Dear Reader –
Thanks so much for the overwhelming number of responses to last week’s letter. Some of you replied by email, others (including some prominent members of the Theme Night ensemble) preferred to be more public with their suggestions.
Now I’m not sure where this idea that I’m not a fan of musicals has come from, but I can assure you all that it has as good a chance as any other theme of being selected…when I sit down and try to pick a theme for Theme Night #91!
All hyperlinks in bold.
The Big Thing
All joking aside, the theme has been picked (!), and will be announced on my social media later this week.
Keep an eye out for next Tuesday’s letter, as it will contain details on your special early access to tickets for Theme Night #29. As usual, this access will be only for subscribers to this letter.
Tickets will go on sale to the public next Tuesday morning at 11, so this email will arrive in your inbox before that, with details on how you can access tickets before that time. So don’t miss it!
Dates for the shows are May 5-7.
Where else but Sligo?
It really was lovely to hear back from so many of you on the Theme Nights.
Some of your favourites surprised me I must say. Some of the shows you mentioned I had almost forgotten, such as the Michael Jackson night and the Burt Bacharach night. Theme Nights #13 and #15 - the shows in which we were joined by the Sligo Academy of Music Sinfionetta - also featured prominently.
The words you used to describe the nights blew me away, and gave me a great insight into what you as audience members and performers look for in these shows.
And then the real craic started with the suggestions for the next theme. The likes of Queen really will have to be looked at soon, there were some interesting thoughts on re-using themes we have done already, and I especially loved the detail into which some of you went in your submissions (including two full setlists) on why a particular theme should be picked.
As always, the two groups of people I keep in mind when picking a theme are the performers and the audience. It needs to be something that will challenge and interest the musicians yet crucially must be entertaining too. Especially this one - our first one back with full capacity theatres - it needs to be a big party I feel, and we’re certainly going to do our best to make it so!
What’s New?
THE PRODUCERS: A musical it may be (!), but I can’t wait to see this. Karen Gordon always pulls out all the stops for her shows, and with Niamh Crowley as musical director there’s no way it’s not going to sound amazing. Great cast too! It’s on in early April but you’ll need to book tickets soon to avoid missing out.
MICKEY MORAN: This Derry man gave me my debut for Sligo back in 2000. Even then he had been coaching teams for many years, so to see him finally win his first All-Ireland title as a manager last Saturday was heart-warming to say the least. This picture shows him kissing the particular spot of turf in Croke Park from where his team’s last-minute wining goal was scored.
SUPERBOWL SHOW: I love this short article on why this year’s show in particular worked.
Finally…
Not from an official Theme Night, but it was mentioned by one of you as a highlight this week and I’m not going to argue with you. It’s just gorgeous. I first fell in love with this song when I heard Sinéad sing it on a show we did to celebrate the lives of Bowie, Prince and Leonard Cohen in 2017.
This version is from October 2020 on In The Lamplight.
Till next time - Kieran.
