Tuesday, December 14, 2021
4:30 PM & 8 PM

Brian O'Donovan's
A CHRISTMAS CELTIC SOJOURN

Hello, and welcome to this year's special edition of A Christmas Celtic Sojourn. It is special in several ways for us. It's the first time we have gathered on stage with an audience since 2019. It's also a little smaller in its footprint as we have reduced it to just 7 shows in total. And it sees us utilizing a model that's likely to remain with us going forward: that of supplementing our live, in-person performances with virtual/online access that helps us gather with you, even if you can't come to the theater. 

This year's program has come together out of a determination of our cast and crew to overcome all of the challenges these last 20 months have thrown at us. We collectively feel that it is our responsibility to celebrate our humanity in this yearly gathering. As with Christmas and its related mid-winter traditions, it's a time to light our homes brightly; to decorate our houses with evergreens; to dance and sing with family and friends, and to strengthen our community.  Whether in our audience in the theater, or joining us online, we all feel privileged to have the opportunity to be with you.  

All hail to the days that merit more praise
Than all the rest of the year,
And welcome the nights that double delights,
As well for the poor as the peer!

Good fortune attend each merry man's friend,
That doth but the best that he may;
Forgetting old wrongs, with carols and songs,
To drive the cold winter away.

                                         -Old English Carol.

Thanks for your support of Public Broadcasting and A Celtic Sojourn.

–Brian O’Donovan

If you have a question or a comment about any of the readings, songs, or artists of A Christmas Celtic Sojourn, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Send an e-mail to celtic@wgbh.org

And don’t forget, there are free mp3 downloads, videos, and a link to a constant stream of Celtic Christmas Music specially selected by Brian O’Donovan, all at www.wgbh.org/celtic.

Cast

Brian O'Donovan, Host
Seamus Egan, Co-Music Director and multi-instrumentalist
Maeve Gilchrist, Co-Music Director and harpist
Ashley Smith-Wallace, Dance Director
Moira Smiley, Singer
Katie McNally, Fiddle
Windborne, Four Piece Vocal Harmony Group
Owen Marshall, Guitar/Bouzouki/Harmonium
Jenna Moynihan, Fiddle
Yann Falquet, Guitar/Accordion/Jaws Harp
Chico Huff, Bass
Neil Pearlman, multi-instrumentalist and stepdancer
Ashley Smith Wallace, Dance Director

Ensemble Dancers:  Lauren Adams, Isabel Bohan, Katelyn Gagilard, Reis Folmar, Tireney Folmar, Maeve Monteith, Devin Mullaney, Caroline Smith

Credits

Brian O’Donovan............................ Host/Producer
Jenna Worden.......................... Artistic Director/Producer
Seamus Egan................................... Co-Music Director
Maeve Gilchrist.............................. Co-Music Director
Ashley Smith-Wallace....................... Dance Director
Daniel Jentzen................................ Lighting Designer
Morgan Ehresman..................... Associate Lighting Designer
Brian McCoy............................ Chief Audio Engineer
Anna-Alisa Belous......................... Costume Designer
Eric Levenson................................. Scenic Designer
Claire Morse.................................... Production Manager
Juliet Cocca.....................................General Management
Deirdre Benson................................ Production Stage Manager
Ross Gray..................................... Assistant Stage Manager
Katrina Tuck................................ Assistant Stage Manager
Alex Hug.......................................... Audio Engineer
Rafi Singer................................... Audio Technician
Nate Jewett........................... Master Electrician
Molly Fenn................................... Wardrobe Supervisor
Lindsay O’Donovan………………….. Catering Manager
Em Rihl...................... Covid Safety Manager/GM Assistant
Mätthew Williams......................... Fly Operator
Brendan Marr............................... Follow Spot Operator
Andrea Dudziak.............................Follow Spot Operator
Vincent Crotty................................ Backdrop Artist
McCoy Audio Systems................... Sound Equipment
High Output..................................... Lighting Equipment
Jake Messier, HEARD Strategy & Storytelling........... Public Relations, Marketing, and Advertising
Tori Dumstorf, HEARD Strategy & Storytelling............ Public Relations, Marketing, and Advertising
Ana Maria Broding........................ Graphic Designer
Mathew Muise...................................... Photography
Rossi Films......................................... Videography

LearningTours

We are planning to re-start our Learning Tours around the Celtic world when it is safe to do so.  While booking is not yet open, we do have a tour planned to Scotland from Sept 26 to Nov 4, 2022.  Send an email to celtic@wgbh.org and put Learning Tours in the subject line if interested. We will keep you informed directly as things develop. 

About WGBH

WGBH Boston is America’s preeminent public broadcaster and the largest producer of PBS content for TV and the web, including such iconic series as Frontline, Masterpiece, Nova, American Experience, and Antiques Roadshow. WGBH TV broadcasts throughout greater Boston on WGBH 2, WGBX 44, and digital channels WORLD and Create. WGBH Radio serves listeners across New England with 89.7 WGBH, Boston’s Local NPR®; 99.5 WCRB, Classical Radio Boston; and WCAI, the Cape and Islands NPR® Station. WGBH produces and broadcasts A Celtic Sojourn with Brian O’Donovan, which airs every Saturday at 3pm on

89.7. For more information, visit www.wgbh.org.

Land Acknowledgement 

A Christmas Celtic Sojourn rehearses and performs on the traditional lands of the Pawtucket and Massachusett tribes, as well as the historic lands of the Wampanoag nation. To learn more about the process and importance of land acknowledgement visit Honor Native Land. (https://usdac.us/nativeland/)