World-renowned Irish tenor Michael Londra will perform ‘Ireland with Michael LIVE’ in Ames

Ames resident Michael Londra, the Irish tenor who was the voice of “Riverdance” on Broadway, will perform at Stephens Auditorium at 7 p.m. Sunday.

“Ireland with Michael LIVE” is a production inspired by Londra’s successful PBS series, which follows him around his home country as he introduces viewers to Irish musicians, dancers and landmarks. The “Ireland with Michael” TV show started in 2021 and has aired for three seasons, with more than 10,000 individual airings on PBS stations across the country. Season 3 is currently airing.

The live theatrical show is touring U.S. cities this month and next. The production is a multimedia experience combining music, dance and stories of Ireland.

Footage filmed for his PBS travel series will be the backdrop for Londra’s singing. Irish dancers, fiddles and pipes will add to the Celtic talent onstage — a timely cultural celebration during Irish American Heritage Month in March.Londra will talk to the audience about his personal connection to songs and stories of his home country as well as his love of traditional music.

He will be joined by his “immensely talented band and world champion Irish dancers,” including Tony Award winner Trent Kowalik from “Billy Elliot” on Broadway, according to a news release.

Iowa State University’s Lyrica Choir will join Emmy-nominated Londra for a few songs. The ISU choir is a “treble-voice ensemble with a mission to explore musical sounds and practices from many traditions,” the release said. Under the direction of Jennifer Rodgers, Lyrica also will perform a song to begin the evening in collaboration with pianist Ian Lewis.

More:Irish tenor Michael Londra launches PBS series 'Ireland with Michael' from Ames home

“It’s a pleasure to present Michael’s new show to our audience,” Tammy Koolbeck, Stephens Auditorium’s executive director, said in the release. “Michael has also graciously given his time to work with Dr. Jennifer Rodgers and ISU’s Lyrica choir throughout the semester and their work together will culminate on the Stephens stage. It’s another great example of the work that Stephens Auditorium is doing with University students by offering opportunities outside of the classroom.”

After living in cities like London and New York, Londra now calls Ames home

A world traveler who’s lived in some of the world’s major cities, Londra moved to Ames about 10 years ago “kicking and screaming,” he said with a laugh during a 2021 interview with the Ames Tribune.

Londra’s partner originally is from Iowa, and when he was offered a job in Ames, he talked Londra into moving here.

“Lo and behold, I’ve grown to really love it here,” Londra said in 2021.

He thought his days of being an entertainer might be over, though, as he moved to Iowa.

Fortunately for his fans, nothing could be further from the truth.

When Londra arrived in Ames, he was introduced to Steve Peters, president of VenuWorks, and they “just clicked,” he said. Peters is Londra’s business partner in VenuWorks Theatricals, where they formed a partnership as producers.

Currently, they are working on a major project, the musical comedy “Summer Stock,” where auditions have recently been ongoing in New York City.

Londra’s PBS series also has a close connection to Ames.

“The other thing that people don’t know about Ames is that the producer of this show and my partner in the TV show is Mike Sulzberger,” Londra said in 2021. “Mike is a producer with NBC and he’s also my next-door neighbor.”Londra and Sulzberger edited the whole series on the third floor of Sulzberger’s house in the Old Town neighborhood near downtown Ames.

Tickets for “Ireland with Michael LIVE” range from $25 to $50 and can be purchased at the Stephens Auditorium ticket office or at www.ticketmaster.com.

Ronna Faaborg covers business and the arts for the Ames Tribune. Reach her at rlawless@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Michael Londra's PBS series 'Ireland with Michael' LIVE at Stephens