CentrStage Beauty and The Beast Panto Programme

Cover – Poster with Souvenir ProgrammeInside Cover – Supermac’s (Beauty & the Beast)Page 1 – Text and list all pantos just include Beauty & the Beast for 2010Page 2 – Richie Ryan introductionPage 3 – Biogs Mike Finn, Richie Ryan and Bryan Meehan (last year)Page 4 - BiogPage 5 & 6 – Production List and Cast List (to follow),Page 7 – More biogsPage 8 – Specsavers advert as last year just change date at bottom to 2011Inside Back Cover – Limerick’s Live 95fm new advertBack Cover – Sponsors photos like last year, back of poster

Souvenir Programme

Proud Sponsors ofBeauty and the Beast

proud sponsors of

Merry Christmas& Happy New YearGood Luck to the cast and crew ofBeauty and the BeastWe hope everyone enjoys the show

List of CentreStage pantos to date... 1998 Down to the Woods 1999 Nevereverland 2000 Beauty and the Beast 2001 Snowwhite.com 2002 Cinderella 2003 Down to the Woods 2004 Aladdin 2005 Beauty and the Beast 2006 Jack and the Beanstalk 2007 Cinderella 2008 Nevereverland 2009 Snowwhite.com 2010 Beauty & the Beast

Beauty & The Beast Belle is the prettiest girl in the village, or any village for that matter. Her sisters, Barbie and Sindy, are not even slightly pretty. In fact they are pretty ugly. Like all ugly sisters, Barbie and Sindy are jealous, mean and spiteful. It’s little wonder that their father, the (not very good) inventor, Professor Fizzbang, tries to get away from them as much as possible.

On a business trip to Dromouldy Castle, Fizzbang picks a rose for Belle and lands everyone in a basket-full of trouble. After encountering a collection of animated furniture and crockery, Fizzbang is forced to send Belle to live in the castle to appease an ugly Beast wholives there. At the castle, Belle is treated with great kindness by the Beast, even if his nightly proposals of marriage are a bit embarrassing and she keeps an eye on her father by means of a magic mirror. Before long, however, Belle begins to miss her father, and even her ugly sisters (a bit) and so the kindly Beast, lets her go back home for a visit. The joyful reunion is spoilt when Belle’s other suitor, the evil Joey Diablo, along with his slimy sidekick Sly, use the magic mirror for their owndastardly purposes - they plot to kill the beast. In the end, it will take all the magic of a (slightly off course) Fairy Godmother, to arrange a traditional happy ending.

With magic mirrors, talking candle sticks and magic teapots, Beauty and the Beast is the most magical panto ever.

Fire and Safety Regulations

In the event of an emergency please walk

quickly to the nearest exit and make your way

to the outside following the instructions of staff

members. Do not delay. Do not return, unless

and until you are advised that it is safe to do

so. Now please enjoy yourself in comfort and

safety. Please ensure that mobile phones and

pagers are switched off. Thank you.

Welcome to the CentreStage Theatre School production of Aladdin.

Over the last fourteen Christmas seasons we have endeavoured to entertain audiences with

quality pantomimes under the witty and imaginative pen of local scriptwriter Mike Finn.

Presenting a pantomime requires a great effort from many people. It means giving up valuable

family time over Christmas in preparation for the opening performance. I am indebted to all our

cast, crew and volunteers for making this pantomime possible again this year.

I am delighted to once again have the talents of Myles Breen, Aidan Crowe and Hollie

O’Donoghue on board. I would like to welcome to the principle cast Jamie Sheehan, Sharon

Kennedy, James Berkery, Deirdre Wilson and Noel Egan.

Panto would not be the same without the participation of our Children’s and Teenager Chorus.

Thank you to all our young performers!

Many thanks to our hard working backstage crew under the stewardship of Frank Boland and

all the technical team here in the LIT Millennium Theatre. Congratulations once again to our

scenic painter Des Langford.

