Photo Coverage: RIVERDANCE Opens at Radio City Music Hall

It has been 15 years since RIVERDANCE first stomped its way onto the world stage thrilling millions of people around the globe. Now, the thunderous celebration of Irish music, song and dance has returned to where it was first introduced to American audiences...the famed Radio City Music Hall, to play 8 farewell performances through March 21st, 2010. Opening was last night, March 17, 2010. BroadwayWorld brings you a look inside the rehearsal room and the special opening night celebration.

Composed by Bill Whelan, produced by Moya Doherty and directed by John McColgan, to date, RIVERDANCE has played nearly 10,000 performances, been seen live by more than 22 million people in over 350 venues throughout 40 countries across 4 continents. They have traveled well over 600,000 miles (or to the moon and back!), played to a worldwide television audience of nearly 2 billion; sold over 3 million copies of the Grammy Award-winning CD (certified Platinum in the US) and over 10 million videos making it one of the best-selling entertainment videos in the world! RIVERDANCE had its world premiere at the Point Theatre, Dublin, in February 1995, where it opened to unanimous critical acclaim.

Riverdance is the largest Western musical to play China; a record-breaking line of 100 Irish dancers mesmerizing 85,000 people at the 2004 Special Olympics in Dublin; a 10th Anniversary celebration at Radio City Music Hall; dancing in Red Square and on the Great Wall of China and much more.

RIVERDANCE has played to sold-out houses at Radio City five times (twice in 1996; 1997; 1998 and 2005) and has packed theatres throughout North America, Oceania, Asia and Europe. RIVERDANCE also performed on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre for an unprecedented 18 months in 2000.

Tickets for RIVERDANCE will go on sale Sunday, December 6 at 10:00 AM. Tickets range from $39.50 to $99.50. A limited number of VIP tickets will be available at $129.50, and will be available at www.radiocity.com/riverdance, all Ticketmaster outlets, phone charge (866-858-0008) and Ticketmaster.com. All prices include a $4.50 facility fee per ticket. Tickets purchased via Ticketmaster are subject to Ticketmaster service charges. Groups of 20+ call 212.465.6080 for special offers.

Photo Credit: Brian Estrada