New England’s beloved holiday tradition returns online,
and with partner venues, Dec. 15-20
(Boston, Mass., November 19, 2020) – GBH’s A Christmas Celtic Sojourn with Brian O’Donovan is making its return virtually this year, December 15-20.
This year, A Virtual Christmas Celtic Sojourn has partnered with many of the venues that would normally present the holiday shows, with a unique performance being presented virtually for each audience. A portion of every ticket purchased will go to the specific partner theater. O’Donovan returns as the host for each performance, introducing artists and sharing some of his favorite poems and stories. Each show will be livestreamed in real time, but will also be available on-demand from December 21 until January 2, 2021 for those who purchase tickets.
“Initially, we thought we’d go dark this year, perhaps reminisce about these past 17 years of Christmas Celtic Sojourn,” Brian O’Donovan said. “But in talking with our musicians, staff, and the theaters, we realized that would not be enough. Our goal this year is to be there virtually for our supporters, singing together familiar songs, dazzling as always with musical creativity, visiting with some of our musicians around the world in their homes while sharing their holiday traditions.”
This year’s line-up of musicians brings together veterans of shows past: Seamus Egan will be returning as Music Director, along with harpist Maeve Gilchrist as Assistant Music Director; Owen Marshall on bouzouki and harmonium; Conor Hearn on guitar; Jenna Moynihan and Maura Shawn Scanlin on fiddle. Some artists will be joining in from across the globe: Mairi Campbell, Siobhan Miller, and Hannah Rarity will be joining from Edinburgh, Scotland; Eilis Kennedy will be joining from her family pub in Dingle, County Kerry; Cathy Jordan will be opening the show from Sligo Cathedral in the West of Ireland; dancer Cara Butler will be joining from Canada. Aoife O’Donovan, daughter of Brian O’Donovan, will also be joining.
A full schedule of A Virtual Christmas Celtic Sojourn is below.
Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Providence, RI
Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020; 7:30pm
Hanover Theatre, Worcester, MA
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020; 7:30pm
Zeiterion Theatre, New Bedford, MA
Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020; 7:30pm
Shalin Liu Performance Center, Rockport, MA
Friday, Dec. 18, 2020; 7:30pm
Cutler Majestic Theatre at Emerson College, Boston, MA
Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020; 7:30pm
GBH, Boston, MA
Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020; 4:00pm
A Christmas Celtic Sojourn with Brian O'Donovan is produced by GBH.
About GBH
GBH is the leading multiplatform creator for public media in America. As the largest producer of content for PBS and partner to NPR and PRX, GBH delivers compelling experiences, stories and information to audiences wherever they are. GBH produces digital and broadcast programming that engages, illuminates and inspires, through drama and science, history, arts, culture and journalism. GBH is the creator of such signature programs as MASTERPIECE, ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, FRONTLINE, NOVA, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE and Arthur and Molly of Denali, as well as GBH WORLD and a catalog of streaming series, podcasts and on-demand video. With studios and a newsroom headquartered in Boston, GBH reaches across New England with GBH 89.7, Boston’s Local NPR®; CRB Classical 99.5; and CAI, the Cape and Islands NPR® station. Dedicated to making media accessible to and representative of our diverse culture, GBH is a pioneer in delivering media to audience members who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind and visually impaired. With PBS LearningMedia, GBH creates curriculum-based digital content for educators nationwide. GBH’s local programming includes Boston Public Radio, Greater Boston, Stories from the Stage, Open Studio with Jared Bowen, Basic Black and High School Quiz Show. GBH has been recognized with hundreds of the nation’s premier broadcast, digital and journalism awards.
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