Celtic Fire to open up Stephens after break

Courtesy of Flickr

Celtic Fire performing at Outside The Box Art Festival.

Kyle Cravens

An evening of songs, dance and storytelling will be on display for attendees of Stephens Auditorium on Monday as Michael Londra’s Celtic Fire welcomes all into its celebration of Irish heritage.

Catching Celtic Fire is a way of experiencing traditional Irish folklore on stage, and audiences are even able to join the show in some cases. The show promises to generate an electric atmosphere of live music.

Every show needs a leader, and Celtic Fire’s comes in the form of Londra, an award-winning tenor from Ireland.

He has collaborated with numerous acts ranging from his time in the “Riverdance” U.S. national tour to his work on Broadway with “First You Dream: A Tribute to Christopher Reeve.”

As a concert singer alone, he has performed in more than 40 countries. In 2011, he co-produced his own television special, “Beyond Celtic,” which earned him two Emmy nominations. Londra’s celebrated history continues today, as some of the world’s premiere dancers and singers back him in his tribute to Irish heritage.

Tradition is at the heart of the Celtic Fire experience. Instruments such as fiddles or the great drum are used to transport listeners back to a simpler time.

Champion dancers amplify the music’s tone with Irish dancing, and all the mediums come together to create an immersive evening.

A group of dancers from Robert Thomas Dancenter’s Irish Performance Team will be performing alongside Celtic Fire for this show only. They are a local team and some of the members are even ISU students. Frankie Feldmeier is one of these students, a junior in Integrated Studio Arts, here on campus.

Feldmeier, along with the rest of her team, are excited to perform along with Celtic Fire.

“We found out about the opportunity just before spring break and spent time this past weekend learning the choreography” she said.

Feldmeier feels right home on any stage, and isn’t intimidated by large shows Stephens offers.

“I have been performing on stage since I was three and it’s the greatest feeling in the world,” Feldmeier said. “Performing, no matter the size of the crowd puts me in a happy place, although some of the younger girls in the group are a little nervous.”

Robert Thomas Dancenter’s Irish Performance Team looks to flex their skill alongside Michael Londra’s performers. Feldmeier gave some insight into the structure of the show.

“We have two traditional Irish dance numbers,” she said. “In one, we have the stage to ourselves, the other we share with the professional cast.”

Celtic Fire, along with local dancers, offers a worldly performance and, at the very least, Londra’s stunning voice will provide a true show.

Rush tickets are now being sold for $10.