Can You Hear the Thunder?

Last night we premiered a new show on DPTV called “Celtic Thunder.” It features five young male singers – between the ages of 14 and 39 – performing live on stage at the Helix Theatre in Dublin. It’s a sequel of sorts to the Celtic Woman shows that have been so popular here in the past. Public Television – especially on the pledge plane – can be a remarkable process. It’s dynamism, really in the sense that you get what you give.

What we call a “pledge” program often comes from different producers. Some times DPTV is responsible the show; some are from PBS, others from independent producers including other stations. This one was produced by Sharon Brown and Phil Coulter. Sharon produced the Celtic Woman programs and Phil’s had an interesting career as a singer, performer and producer. He’s even worked in the studio with Elvis himself.

So here they are, these Celtic men – remarkable singers – but yet unheralded to the point that they have other “lives.” One is a father and mainstay on the Scottish folk’s scene; there’s an accountant, a classical singer; a surfer and an Irish teenager who’s still in braces and has something cookin’ with his first girlfriend. And to producers like Coulter and Brown the idea of bringing a production to life is a less about a resume and more about creating an atmosphere where something explosive can happen.

Powerful male vocalists singing traditional Celtic, American contemporary and original songs, might be enough of a production to broadcast on our air, and then ask you for your support. But that’s not enough for us. The programs are only the beginning of a circuitry of additional opportunities and content we provide with our broadcast experiences. First, if you missed it, look for a repeat of “Celtic Thunder” St. Patrick’s Day at 10 p.m.

Additionally, the program producers invited us to interview these Celtic guys – Keith, George, Ryan, Paul, Damien as well as the producers themselves, as a way for our local audience to meet the cast of this new production up close.

While we had only enough time to broadcast a few of these conversations last night, we’ve put all the interviews up at our website for you to view by Video on Demand.

And because we believe what is best about public TV is localism, we’re providing a concert opportunity for you as well. Our friends at the Fox Theatre will be hosting Celtic Thunder October 14 at 7:30 p.m. and you can get tickets as a thank-you gift by supporting Public TV. We’re also offering a meet & greet opportunity with the performers, exclusive to supporters of DPTV available right now.

Sometimes a show is just a show. And sometimes it’s powerful enough to give you a new passion to pursue just by watching it. And then there are times when you put enough of yourself into the experience -- when enough positive elements are in place – that the natural force of giving and giving back ignite the ions until suddenly you’ll see a flash. And hear the Thunder.

Fred Nahhat is DPTV Director of On-Air and Online Fundraising