Celtic Stories Retold

Celia Farran's one woman show of "Celtic Stories and Songs" was so well received in New York City that she will be performing it in Milwaukee every second Friday of the month until May.

The Vitals:
"Celtic Stories and Songs"
Derry Hegarty's Cabaret (54th and Bluemound) on the 2nd Friday of each month: Dec, 13, Jan.10, Feb. 14th, March 14th, April 11th, and May 9th.
Tickets: $10 in advance/ $12 at the door
Call 414-347-5568 to reserve
Dec. 13 opening act: Monica Marshall

A Celtic Christmas with Cherish the Ladies 
at The Grand  Opera House, Oshkosh

The all-female Celtic ensemble Cherish the Ladies will bring their spirited, high-energy music to the Grand Opera House stage for a special holiday event at 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 22, sponsored by Castle-Pierce Printing Company and Wisconsin Public Radio.

Corporate sponsors for The Grand's season are the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, Time Warner Cable and Mountain Dog Media.

With its blend of instrumental ability, traditional and original arrangements, hypnotic vocals and furious step dancing, Cherish the Ladies will combine all aspects of Irish traditional culture into a delightful holiday event.

"We were Celtic before it was cool," said bandleader Joanie Madden. Initially the group won recognition as the first and only all-women traditional Irish band, but soon the musicians established themselves as performers without peer. Cherish the Ladies has grown from that one-time concept to an Irish traditional music sensation and the most sought-after Irish-American group in Celtic music history.

Tickets - priced at $30, $27, $25 and $23 - are extremely limited. For more information contact The Grand's Box Office in person or by phone at 920-424-2350.  The Box Office is located at 100 High Avenue, Oshkosh; hours are 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturdays.

Author Frank McCourt on "Reading Rockets"
        
"Reading Rockets: Launching Young Readers"
comes to Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) in January, 2003 The five-part series examines how children learn to read,  why so many struggle and how adults can help them.

Thursdays, 2:30-3:00 PM on TPT Channel 2, starting January 2, 2003 and
Sundays, 6-7 PM on TPT Channel 17, starting January, 5, 2003

Babies are born with the instinct to speak but not to read.  In fact, reading is an unnatural act: it must be learned. "Reading Rockets: Launching Young Readers," coming to Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) in January (check local listings), explores the stages children go through to develop reading skills.  Each half-hour program in the five-part series examines a stage of the reading process, incorporating the latest research and featuring the country's top reading experts.

Frank McCourt, along with Fred Rogers, Annette Bening, Deborah Norville and Vivica A. Fox, takes part hosting the series.  McCourt taught English in theNew York City school system for 27 years before writing his Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir, Angela's Ashes.

"As I grew up in Limerick, I used to hear my headmaster, Mr. O''Halloran, say, 'Stock your mind.  It is your house of treasure and no one in the world an interfere with it,' " says McCourt.  "Well, there's no better way to stock your mind than reading.  Researchers have figured out which teaching techniques actually work.  When they're used, almost every child can achieve the ultimate goal of reading, grasping the meaning."

Each episode of "Reading Rockets: Launching Young Readers" also features a prominent children's book author:  Norman Bridwell (Clifford, the Big Red Dog), Kate Duke (Aunt Isabel Tells a Good One), William Joyce (George Shrinks), Walter Dean Myers (Harlem) and Rosemary Wells (Timothy Goes to School).

The series includes the following five programs:

Program #1: "The Roots of Reading" looks at the earliest stages of literacy in such locations as a "baby speech lab" and a Head Start center.  The program examines how parents, childcare providers and kindergarten teachers can get children started on the road to literacy.

Program #2: "Sounds and Symbols" focuses on the two skills every child needs to decode the printed word:  phonemic awareness (understanding that words are made up of individual sounds represented by letters) and phonics (learning the relationship between particular letters and their sounds).

Program #3: "Fluent Reading" explores the ability to decode quickly and achieve fluency.  The program also demonstrates how early testing and intervention can help struggling readers.

Program #4: "Writing and Spelling" examines the connection between reading and writing and between spelling and composition.   The program features successful methods for encouraging children to write and to build their vocabularies.

Program #5: "Reading for Meaning" highlights effective strategies to help kids understand and care about what they read.

The series was shot in more than 40 elementary schools, preschools and community centers in 17 states nationwide.  Sites include the legendary Lab School in Washington, D.C., which specializes in teaching students with learning disabilities, and Mark Hopkins Elementary School in Sacramento, Calif. , where in one kindergarten class  six different languages are spoken.

The series is part of a multimedia initiative Reading Rockets, which is dedicated to helping young children learn to read and giving parents, educators and caregivers the information they need to help children become avid readers. 

In addition to the series, the Reading Rockets project includes www.readingrockets.org, a comprehensive Web site targeted to adults who aim to make children successful readers. Reading Rockets is funded by a major grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs.

