[caption id="attachment_67848" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Angela Lansbury, André De Shields, Dr. Ruth Westheimer. "]
Irish and Broadway stars came out Saturday night, October 29, for Bill Whelan's first in a series of four concerts at the Irish Arts Center in New York City. Among the attendees were five-time Tony Award-winner Angela Lansbury, Emmy Award winner and two-time Tony Award nominee André De Shields, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, award-winning author Colum McCann, Consul General of Ireland Noel Kilkenny, actor and author Malachy McCourt, Culture Ireland's Chief Executive Eugene Downes, Irish Arts Center's Executive Director Aidan Connelly, Irish Arts Center Vice Chair Pauline Turley and many more. Whelan conducted the nine-piece orchestra, played the piano, told stories and sang along with special guests world-renowned fiddler Athena Tergis, Irish singer Morgan Crowley and Irish Dancer and former "Riverdance" star Mick Donegan. Whelan's return to the Irish Arts Center included the U.S. premiere of two new compositions: "Jazzical Cyclebike" and "After The Titanic," a poem by Derek Mahon set to music by Whelan and sung by Morgan Crowley.
