It’s showtime: Riverdance — The 20th Anniversary Tour will be on stage now through June 19. SOURCE: JACK HARTIN
The international Irish dance phenomenon is back by popular demand with Riverdance — The 20th Anniversary Tour.
Celebrating an extraordinary milestone, Riverdance will perform in over 50 cities during its current season, including Philadelphia, exciting audiences at the Academy of Music now through Sunday, June 19.
In the 20 years since Riverdance has packed theaters around the world, it’s amassed some pretty impressive credits.
For example, it’s been seen live by over 25 million people in over 465 venues worldwide. It’s traveled 700,000 miles (or to the moon and back and back again). It’s played to a global television audience of 3 billion people, sold 10 million videos and DVDs, and over 3 million copies of its Grammy Award-winning CD.
No wonder Philadelphia audiences are clamoring to see this production.
“For the past 20 years, Riverdance has been treasured by audiences around the world and we are proud to celebrate this milestone in Philadelphia,” said Anne Ewers, president and CEO of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. “Whether this is an audience’s first time seeing Riverdance or their 20th, this is sure to be an unforgettable experience.”
Fran Egler, director of programming at the Kimmel Center and someone who helps determine which shows will be coming to Philadelphia to wow audiences, agrees.
“To determine what shows to book into the Academy of Music, the Forrest Theatre and, on occasion, the Merriam, is really like performing a balancing act. It’s like fitting the right pieces into a jigsaw puzzle. First, we have to decide what our audiences would like to see, and then we have to see if what we’ve zeroed in on is available,” she said.
ldquo;In this case, Riverdance has been here several times before and we know that audiences are always excited to see it again. People never seem to tire of it, and come back and back again to see it. The show is an artful blend of a lot of different cultures.”
At a basic level, Riverdance is a display of music, dancing and singing. The show not only features Irish dance with all its reels and jigs, but Spanish, Russian and African-American dance as well, so there’s something for everyone.
Riverdance was originally conceived as the interval act for Ireland’s entry to the Eurovision Song contest in 1994. Nobody ever dreamed that one seven-minute dance would make the show the success it is today.
But it has. Egler, herself, says she’s seen Riverdance about three times. As for me, I’ll confess I’ve seen it even more, and about to pick up my tickets to sit in the audience for one of the most high-energy and exhilarating shows I’ve ever seen. ••
For more information or to purchase tickets, call 215–893–1999 or visit kimmelcenter.org
