3/5

The film turned musical is back in Dublin where it all began, writes Padraic Killeen

MUSIC NEWS: Reginald D Hunter’s series, Songs of the South, is essential viewing for music fans tomorrow night (BBC Two, 9pm), and this second episode is all the more attractive because it is followed by a new documentary on James Brown. 

ANITA Reeves, who stars in a new production of the hit play Little Gem, jokes that she has been threatening to retire from her stage career for 20 years. 

As John B Keane’s classic tragedy Sive returns to the Abbey stage, his family hope that two of his unseen plays will also be produced, writes Pádraic Killeen

ACCLAIMED coloratura soprano, Kim Sheehan, will make her Cork professional debut as Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro at the Curtis Auditorium in the CIT Cork School of Music, from Jan 10-12.

Bruce Springsteen: New album will be released on January 10.

BALLET Ireland’s new production of Carmen, now touring Ireland, is a timeless, provocative tale of lust, beauty and destruction, played out against composer Georges Bizet’s passionate score.

MUSIC NEWS: Back in April, Frank ‘Poncho’ Sampedro told Rolling Stone magazine that his band Crazy Horse were too old to tour with Neil Young.

Anita Reeves is relishing her new role as a worker in a nursing home, writes Colette Sheridan.

The US First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughters will arrive in Dublin today for a two-day visit.

Colm Meaney’s character is reduced to living in his car in the new Irish feature film Parked, Pádraic Killeen reports.

FAME is a funny thing.

SATURDAY

World renowned playwright Brian Friel joined the walk of fame at one of Dublin’s top theatres today.

The winner of the Celebrity Jigs ’n’ Reels television show is fulfilling her dream by taking to the stage as the lead role in Riverdance.

The new Abbey Theatre will be built in Dublin’s docklands as part of a revamp of several of the country’s leading cultural institutions, the Government confirmed today.

An Irish dancer will be going for a record on stage at the Gaiety Theatre this week as she takes part in her 3,025th Riverdance extravaganza.

NIALL TÓIBÍN has ‘cemented’ his reputation as one of the leading actors of his generation by adding his hand prints to the plaza outside the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin.

CHRISTMAS came early for fans of U2 yesterday as the group made a brief appearance in public in the heart of Dublin city centre.

PROFITS at MCD Productions, the concert promoter and music venue owner, more than doubled in 2003 its latest set of accounts show.

Dan Buckley