Hawaii Dates; Embarks on Farewell Tour

Nov. 18, 2011 - PRLog -- Broadway in Hawaii is thrilled to announcethat RIVERDANCE will include eight Honolulu shows in its farewell tour as the United States touring production says goodbye to North America after 16 years. Luckily for Honolulu fans, RIVERDANCE will come to Hawaii for eight exclusive performances at the Blaisdell Concert Hall from Dec. 7 to 11, 2011. The family-friendly Honolulu shows will mark the first and only time the acclaimed production will come to Hawaii. Tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster outlets, Walmart outlets, Blaisdell Box Office, Ticketmaster.com or by calling call 800-745-3000. Special discounts are available for military, students and teachers, as well as large groups.

The company will travel to Hawaii with a cast and crew of 60 people, including the remarkable RIVERDANCE Irish Dance Troupe, the cream of Irish musicians in the RIVERDANCE Band and a spectacular international company all performing to the magic of Bill Whelan’s music. The Honolulu shows also feature an exciting fusion of cultural influences, including Spanish Flamenco and African American tap dancing. The exuberant RIVERDANCE band – which audiences experience on-stage rather than tucked away in the pit – includes Declan Masterson (keyboard/musical director), Mark Alfred (drums/percussion/bodhrán), Matt Bashford (uiilleann pipes/low whistle/tin whistle), Pat Mangan (fiddle), and Dave McGauren (saxophone).

Earlier this week, the producer of RIVERDANCE, Moya Doherty, announced that the United Statestouring production will play its final performance on June 17, 2012 at Wolf Trap in Virginia.

"When we opened RIVERDANCE in New York in March 1996, we never thought for one minute that our show would still be running 15 years later," said Doherty. "Three years ago we embarked on our farewell tour, saying good-bye to every city in North America we have ever played in over the years, and next June 17th in our 16th year this current production of RIVERDANCE will end and we will say our final good-bye. It has been a source of immense pride for me as Producer that America took RIVERDANCE to its heart to such an amazing extent and I would like to pay tribute to every dancer, musician, singer and all the crew and staff who served RIVERDANCE so well over the years."

The show that started it all, RIVERDANCE, has been performing in the United States since March 1996 when it had its American premiere at Radio City Music Hall in New York. Since then, the show has tapped its way onto the world stage thrilling millions of people around the globe.While the touring production in the U.S. will close on June 17, 2012, productions of RIVERDANCE will continue to tour the world.

From Los Angeles to Louisville, Seattle to Boston, Chicago to Chattanooga and Memphis to Miami – and soon Honolulu – the power of RIVERDANCE, its music and more than 50 stomping feet, has captured the hearts of millions.

Of all the performances to emerge from Ireland in the past decade, nothing can compare to the energy, the sensuality and the spectacle of RIVERDANCE. An innovative and excitingblend of dance, music and song, RIVERDANCE draws on Irish traditions. The combined talents of the performers propel Irish dancing and music to the present day capturing the imagination of audiences across all ages and cultures.

Composed by Bill Whelan, produced by Moya Doherty and directed by John McColgan, to date, RIVERDANCE has played over 10,000 performances, been seen live by more than 22 millionpeople in over 350 venues throughout 40 countries across 4 continents.

Honolulu audiences will want to plan early for their unique RIVERDANCE experience to celebrate the holiday season. Special pricing includes:

Military – Most seats for opening night are just $35. Available at Blaisdell Box Office only.
Seniors (62+) – Most seats for the Friday matinee are just $35.
Students – Select seating for the Friday matinee is available for just $17.50.

Honolulu Performance Dates at Blaisdell Concert Hall:

· Wednesday, December 7 at 7:30 p.m.
· Thursday, December 8 at 7:30 p.m.
· Friday, December 9 at 3 p.m. *MATINEE SPECIAL PRICING FOR SENIORS AND STUDENTS*
· Friday, December 9 at 8 p.m.
· Saturday, December 10 at 2 p.m. *MATINEE*
· Saturday, December 10 at 8 p.m.
· Sunday, December 11 at 1 p.m. *MATINEE*    
· Sunday, December 11 at 6:30 p.m.

Visit http://www.riverdance.com for tour dates, tickets, competitions and much more.

About MagicSpace Entertainment
MagicSpace Entertainment (formerly NewSpace Entertainment) is an independent presenter of live theater and concerts with more than 25 years of experience presenting events throughout North America. Through its local production company, Broadway in Hawaii, MagicSpace has presented a number of major shows in Honolulu, including Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Cats. Visit http://www.magicspace.net/honolulu/ to learn more.