The series is available on videotape through GPN at 1-800-228-4630. For information contact Vicky Mendez at TPT, 651-229-1336 or vmendez@tpt.org

What's Happening
... courtesy of the Shamrock Club of Wisconsin

Bonnie Rideout
Dec. 12 - UW Whitewater

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre —
Under Milkwood — By Dylan Thomas
Broadway Theatre
Nov. 29 - Dec. 22, 2002

Three Irish Tenors
Dec. 3 — [Platteville] — Three Irish Tenors — Ullsvik Center - UW
Platteville - 8 p.m.

Prodigals
Dec. 7 — ICHC

A Celtic Christmas with Tomaseen Foley
Dec. 5 — [BROOKFIELD]— Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts — Sold Out
Dec. 17 — [MADISON] — Madison Civic Center — 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 21 — [FISH CREEK] — Door County Audtorium — 8 p.m.

Cherish the Ladies Celtic Christmas
Dec. 19 — Green Bay — Weidner Center
Dec. 22 — Oshkosh — Grand Opera House

Gaelic Storm
Dec. 31 — [HOUGHTON MI] — Rosza Performing Arts Center — 8 p.m.
Lord of the Dance —
Jan. 3-5 — [GREEN BAY] — Weidner Center

Cowboy Celtic and Rita Coolidge
Jan. 11 — [GREEN BAY] — Weidner Center — 8 p.m.

Ceili for Peace with Ceol Cairde
Jan. 24 — ICHC — 7 p.m.

Les Barker
Jan. 18 — [WAUSAU] — Grand Theater
Jan. 19 — [LADYSMITH] — Flambeau Valley Arts Assoc

Cathy Ryan
Jan. 29 — [FISH CREEK] — White Gull Inn - 8p.m.
 

Milwaukee Area
Dec. 5 — Barry Dodd - County Clare — 9 p.m.
Dec. 5 — Shamrock Club Cabaret Christmas and Boutique — 6 p.m. setup — Dinner at 6:30 p.m. - Entertainment by Three Pints Gone
Dec. 5 — Tomaseen Foley's Celtic Christmas — Sharon Lynne Wilson
Center for the Arts — Sold Out
Dec. 5 — Waking Maggie - Up and Under Pub - 10 p.m.
Dec. 6 — Celtic Women International Christmas Party — ICHC — 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 6 — Leahy's Luck — Milwaukee Ale House - 9 p.m.
Dec. 6 — ICHC Ceili — The Wise Maids — 8 p.m.
Dec. 6 — Frogwater — The Milwaukee Ale House — 5:30 p.m.—
Dec. 6 — Ian Gould — Irish Cottage — 8 p.m.
Dec. 6 — Jeff Ward — County Clare — 10 p.m.
Dec. 6 — The Stack — Paddy's Pub - 8 p.m.
Dec. 6 — Finbar McCarthy - MacCarthy's - 9 p.m.
Dec. 6 — Barry Dodd - House of Guinness - 9:30 p.m.
Dec. 6 — Theiss and O'Connor - The Irish Trader - Cedarburg
Dec. 7 — Fiona Molloy - House of Guinness - 9:30 p.m.
Dec. 7 — Hallamor Concert Series - The Prodigals — ICHC - 8 p.m.
Dec. 7 — Celtic Tenors — Riverside Theater — Cancelled
Dec. 7 — Jeff Ward — Delafield Brewhaus — 8 p.m.
Dec. 7 — Western Box Turtles — County Clare — 10 p.m.
Dec. 8 — Scottish Country Dance Workshop — Workshops for Beginners — 2-4 p.m. — Mukwonago Athletic Club
Dec. 10 — Theiss and O'Connor - Queen of Apostles - Pewaukee
Dec. 11 — Ariane Lydon — Yard Arm, Racine — 7.30p.m.
Dec. 12 — Bonnie Rideout — UW Whitewater — 8 p.m.
Dec. 13 — Reilly — County Clare — 10 p.m.
Dec. 13 — Celia Farran — Derry Hegarty's - 8 p.m.
Dec. 13 — Finbar McCarthy - MacCarthy's - 9 p.m.
Dec. 14 — Lunch with Nick McFest — Irish Fest Center — 9 am
Dec. 14 — Jeff Ward — Kuhlenbacks - Delafield - 9 p.m.
Dec. 14 — Reilly - House of Guinness - 9:30 p.m.
Dec. 20 — Jeff Ward — Paddy's Pub — 9 p.m.
Dec. 20 — Frogwater — The County Clare — 10 p.m.
Dec. 20 — Finbar McCarthy - MacCarthy's - 9 p.m.
Dec. 20 — Barry Dodd — House of Guinness - 9:30 p.m.
Dec. 20 — Theiss and O'Connor - The Irish Trader - Cedarburg
Dec. 21 — Pub Domain — House of Guinness- 9:30 p.m.
Dec. 21 — Jeff Ward — The Pub —- 8:30 p.m.
Dec. 21 — ICHC Ceili — Public House Ceili Band — 8 p.m.
Dec. 21 — Steel Bonnets — Irish Cottage — 8 p.m.
Dec. 21 — Blarney — County Clare — 10 p.m.
Dec. 22 — O'Connor's Perfect Pint Christmas Party - Music and more
Dec. 27 — Jeff Ward — House of Guinness - 9:30 p.m.
Dec. 27 — Finbar McCarthy - MacCarthy's - 9 p.m.
Dec. 28 — Jeff Ward — McAuliffes - 9 p.m.
Dec. 28 — Set Dance Christmas Party — Public House Ceili Band —ICHC — 7 p.m. instruction — 8 p.m. live music
Dec. 31 — StoneRing — Paddy's Pub - 8 p.m.
Jan. 1 — Jeff Ward - Irish Cottage - 9 p.m.
Jan. 2 — Barry Dodd — County Clare - 10 p.m.

