Ballinrobe Musical Society is shaking things up

Ballinrobe Musical Society set to ‘shake’ things up


Ciara Galvin

‘C’MON Everybody’ was the overall message as Ballinrobe Musical Society officially launched their 2015 show – ‘All Shook Up’.
Members of the press and the society gathered in Flannery’s Bistro in Ballinrobe on Tuesday last to hear of the plans for their latest show.
Chairman of the society Des Treacy said he would not be surprised if audiences were singing and dancing in the aisles, such is the energy of this ‘American jukebox musical’.
‘All Shook Up’ pairs the music of Elvis Presley with a story loosely-based on William Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’ to bring a toe-tapping, energetic show to south Mayo from February 15 to February 21, 2015.
Following on from impressive successes such as Angela Curley-Staunton’s consecutive wins at the Association of Irish Musical Society (AIMS) awards in 2013 and 2014 for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, and being ranked top society in Ireland, the chairman said it was time to ‘shake it up a bit’.
This year the society has new directors, the talented sibling duo Brian and SeΡn Power who are well known on the musical theatre circuit for directing with Galway Musical Society, Shannon Musical Society and many others. Between them they have won eight AIMS awards for choreography and six awards for directing.

High regard
Speaking about the new directors, Treacy said the pairing have ‘high regard for us, and us for them’.
“They’re dying to get going with Ballinrobe [Musical Society]. They know the show inside out and with our Musical Director Finola Higgins-Cosgrove back I think they will work well together,” said Mr Treacy.
Choreographer Aoife McClafferty returns to Ballinrobe for her ninth show, and according to the show committee, will have a busy year ahead.
“It’s such an energetic show, the cast are going to have such fun doing it during the winter and will be super fit with all the dance numbers,” added Treacy.
The show was chosen for its upbeat romantic comedy storyline and because it was seen as a show that encompasses all ranges and abilities.
Speaking about the society and its members, the chairman said the society is ‘one great big family’ who love to see new members joining each year.
A message read from Musical Director Finola Higgins-Cosgrove said she was ‘delighted’ to be returning to the society for a third year and that the committee, cast and crew had moved her deeply with ‘their sense of loyalty to each other, their talent, their sense of fun and their hard work ethic’.
‘All Shook Up’ will be performed from Sunday, February 15 to Saturday, February 21, 2015 at 8pm, starting with a special matinee performance. Singing rehearsals kick off on Wednesday, October 8 at 8.30pm.

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For those interested in joining Ballinrobe Musical Society contact Liz Parsons on 087 6610007 or simply come along to the society’s first meet-up to get a feel for the show’s dance numbers on Thursday, September 18 at 8.15pm at the Parish Centre.