Pat McElwain 

Director and Writer

Pat returns to Longford having directed Cinderella in 2019 and Snow White in 2021. Dublin-based Pat is a multi award-winning director and performer with over thirty years experience nationally and internationally.

He graduated with an MA in Theatre Studies (Hons) from DCU in 2005. He has worked on over sixty productions throughout Ireland both on stage and as director. In 2007 Pat directed ‘42nd Street’ at Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre for Jim Molloy Promotions and in 2015 he directed ‘Encore’, a sold-out concert at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. In 2016 he directed ‘Spirit of Freedom’, a show celebrating the 1916 Centenary, for GFD Promotions. The show premiered in Seattle, playing over sixty venues across the USA and Canada, before returning to Dublin for a week’s run at the Olympia Theatre.

Pat recently played the roles of Micheál and Joe in the pilot for a new radio sitcom ‘I Won’t Keep You Now’ written by award-winning comedian Gearóid Farrelly and Oscar nominated writer Kathleen O’Rourke. Pat is thrilled to be working with the extremely talented Billy and The Beanstalk cast.

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Tracey Carty 

Choreographer

Tracey started her dance training at the age of 3, she later joined Dublin’s prestigious Billie Barry Stage School where she was a pupil for over ten years and trained in tap, jazz and ballet and also spent three years as an assistant with the beginner classes. She has performed on numerous occasions in the Gaiety Theatre, Olympia Theatre and The National Concert Hall. She was assistant choreographer for the very popular Hot Mikado in Navan’s Loreto Secondary School in 2004 and qualified with an NCEHS certificate in Fitness and Personal Training from the National Training Centre in 2006.

She has performed on The Late Late Show with international artist Enya, travelled to Branson, Missouri ‘USA’s show town’ where she danced with ‘Celtic Isle Celebration’. She spent a summer onboard Irish Ferries ship Normandy, performing in their ‘Normandy Nights’ cabaret show and danced many times with Sonix Entertainment’s Vegas Nights. She travelled to Holland to dance at the Aalten Country Festival and has toured the USA with Dublin’s Traditional Irish Cabaret and Tony Kenny’s Ireland. She performed in The Cheerios Christmas Panto ‘Peter Pan’ in Dublin’s Tivoli Theatre, the acclaimed ‘Rent’ in the Olympia Theatre Dublin and in 'Wilde Nights' cabaret on board Irish Ferries ship, The Oscar Wilde. Tracey joined St Mel’s Musical Society in 2017 and has performed in their productions 'All Shook Up' and 'Sister Act'. She then took over the choreographer role for their production of '9 to 5' in April 2019.

Tracey is delighted to be working with such a talented cast and production team for ‘Billy and The Beanstalk’ and looks forward to many more years with Longford Panto!

 

 

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Paul Hennessy

Musical Director                                  

Carlow born Paul has been singing professionally for over 20 years during which time he has made numerous television and radio appearances, on programmes such as The Late Late Show, Live at Three, The Rose of Tralee, The Afternoon Show and Theatre Nights. Paul had vocal training with Dr. Veronica Dunne in the College of Music Dublin and with Patrick Zuk in the Leinster School of Music. He has played leading roles in many musicals including, South Pacific, Fiddler on the Roof, HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, The Merry Widow, My Fair Lady, Guys and Dolls and Oliver.

He was a member of the original ‘Irish Tenors’ and ‘Celtic Tenors’ line ups with whom he performed several concerts and he toured the USA many times with Dublin’s Traditional Irish Cabaret.  In 1998, 1999 and 2000 Paul was invited to sing at the All Ireland hurling and football finals in Croke Park. He also sang for the International Rules series, a total of 11 appearances in Croke Park (not bad for a Carlow man). He has recorded two albums, one featuring songs from stage and screen titled ‘Follow me up to Broadway’’ the other is a collection of Irish favourites, ‘A Song for Ireland’. His charity CD ‘Believe’ raised over €6,000 for Our Ladys Childrens Hospital, and his recording of ‘To Be A Child Again’ raised thousands for the Mannix Kane Appeal. The recording also features the students of Evolution Stage School.

Paul teaches private singing lessons which have proved very popular. He made his debut with St Mel’s Musical Society in Backstage Theatre in April 2018 playing the role of Curtis in Sister Act and followed that in 2019 playing Franklin Hart in 9 to 5. He’s delighted to be working with such amazing talent in this panto production.

 

 

 

Gerry McCann

Stage Manager

Gerry has been involved both on and offstage for over thirty five years.

He started with his local Drimnagh group and did many musicals and pantos with them.

Later he performed onstage with many other musical societies.

He graduated into backstage work during the Tops of the Town era and was backstage for many a Final Night. He has also travelled to the Waterford festival of Light Opera and has stage managed many successful shows there. He has worked with Stage Schools all around Ireland and has been with the Billie Barry Stage School for the past 15 years. Gerry has worked on all the Evolution Stage School shows since they opened in 2009 and is very excited about this new venture that brings Traditional Panto to Longford.

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