Rock and roll musical classic opens in Athlone this Friday

The rebellious teen comedy musical Cry-Baby will have local audiences rocking, rolling and jiving in the aisles of the Dean Crowe Theatre when the 2025 production from Athlone Musical Society opens this Friday night, February 28.

Featuring a mixture of local and new musical talent, Cry-Baby is set in Baltimore in 1954 and is filled with unforgettable songs and high-energy dance routines. It has often been described as being a cross between 'Hairspray' and 'Grease' so local audiences can expect plenty of bright, colourful dresses, slicked-back hair and leather-clad teens oozing with attitude.

The lead roles are played by two first-time members of Athlone Musical Society, both of whom are from Portumna, 18-year-old Izzy Tuohy who has been involved in musical theatre for many years takes on the role of Allison Vernon-Williams, while 20-year-old Nathan Canning, who is studying primary teaching in Limerick and has also played numerous roles on the musical stage, will play the role of Wade 'Cry-Baby' Walker.

Izzy Tuohy says she has never met "a nicer group of people" than her fellow cast members in Athlone and, at this stage, she is eagerly looking forward to opening night. "Honestly, it has been a wonderful experience," said the first-year Communications student at DCU. "I have been made so welcome and everyone has been so supportive." She says it has been "a bit of struggle" to juggle her studies and rehearsals, but she is delighted to be taking the lead role with Athlone Musical Society. "I think the nerves are beginning to kick in a bit at this stage," she admits, "but hopefully everything will go well."

The production team is in the capable hands of Ger Madden as Musical Director; Alfie Kilduff as Director and Jay Molyneux as Choreographer.

There is plenty of local talent on stage in this year's production of Cry-Baby, the musical with both Kori and Jonathan Kilduff also treading the boards once again. Jonathan, who is a music graduate from Maynooth University and is also an accomplished piano teacher and accompanist, has been a member of the local musical society since 2016. He spends every Saturday working with family and friends at the AKT Drama School, and is also a stalwart of the annual panto in the Dean Crowe Theatre. Jonathan is returning to the stage as a member of the truly dashing Whiffles, taking on the role of Willie Whiffle.

Jonathan's sister, Kori, who is also a stalwart of the musical society, plays the role of his Whiffle sister, Winnie, on stage, while a third member of the unforgettable Whiffle quartet, Wendy, is played by the very talented Cherise O'Moore, who is no stranger to the local stage and is the current Vice-Chairperson on Athlone Musical Society. The fourth Whiffle, Wally, is played by Eoghan Rogers, who is a seán-nós singer, and also plays concertina, harp and guitar.

Cherise O'Moore, who is trained in Classical Singing and Musical Theatre Performance from the Royal Irish Academy of Music, and teaches stagecraft with AKT Stage School, was presented with a 'Best Actress' award in 2017 for her role in Athlone Little Theatre's production of 'War Stories' as part of the All-Ireland One-Act Drama Festival. She has also played leading roles in 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat as the narrator in 2020 and 'All Shook Up' in 2022, taking on the role of Natalie, and has also been a familiar face in the Dean Crowe Pantomine since 2011.

Kori Kilduff is also someone who needs no introduction to local audiences, having been an active member of the theatre community in her native town and beyond for many years. As well as working full time as a stage school teacher in the Midlands and the West of Ireland, alongside directing school shows and conducting workshops for children and young adults, she has also played a number of notable roles with Athlone Musical Society including Roxie Hart in Chicago and Miss Sandra in All Shook Up for which she received an AIMS 'Best Comedienne' award in 2022.

Another Athlone native who has joined his home town musical society for the first time this year is Eoin McGlynn, who takes on the role of Dupree. Eoin, who works as a science teacher in Lucan, has a very impressive back catalogue of musical performance with Maynooth University Musical Society where he earned a AIMS nomination for his portrayal of Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar, and also took on the leading roles of Evan Hansen in Dear Evan Hansen and Franklin Hart in 9 to 5. He has been a member of AKT Stage School in Athlone from the age of four years.

Cry-Baby will also feature the talents of one of the most popular members of Athlone Musical Society, the inimitable Paul Holloway, who has played everything from a hippie preacher to a deacon, gangster, German developer, drunken father and a world-weary housewife on the local stage, and takes on the role of Father Officer O'Brien this year.

Hannah Dowling who plays the role of Mona 'Hatchet-Face' Molnorowski comes from a family steeped in the tradition of musical theatre. Daughter of Paul and Laura (McMullen) from Baylough, she grew up watching her dad perform for many years with the Moate Variety Club which has a very proud record of success in the John Player Tops of the Towns competition, while her two sisters, Sarah and Jessica, are both studying musical theatre and performance arts in Brighton.

Having been a chorus member with Athlone Musical Society for the past eight years, Hannah Dowling stepped into the limelight on the local musical stage for the first time last year when she played the role of Officer Barrel in Urinetown.

She is really looking forward to taking on the role of Mona in 'Cry-Baby' and describes her character as “a bit intimidating and a bit aggressive” but says all the cast have had “a lot of fun” during rehearsals as the show is lively, upbeat and entertaining.

Hannah, who is also a committee member, says this year has been “a year of change” for Athlone Musical Society and a lot of new people have joined. “We have a lot of new people on stage and the cast is quite young,” she says, adding that the mixture of youth and experience on stage will result in “a very good show” for local audiences.

As someone who has a passion for musical performance, Hannah says she is well used to juggling her working life as an Area Manager for Caffé Nero with rehearsals, although this week has proved to be “a bit more difficult” she admits since pre-opening night rehearsals took place every day!

Cry-Baby the musical opens in the Dean Crowe Theatre this Friday night, February 28, and runs until Friday, March 8, at 8pm. Please note Sunday's show is a matinée only and there is no show on either Monday or Tuesday night, March 3 and 4. The show comes with a parental advisory warning and is not suitable for those under 13 years old.

Athlone Musical Society has a special opening night offer with all tickets priced at €15 each.

Tickets for the remainder of the performances are priced at €25 each, and families/groups of five or over can avail of tickets for €20 each.

Tickets can be booked at the Dean Crowe Theatre 090 6492129 or online at www.deancrowetheatre.com