Wisconsin State Events

Dec. 3 — [Platteville] — Three Irish Tenors — Ullsvik Center - UW
Platteville - 8 p.m.
Dec. 7 — [COON VALLEY] — Ariane Lydon — Rustic Valley Inn — 7:30p.m.
Dec. 8 — [EAU CLAIRE] — Serena O'Meara and The Harp Ensemble —
Chippewa Valley Museum — 2 p.m.
Dec. 12 — [WHITEWATER] — Bonnie Rideout — University. of WI-Whitewater
Dec. 13 — [KOHLER] — Sigmund Snopek — Olive and Ash — 6 p.m.
Dec. 15 — [SOUTH CENTRAL] — South Central Shamrock Club Meeting — Annual Christmas Party — Reedsburg Country Club
Dec. 15 — [MADISON] — Tinsel & Tartan Dance Party — UW Memorial Union — 1 p.m.
Dec. 17 — [ROCK CO.] — Rock County Shamrock Club Christmas Party — Janesville Senior Center — 6 p.m.
Dec. 17 — [MADISON] —A Celtic Christmas with Tomaseen Foley — Madison Civic Center — 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 19 — [GREEN BAY] — A Celtic Christmas with Cherish the Ladies — Weidner Center— 8 p.m.
Dec. 21 — [FISH CREEK] — Tomaseen Foley’s "A Celtic Christmas — Fish Creek Community Center — 8 p.m.
Dec. 21 — MADISON] — Ariane Lydon - WPRadio Higher Ground - 8 p.m.
Dec. 22 — [OSHKOSH] — A Celtic Christmas with Cherish the Ladies — Grand Opera House — 8 p.m.
Dec. 27 — [RICHLAND CENTER] — Frogwater — Treasures in the Bakery — 7 p.m.
Dec. 28 — [SHEBOYGAN] — Sean MacRactagan — Mannings - 7 p.m.
Dec. 31 — [HOUGHTON MI] — Gaelic Storm — Rosza Performing Arts Center — 8 p.m.

Ceili dances — 2 and 4 Mondays of every month at the Wil-Mar Center,
953 Jenifer St., Madison, from 8 to 10 p.m.
Madison Scottish Country Dancers (MSCD) every Sunday evening, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Memorial Union

Sessions:
Mickey's Tavern every Wednesday — 7:30 p.m.
Ground Zero — fourth Sunday of each month 5p.m. - Madison.
Willy Street Co-op — first Sunday of every month -1p.m. - Beginners
welcome
Baraboo on the Square - First Friday - 7 p.m.
Busted Lift — Dubuque - every other Sunday - 3p.m. - 319-584-9712
Kennedy Manor — Thursdays — 7 p.m. - Madison
The Tin Whistle, 1414 N Main - Rockford, IL - 1 & 2 Thursday - 6:30p.m.
Suds O'Hanahan's — Beloit— every second Saturday of the month
—608-364-4352

Ongoing Milwaukee Events

Sessions
Onopa Brewery - Sundays - 4 p.m.
McAullife's — Monday's - 8 p.m.
O'Donoghue's —Tuesdays - 7:30 p.m.
Stone Bank Eatery - Tuesdays - 7 p.m.
The Pub - Thursdays - 7 p.m.
Paddy's Place - Thursdays - 7 p.m.

Gaelic Classes - Paddy's Pub - Tuesdays - 7 p.m.
Emigrant Library - ICHC - Wednesdays - Noon-5 p.m.

Ceilis
ICHC- First Friday - 8 p.m.
ICHC - Third Saturday - 7:30 p.m.
ICHC- Set Dance Ceili - 4th Saturday

Set Dancing - O'Donoghue's Wednesday - 7 p.m.
Irish Song Circle — 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month — 7 p.m.
—O'Donoghue's, 13225 W Watertown Plank Road, Elm Grove
Milwaukee Scottish Country Dancers — 1st, 3rd and 5th Monday of each month - Saint Paul's Church - 2nd and 4th Monday of each month: Hales Corners Public Library - 6:30 p.m