I am delighted to have Niamh O’Connell our Choreographer and Bryan Meehan our Musical

Director at the helm for the Dance and Music ably assisted by Jonny Daly on percussion.

Congratulations to our hard working PR Consultant Aileen Galvin for pulling out all the

stops in promoting our Pantomime this year. Not an envious task under the current economic

situation. Many thanks to our long time Sponsors, Limerick’s Live 95fm, Specsavers and Supermac’s

whose sponsorship and support is vital to the continuation of our local Panto.

Welcome to our new sponsors Sequoia Lane and Limerick Independent Newspaper.

I would like to thank you the audience for keeping Panto alive in the city and for your continued

support for Local talent over the years. Many thanks to all in the Local Media.

Best Wishes for the Season

Richie Ryan Producer/Director

www.centrestageireland.com

RICHIE RYAN - Director/ProducerRichie Ryan is now one of the most successful directors in the region. This is his thirteenth season directing the CentreStage Pantomime. He was recently runner-up ‘Best Director’ AIMS National awards for his production of South Pacific in the INEC in Killarney. He has also produced and directed over twenty drama showcases with his CentreStage Theatre School. His annual Limerick Pantomime productions include Down to the Woods, NeverEverland, Cinderella, Snowwhite.com, Beauty and The Beast and Aladdin, all origional scripts by Mike Finn. Richie has also directed the highly successful Children’s Opera ‘Noyes Fludde’ by Benjamin Britton, ‘Hansel and Gretal’, and ‘The Happy Prince’ all at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick and nights of Kander & Ebb, Stephen Sondheim and Rodgers & Hammerstein in The Georgian House. He also conceived and directed the original production of Soul Garden in UL by Paul Nash (Composer) and Mike Finn (Writer). Richie was awarded the Limerick and subsequently the National Junior Chamber of Ireland Outstanding Young Person of the Year Award in 1998 for his contribution to cultural achievement in Limerick City. In 2001 he was awarded the Mary Immaculate College-University of Limerick Outstanding Achievement Award for his contribution to theatre in Limerick over the last number of years. Richie has trained at Central School (London) Mountview (London) Patsey Rodenburg Centre (London) and has a (Hons) Degree from The University of Limerick. Richie is currently doing his MA in Theatre in Middlesex University (UK). Richie is currently lecturing in LIT and was the main driving force and course designer for the first Acting and Performance (Hons) Degree course to be offered in Limerick commencing in LIT September 2009.

Richie designed and lectured the Creative Studies module at the Limerick Institute of Technology. He has taught Music and Media Studies in the Crescent College Comprehensive and was the main author and driving force for the new BA (Honors) in Acting and Performance Management at the Limerick Instituite of Technology currently offered through the CAO.

MIKE FINN - WriterMike is an writer and actor and a founder member of Island Theatre Co., The Umbrella Project, The Global Play Project, Limerick Writers’ Centre, and Bottom Dog. He is an Honorary Fellow of the University of Iowa and has an MA in Scriptwriting from the National Film School.Mike has written the plays Pigtown, The Quiet Moment, The Crunch, Shock & Awe, Ellis Island, Moyasta Junction, Stories, Langered, One, The Big Question, We Are What We Witness and The Revenger’s Tragedy as well as the musical Soul Garden. Pigtown was produced Off-Broaday and nominated for four Irish Times Theatre Awards, winning one. For television Mike has co-written (with Pat Shortt) thirty six episodes of the IFTA nominated Killinaskully and the pilot episodes of Mattie and Inside The Crystal Ball. Mike conceived, wrote and directed the acclaimed short film I’m From Limerick and has penned the feature screenplay Driven By Demons and co-written Blister.

