By Laura Sullivan, Penn State
UNIVERSITY PARK — Lord of the Dance created by Michael Flatley, a mesmerizing blend of traditional and modern Celtic music and dance, returns to Eisenhower Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17. And now, between Feb. 3 and 9, $10 of each Lord of the Dance section-one ticket sold will be donated to the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, better known as THON.
Tickets buyers who want to take advantage of the $10-per-ticket contribution for seats in the orchestra and grand tier levels must use the code word “THON” when purchasing by phone or in person. Online purchasers should use the THON buyer type to apply the $10 donation.
Tickets are $58.25 for a section-one (orchestra and grand tier) seat and $48.25 for a section-two (balcony) seat. The $10 donation offer does not apply to section-two tickets.
Tickets are available online at www.cpa.psu.edu or by phone at 814-863-0255 or 800-ARTS-TIX. Tickets are also available at four State College locations: Eisenhower Auditorium (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays), Penn State Downtown Theatre Center (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays), HUB-Robeson Center Information Desk (11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays) and Bryce Jordan Center (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays).
Michael Flatley created and launched Lord of the Dance in the mid 1990s. Today, it sells out arenas and theaters as the world’s highest-grossing Irish dance show. Generations of audiences — more than 60 million people from 68 countries — have seen Lord of the Dance.
“We have fresh wardrobes and an exciting new set featuring elements from the successful international tour I performed in last year,” Flatley said. “We sold out more than 20 dates in the UK. Fans will see technological highlights like video incorporated into an LED wall, as well as a number of changes to the overall lighting and set designs.”
Flatley, who retired from dancing in 2011, is artistic director of Lord of the Dance and oversees all aspects of the production.
Lord of the Dance is based on mythical Irish folklore as Don Dorcha, Lord of Darkness, challenges the ethereal lord of light, the Lord of the Dance.
“Battle lines are drawn, passions ignite and a love story fueled by the dramatic leaps and turns of dancers’ bodies begins to build against a backdrop of Celtic rhythm,” Flatley said. “Fans can expect 21 scenes of precision dancing, dramatic music, new colorful wardrobes and state-of-the-art staging and lighting.”
Along with Dance Director Marie Duffy-Pask, Flatley handpicks the cast of more than 40 dancers. Each has achieved individual recognition as a national or worldwide dance champion.
