The life of Christie Hennessy to be played out on the Glór stage

SINGER-songwriter Christie Hennessy will be brought to life in a new show, which takes to the Glór stage next month.
Well-known Irish performer and broadcaster, Aonghus McAnally tours with the popular and hugely successful show, When Jolie Met Christie, about the life and music of much-loved Tralee singer songwriter, Christie Hennessy.
Having previously wooed audiences and received nightly standing ovations throughout its original run at Axis: Ballymun in March, the show now opens at 16 other venues from mid-September to mid-November, coming to Glór on November 7.
Under the guise of broadway entertainer, Al Jolson, a childhood hero of Christie Hennessy’s, Aonghus McAnally narrates Christie’s life story, contrasting the struggles and triumphs of both singers’ lives and delivering poignant renditions of Hennessy classics such as  Jealous Heart, Don’t Forget Your Shovel, Messenger Boy and Roll Back The Clouds.
In When Jolie Met Christie writer Seán McCarthy questions the motivation of great performers and the sacrifices they make to realise their dreams.
“Having the courage to be so open and emotionally honest is something both Christie Hennessy and Al Jolson shared on a deep level. To me, both represent the two faces of show business; the utterly selfless and the completely self-obsessed.  Yet their aim was identical to strike a chord to show the ‘us’ in them and the ‘them’ in ‘us’,” he explained.
In the production, Aonghus will be accompanied on additional vocals and violin by Galway singer, Nuala Ní Chanainn and on keyboard by the show’s musical director, Ivan McKenna.
Aonghus McAnally is the son of the late BAFTA award winning actor Ray McAnally of My Left Foot, The Mission, and We’re No Angels fame and actress Ronnie Masterson who stars as the granny in Angela’s Ashes. Aonghus is probably best known for his role in radio and television for over 30 years. 
His career started in the early 1970s as a professional guitar player in the traditional rock group Mushroom and for many years he played with orchestras, dance bands, as well as solo performances. 
His first television work was as Fergus, The Magic Postman in Wanderly Wagon, and in the 1980s he worked on the morning children’s programme Anything Goes.  He was also the host of the well known television game show The Lyrics Board.
This year Aonghus was one of the judges on the TG4 Sunday night family show Feis and Blood and is presently recording a documentary for TG4 called Mo Athair Ray. 
When Jolie Met Christie is poignant yet funny and has the ingredients to appeal to a broad theatre going audience, as well as to people who love Christie Hennessy’s music.
It will run from 8pm on November 7 at Glór and further information as well as booking details are available by calling 065 684 3103 or by visiting www.glor.ie.