We talk to Morgan Comer

by Louw Mulder. 

Exactly 19 years, after the original Lord of the Dance debuted in Dublin on July 2, 1996, its creator Michael Flatley is bringing his new staging, Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games, to Johannesburg, South Africa. The show will run at the Teatro at Montecasino for a limited 4 week season, opening on Tuesday, 14 July 2015.

Stage and Screen was grateful to get an opportunity to speak to one of the lead dancers of the Show, Morgan Comer, who has been with the company for the last three years. Comer, who won his first World Championships in Irish Dancing in 2010, told Stage and Screen that he always wanted to be part of Lord of the Dance, after developed this love for Irish Dancing from a young age.

After auditioning for Lord of the Dance while the show was touring in Belfast, he secured the role of one of the Lords in the cast. He was very pleased to be part of this show. For Comer, it is lovely when all your life’s hard work at dancing, finally get you to where you want to be.

“Irish Dancing, is basically dance, consisting of fast foot-works, to see how energetic you can perform the dance, and to create a high adrenalin experience” Comer said. The whole show of Dangerous Games consists of highly technical Irish Dancing, with about 3 musical numbers.

After we asked Mr Comer what South African Audiences can expect from the show, he said that the show evolved with the modern times. “There is the inclusion of huge LED screens, which projects some of the movements on them” he told us. These Holo-Gauze Screen™ Technology, will be displaying holographic-effect projections during all shows of their World Tour. “There are also a lot of new costumes, and most importantly, new choreography in this show” Comer said proudly.

When it comes to Lord of the Dance, the name Michael Flatly is synonym to the brand. Flatley was quoted saying that he is blown away by the remarkable talent and abilities of the great cast they have gathered. Comer, on the other hand, only has good things to say about Flatley too. “It is always nerve-wrecking to dance in front of Michael, because of his brilliance, and because he created the show. It does get easier with time.” he said. “Michael puts everything into coaching us, and you can always learn something from him. He is very strict though when it comes to the show.”

With this year being the last chance for South Africans to see Flatley in action, after making his last UK appearance in Wembley this year, Comer was proud to say that they are a young bunch of dancers who is now being groomed to take the Lord of the Dance further. “We are all in our 20’s, and we have a huge passion for the show” Comer confirmed confidently. He laughed when he said they might even come visit South Africa more often too then.

Audiences can see Flatley in action in the South African run of Dangerous Games, during some shows of the first 2 weeks in Johannesburg. To find out when Flatley will be performing, visit www.lordofthedance.com and click on the South African tour button.

For the South African Leg of this huge world tour, Comer will be the Lord of one troupe, and his co-lead, Cathal Keany, will lead the second troupe. With Keany also in possession of 2 World Irish dancing Championship titles, these two Lord of the Dance leads in Dangerous Games, will let no foot be stepped wrong. “We have to alternate troupes because of how physical the show is” Comer told us. Being professionally trained as a Physiotherapist himself, Comer knows the limit of the body.

There are huge excitement for Comer and the rest of the company of Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games, to be touring to South Africa. “We will be going to New Zealand, Australia and Singapore too” he said.

We asked him if there is a special message for South Africans who would like to come see the show: “Ahh, they must come see the show. They should come with an open mind and totally expect the unexpected. We cannot wait to perform in Johannesburg!’

Confirmed South African Tour Dates

Dates: 14 July 2015 – 9 August 2015 – limited 4-week season

Venue: Teatro at Montecasino

* Michael Flatley will make a guest appearance in the first 2-week run of the tour from 14^thJuly 2015 – 26^th July 2015

 

Peak Times: Thursday, Friday, Saturday evening and Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

Off Peak Times: Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday evening.

Ticket Price:

Peak Price featuring Michael Flatley: R510 – R680

Off Peak Price featuring Michael Flatley: R455 – R625

Peak Price: R340 – R510

Off Peak Price: R285 – R455

Tickets on sale now from Computicket