On Sept. 10, a new musical made its North American debut at the M&T Bank Exchange in downtown Baltimore. Coming all the way from Scotland,’Ceilidh’ (pronounced KAY-lee) is a show unlike any other. Audience members are not just watching the show, they are actively a part of it.
Written by Scott Gilmour and Claire McKenzie, the musical is based on traditional Scottish ceilidhean, which are social gatherings that involve music, storytelling, and dancing. Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Sam Pinkleton was inspired to take on this project after experiencing a traditional ceilidh himself.
“The first time I went to a ceilidh in Glasgow I wept, I howled with laughter, I danced so hard I was almost sick. Making ‘Ceilidh’ is quite literally the most fun I’ve ever had. It’s a giddy joy to live inside the collision of Scott and Claire’s rich, raw, original theatrical world with centuries-old Scottish music and dance traditions…” Pinkleton said.
Producers Beth Williams and Barbara Whitman expressed similar enthusiasm for the Scottish tradition.
“When we first began working with Scott and Claire on ‘Ceilidh’ through our commissioning program, we knew the passion they brought to the project, but we had no idea that we would fall in love with the heart behind the Scottish tradition of Ceilidh.We’re thrilled to introduce ‘Ceilidh’ to North American audiences for the first time and there isn’t a better community than Baltimore to welcome the show to this continent,” Williams and Whitman said.
The creative team specifically chose the M&T Bank Exchange as their venue because of the space’s versatility. Scenic designer and Tony Award winner Rachel Hauck elevated the venue by creating a space in which the audience surrounds the performance area, making it feel more like a social gathering. The design also makes it easier for audience members to get out of their seats and join the music and dancing.
The musical follows the story of a ceilidh caller named Leo and how he passed the tradition on to his son Ramsay. The story shifts between past and present, with both father and son acting as callers who lead audience members in dances similar to those at a traditional ceilidh.
Pinkleton’s choreography is simple yet lively. With the dancing accompanied by an equally lively band, it is almost impossible not to want to join in. That was precisely Pinkleton’s goal.
“‘Ceilidh’ is about bringing people together you might not usually expect to see together, and having as much fun as possible in the process” he said.
One audience member who greatly enjoyed the dancing was Kaitlyn Mulcahy ’27
“I’ve never had an audience experience before and since I’m a dancer I love being able to get up and dance with people. It has really just been so fun and exciting” Mulcahy said.
‘Ceilidh’ is not like any other musical, it’s an immersive experience that allows a whole group of strangers to let loose and have fun. By the end, audience members leave feeling less like strangers and more like one big family.
‘Ceilidh’ will continue its performances at the M&T Bank Exchange through Oct. 12. To purchase tickets go to Ticketmaster.com or visit the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center box office at 12 N. Eutaw St..
