Celtic Woman; Isle of Hope Tour

I was really looking forward to the new Celtic Woman Tour, Isle of Hope. With new songs, new staging, new dresses, and best of all Lisa Kelly would be BACK!. After a 15 month absense, due to maturnity leave, and then just being a Mom to 3, Lisa would be back on Stage with Chloe, Mairead, Lynn and Alex. We would all miss Orlagh, as she is taking a well deserved break to be with family and work on some solo projects. Good Luck Orlagh!!

So course my first show would be in Chicago, as I had decided I wanted to be spoiler-free, not wanting to know anything about the new show, such as which songs from ANJ would remain, what the new songs were, who was singing what, the look of the new dresses, staging. I also decided to do Chicago cause it was such fun last year with my friends, especially Kathleen and Sara, that wanted to do it again. Plus the Chicago show was early on so I wouldn't have to wait too long with out cracking and finding out what the show was about ;D. I would have 2 shows in Chicago, and with about week of that, CW would be returning to Columbus, where it all started for me, least for the live shows, 2 yrs ago.

Back to Chicago. IOH (Isle of Hope), would be in the Chicago Theatre, and what a lovely venue it is. I love seeing CW in these old theatres. Just a lot more intimate, plus all the history these places have seen, just is a perfect match. I lucked out in getting second row seats, opting to sit next to Sara, who is worried CW will not let us sit together anymore, cause we have so much fun. Yea..right..I think Lisa and Chloe would be sad if we didn't sit together ;). All I can say is the new Show is AWESOME! I was so glad I went in not knowing. All during the show, I was either WOWing, AWEing, Jaw-dropping, and just sheer Grinning, ear-to-ear, the show was just amazing. From Lisa's new solo, Fields of Gold, Chloe's When You Believe, which was originally recorded by her on her first CD when she was like 12yrs, her voice is just gorgeous! It has really matured in the past year. Seeing Lynn get to sing her own song, Carolina Rua, just tickled me, as that is my fav off her new CD. Then Alex with 2 new songs, True Colours, and You'll Be in My Heart, both with a tropical beat. Mairead is well...just Mairead!! Still moves faster than lightning. Some of the new group numbers, like Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears, and Oh, America, are very dramatic, and just will move you to tears, especially Oh, America, as that is a special song written just for us, American, audiences. Thank you Girls for this one!! Then a new lullbye, Goodnight My Angel, with Lisa, Lynn and Chloe is just sooo sweet. And the new rendition of Danny Boy, with all four singing A Cappella...simply, pin dropping in silence at the end.

I am so glad I have 6 more shows, cause once is not enough. So much to see, to hear. Each time I see them, I hear more of the words, and associate it with the theme of the Tour, the Irish/American ties, with the immigration of Irish to America, to our embracing of CW, just you have to see it!!

So if please, if you can, Check out Celtic Woman. You won't be disappointed. And say Hi to the Girls from me :D.

Mel