Mike won the 2000 Stewart Parker Trust Award, was honoured by Limerick City Council for his contribution to the cultural life of his native city and was twice nominated for the Limerick Person of the Year Award. In autumn 2000, Mike represented Ireland at the prestigious International Writing Program at the University of Iowa, returned as that university’s International Writer-in-residence and in 2002 was the Burdines Distinguished Visiting Artist at the University of South Florida. Mike is a member of the Irish Playwrights and Screenwriter’s Guild and The Irish Film & Television Academy.

BRYAN MEEHAN - Musical DirectorBryan Meehan’s input in to ‘Tops of the Town’ Shows in Limerick and elsewhere

has been enormous. He has played in nine All Ireland Finals in the Gaiety Theatre,

Dublin, of which six shows ‘’brought home the Cup’’! Three of which were with

Douglas Howell productions and three with Pat McGann shows.

He has written the music for most of the Limerick shows including Analog, P&T.

Wang, Burlington, Krups, Atari, Insurances, Banks Teachers et al. ’’ Although the

competition was fierce; says Bryan, ‘’ the camaraderie and friendships have lasted

a lifetime.’’Bryan wrote, orchestrated and conducted all the music for last years sell out

show Limerick Tops a Celebration He is delighted to be back at the helm again

for this years production and hopes that the audience enjoys it as much as he

has.Bryan would like to wish all involved the very best of luck for the run.

Special thanks to:

Ryan’s Timber & PVC, Dock Road, Limerick. Border

Studio (UK) SUDS, Henry Street. All our Parents

and Guardians who have helped with rehearsals and

Dressing Room supervision. All the primary schools

we visited. Joe Crowley from Friendship Wines.

CentreStage Kids Chorus

& CentreStage Teens Chorus:

Aishling Keyes, Aoife Keogh, Karen Heagney, Laura Heagney, Aoife Kelly, Fiona O’

Lsthoorn, Claire Hogan, Elizabeth Hickey, Ciana Madagan, Maryanne O’Donnell,

Robyn Moore, Caroline Graham, Eibhan O’Dwyer, Jake Bullman, Geard Kearns,

Lewis O’Brien, Tara Dylan, Hayley Dylan, Yasmin McGarvery, Caroline Clancy,

Allannah Brennan, Eimear Mooney, Hannah Mooney, Finn Mooney

Adult Chorus:Rachel O’Mahony, Amanda Kearns, Lee Dylan, Conor O’Brien, Tara Hayes,

Shauna Cronin, Kayleigh Bullman, Taylor Dylan

PIOTR MATIJCZAKPiotr was born in Brzeg Dolny, Poland and arrived in Limerick in 2005. He got involved in CentreStage theatre School adult acting classes in 2009 and has continued to take acting lessons with CentreStage. Piotr joined Limerick Musical Society. He was in the cast of “Fiddler on the Roof” in UCH and their recent production of “Hollywood Hits on Tour” He has been involved in a Showcase ‘SHORTS’ with CentreStage and played “ Shadows on the Beach” and “Ruby of Elsinore” and is really looking forwrard to doing his first pantomime.

DARREN SHINE A member of Centrestage since 2002, and a regular in the panto season, Darren returns to The Millenium Theatre this year playing the Ugly Stepsister “Sindy”. A past pupil of the Limerick Youth Theatre and his work with Centrestage over the years earned him a spot on RTE’s Des Bishop’s: Joy In The Hood and its because of this he has been touring Ireland, England, Scotland & Wales performing Stand up comedy for the past 5 years. He has worked and performed alongside Ireland’s and America’s top comedy stars, and a co-creator of another Limerick based comedy character called “Haunty Beor”. Darren always looks forward to getting onto the panto stage and thinks that this year’s production so far is gonna be funnest one yet!

Cast List

Myles Breen - Mrs PottsDarren Shine - SindyAidan Crowe - The BeastHilary Bourke - BelleConor J Ryan - Joey DiabloPiotr Mitijczak - Giuseppe DiabloRaquel Rocca - The Fairy GodmotherPat Cusack - Professor FizzbangJoe Nash – Joe Nash, Limerick’s Live 95fm

HILARY BURKE Hilary first took to the stage at the tender age of seven when she joined Les

Petites Femmes in Corbally. She attended the stage school for ten years

during which time she undertook various lead roles.

