Excitement is building up in Achill with just a week to go before the staging of the Achill Musical and Dramatic Society’s first production.The cast and crew of the society are putting the final touches to their first musical, I Have a Dream before the curtain raises for their stage debut on Friday February 17.
The Achill Musical and Dramatic Society were established last year and I Have a Dream will be the first time a production will be staged on the island. “It is going to be spectacular,” promised Grace Anne Lynch, the chairperson of the Achill Musical and Dramatic Society, who also doubles up in the role of Rosie in the musical.
“We have been working on this production since before Christmas and in the last couple of weeks it has really started to come together. There is a real buzz of excitement building up around the community and we can’t wait to take to the stage and put on a show to remember.”
A romantic comedy, I Have a Dream is based on Mamma Mia, a musical featuring the songs of the successful Swedish pop group Abba. Set on an idyllic island, the show follows the fortunes of young loves Sky and Sophie as they prepare for their wedding day and Sophie’s somewhat haphazard attempts to discover the identity of her father. Francis Sweeney plays the role of Sky while Tracy Hall from Castlebar plays Sophie. Other cast members include Tracy Hanley as Donna, Siobhán Campbell as Tayna, with Stephen McNulty, Seán Lyons and Seán Swift playing the roles of the three possible fathers.
The cast have been working under the guidance of director Sharon Guthrie, choreographer Jason Guthrie, both from Castlebar, and musical director Phil Duffy. For the majority of the cast, this will be the first time they have taken to the stage but Jason said that they have taken to the experience like a duck to water.
The opening show will be on Friday night, February 17 in Coláiste Acla, Dooega on Achill Island, followed by a matinee on Saturday February 18, and the final show will be later that evening. The tickets are currently on sale in Achill Sound and Keel post offices, Achill Tourism Office, and online at www.eventbrite.ie For more ticket information contact Marion on (098 ) 47389 or check out the Facebook page and Twitter account.
