"City Launch of Highland Heartbeat Spectacular", Press & Journal, 5 June 2009
Posted: Wednesday 24 June 2009
City launch of Highland Heartbeat spectacular
By susan welsh
Published: 05/06/2009
TIPPED AS A HIT: Some of the cast of Highland Heartbeat taking the stage at Eden Court
Highland Heartbeat, a musical extravaganza showcasing the cream of Scotland’s singing talent, will have its world premier at the theatre in July, before setting off on a major coast to coast tour of America in September.
The live theatrical production, headed by Fiona Kennedy, daughter of the late, much-loved singers, Calum and Anne Kennedy, follows from a hugely-successful television show which has already been broadcast more than 1,000 times in the US and beamed into 114million homes.
Highland Heartbeat was developed by Kennedy Productions Company, a firm set up by Fiona and her sister Morven, who made a DVD, narrated by award-winning stage and movie actor Brian Cox, and bringing together an outstanding cast of singers, musicians, choirs, pipers and dancers, and showcased them performing in some of Scotland’s finest locations.
Mr Cox said: “I saw Highland Heartbeat singing live in New York and was blown away by the outstanding talent and personality of the group.
“We should start celebrating Scottish youth, culture and music, something that Highland Heartbeat does brilliantly.”
Director Morven Kennedy said yesterday in Inverness: “The success of the show in America has been amazing and the viewing figures have been huge, with something like 74% of those tuning into the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) watching.”
The phenomenal success in America persuaded the sisters to put together a live version of the show and take it to America, where it is forecast it could be as big as Irish dance extravaganza Riverdance.
Last summer, auditions began to find singers, and from more than 900 talented applicants, five were chosen – Jillian Isbister from Shetland, Darren Maclean from Skye, Ross Davidson from Aberdeen, Frances McCann from Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, and Maureen McMullan from Coatbridge.
They are joined by Fiona Kennedy who both leads the show and is one of the producers, a host of talented musicians and a children’s choir.
Highland Heartbeat is at Eden Court from July 28 until August 1, 2009.