In 2006 and 2007 she took part in CentreStage Summer School and was

delighted to return to the camp in 2009 to work as a drama teacher. In 2007

she undertook the demanding lead role of ‘Yum-Yum’ in her Transition

Year school production of “Hot-Mikado”.

She recieved a distinction in her Grade 6 Royal Irish Academy of Music

singing exam and is currently under-taking Grade 8 under the tutilage

of Louise Harrisson.

Hilary has been a member of Limerick Musical Society for five years

and has performed solos in “It’s Broadway III”, “It’s Hollywood” and

“Hollywood Hits”. She also played the challenging role of ‘Hodel’ in

their AIMS award-winning production of Fiddler on the Roof. Hilary

is delighted to playing the role of ‘Belle’ and wishes all the cast and

crew the very best of luck!

HUGH FITZGIBBON Hugh lives in Limerick and is in second year in Crescent College

Comprehensive. This is Hugh’s first panto and is really looking forward

to it. However, this isn’t Hugh’s first time on stage as he has played

Oliver Twist in Oliver Twist and Adam in Seven Brides for Seven

Brothers in his primary school’s (St Philomena’s) shows. Hugh also

appeared as an extra in the TG4 documentry Soviet na hEireann.”

CHRISTOPHER YOUNGChris Young is a 3rd year student at Crescent College Comprehensive.

He has been a member of CentreStage Theatre School since 2003. He

has been in the children’s chorus of many Centrestage pantomines and

several productions of the Limerick Musical Society.

He has also participated in CentreStage Musical Theatre Summer camps,

and played the roles of Tin Man (The Wizard of Oz) and Peter Pan in

Junior Camps. Other individual roles include the part of Louis in Limerick Musical

Society’s production of The King and I, Gavroche in CentreStage

Youth Theatre’s production of Les Miserables and most recently

JoJo in Crescent College Comprehensive’s production of Seussical

the Musical. Chris is looking forward to his first individual role in a pantomine.”

AIDAN CROWEAidan, a native of Limerick, has most recently appeared in ‘Strike’ at the Samuel Beckett Theatre Dublin’. Other credits include Mort(Mimesis Theatre Company), The Revenger’s Tragedy(Bottom Dog Theatre Company), The Midnight Court(Teaspach Theatre Company), The Crucible(Aberystwyth Arts Centre), Compleat Female Stage Beauty, Stone City Blue, The Winters Tale (University of Wales, Aberyswyth), Our Countrys Good (The Gutterpress Bristol). Radio: Tom Crean and the Terra Nova Expedition, The Levellers (Radio Kerry).

Film/TV: Inside the Crystal Ball(Gable End Media/RTE), Mattie(Gable End Media/RTE), Starstruck (Twotoe Films/RTE Filmbase), 11 Missed Calls (FFAB:CO UK). Aidan holds a BA in Drama and Theatre Studies from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. This is his third time working with Centrestage on a Panto.

PAT CUSACKPat Cusack is from O’Briens Bridge. He has been attending adult acting classes with CentreStage Theatre School for the last two years. He attended a workshop with Shane Monroe, from and performed a sketch ‘A Few Good Men’. Pat recently took part in SHORTS with CentreStage in ‘Ruby’. Pat is delighted to be involved in Beauty and The Beast and wishes all the cast the very best if luck.

SIMON GEANEYSimon has been a member of Centrestage since he was 7yrs old. He has performed in all the end of year showcases and also in all the summer camp shows. He played the part of Mr Smee in the 2007/2008 panto of Neverever Land and was in the dance troupe in the 2008/2009 panto Snow White.com. Simon is really looking forward to taking part again this year.