Montfort College of Performing Arts

Montfort College of Performing Arts is a stage school in Cork City in the Republic of Ireland; it specialises in vocal technique, dance classes, singing classes, drama and musical theatre.^[1]

History

Montforts was established in 1958 by Eileen Nolan,^[2] who had previously founded a group called the "Montfort Singers" which performed at the "Cork Opera House". Its success inspired her to found the school. The Montfort College of Performing Art's most recent productions were "Camp Rock" - Everyman Palace Theatre, "Cinderella" - Firkin Crane, Broadway Kidz - Half-Moon Theatre, "Joseph & the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat" - Everyman Palace Theatre, "Snow White & The Seven Dwarves" - Firkin Crane, "Broadway Kidz" (Second year) - Half Moon Theatre & "The Little Mermaid" - Everyman Palace Theatre. Upcoming productions include "Beauty & The Beast" - Firkin Crane, "Broadway Kidz" (Third year) - TBA & "The Witches" - TBA.

Notable alumni

Professional Theatre

• Bill Murphy-Film,TV and Stage actor working alongside oscar winner, Kevin Spacey, Collin Farrell, Helen Baxindale, James Brolin, Dianne Weiss, Cris Maloni and has played all the major theatres in Ireland and England including the Gate Theatre, Irish National theatre(The Abbey) and notably the Barbican Theatre in London, home of the Royal Shakespearean Company
• Michael McCarthy – star of Les Misérables in the West End and on Broadway
• Michael Sands – Les Misérables, Fiddler On The Roof and Camelot -West End, Riverdance, Aspects Of Love, Hey Mr Producer .
• Karen Hackett – Lead in Dublin pantomime. Played part in Fair City. Singing in National Concert Hall, Dublin in Oct
• Seán Hackett – graduated from Bodyworks in July and now on tour with Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, London
• Elaine and Eílish Symmons – Elaine - working in the National Theatre and appeared in many TV shows and movies. Eílish – appeared in Fair City and has appeared in many professional productions.
• Mary Sexton – going on tour with Riverdance
• Hugh Lee – on tour with Stones in his Pockets
• Frank Twomey – presenter of Bosco for many years. Now presenting Cork City and Culture on TV
• Brendan Collins – playing in opera in Cork and Dublin
• Shirley McCarthy – played the starring role in Singing in the Rain and West Side Story.
• Irene Warren – played in Les Misérables and Starlight Express on the West End
• Damian Delaney – danced in Cats and Half a Sixpence and now appearing in Billy Elliot in Victoria Palace, London.
• Mark O Shaughnessy - originally trained with and taught for the Montfort Stage School before going on to do a degree in theatre studies at Stephens College, in Missouri, USA. After completing his studies he spent a year working for the Watergate theatre in Kilkenny before heading to London where he has worked for the past 10 years. His favourite roles have included Jack and the Wolfe in Into The Woods (USA), Claude in Hair (European Tour), Robert in An Ideal Husband (London), Lennox in Macbeth (Kilkenny), and Inspector Trotter in the touring production of The Mousetrap. Mark returned to Cork this year and has played the role of the Pied Piper in the Opera House panto as well as Mr. Sowerberry and Dr. Grimwig in Oliver for The Opera House and Helix theatres. Mark last worked with the Montforts in their production of Anything Goes, at the Everyman Palace, where he took on the role of Billy Crocker.
• Norma Sheahan

Teachers, who opened their own Drama Schools after qualifying with the Montforts include: Maura Currivan – Catherine Mahon Buckley – Geraldine Foley – Philip McTeggart Walsh – Rebecca Allman – Christopher Hennessy – Maria McCarthy – Nevin and Susan O'Driscoll (Singapore) – Elaine Carlisle (Wales) – Margo Carlisle

Production directors

• Valery Horan Nigli – Zurich Comedy Club, Switzerland
• Marion Wyath – renowned in Cork
• Deirdre O'Riordan – director of most Irish pantomimes
• Trish Long – USA
• Trevor Ryan - Extremely renowned in Cork

Musical directors

• Michael Casey
• Cathal Dunne
• Angel Claiment
• Ronnie O Shaughnessy
• Paddy Hegarty
• John Murphy
• Pat Sheehan Corbett
• Christopher Hennessey
• Regina Gilley
• Colm O' Regan

References