New Release for Celtic Woman
Two Years After Their Last Smash Hit
The cast of Celtic Woman were recently in Toronto, Ontario to help promote their latest DVD/CD release of Celtic Woman: A New Journey, which was recorded live at Slane Castle in Ireland.
 |
| CELTIC WOMAN made their North American debut in March 2005 on PBS and haven't looked back since. |
Lisa Kelly one of the soloists in Celtic Woman, spoke with The Celtic Connection about her background, her family and her life touring with Celtic Woman.
Although classically trained in both singing and piano, Lisa's heart has always belonged in theatre. In fact, her background is thoroughly steeped in the world of musical theatre.
Both of her parents are heavily involved in the amateur theatre community in Ireland and Lisa fits right in. At the age of seven, she starred in the musical Bugsy Malone.
She said, "I grew up with theatre in my blood. It was the first thing I really wanted to do and I was always very musical. Even as a kid I could be found asleep on the dining room floor with big earphones on my head.
"It was just a natural progression for me and I loved being on the stage as a child. I guess if I have any regrets, it's that I didn't do more dancing. I just concentrated on the singing and theatre."
In Ireland Lisa has won many awards for singing and drama, among them the Feis Ceoil R & R Cup; the Thomas Moore Singer of the Year; and Best Female Performer in the Northern Ireland Musical Awards.
Lisa was working in the computer industry when she decided to take a break to perform in the Christmas Pantomine Jack and the Beanstalk in Dublin's Gaiety Theatre.
That decision lead her to being cast in 2000 as the lead female vocalist in Riverdance: The Show. She says now that she was really blessed to be in the right place at the right time.
For five years she toured the United States with Riverdance, where she met and married her husband, an Australian Irish dancer, also from Riverdance.
It was while taking a break from touring for the birth of her second child that music director David Downes approached Lisa to become part of Celtic Woman. The show was originally conceived to be a one-night event in Dublin's Helix Theatre. However, it was such a success, that it has evolved to become a huge commercial success for the five singers.
Speaking about life on the road, Lisa said, "I travel with my two boys, who are now two and a half and four years old. I find it's easier to have them with me." She agreed it was hard work but she said it works well for her.
The group starts their next tour in Tampa, Florida on February 14 continue touring the U.S. and Canada until June. Then, they are hoping to get to South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the U.K.
"Both our CD's have gone gold in Australia and South Africa," said Lisa, "and we just haven't had a chance to get there yet. We did incredibly well in Japan where we did a two week tour last year, it was brilliant."
Lisa said that because of all the touring, it's taken Celtic Woman two years to record their new release Celtic Woman: A New Journey.
Canadian audiences can look forward to seeing Celtic Woman on CBC television on March 15, when they will perform their St. Patrick's special from Slane Castle in Ireland.
|
