Jennifer is really Lovin Each Day

Jennifer is really Lovin Each Day

19 November 2014

A DOWNPATRICK choreographer has helped popstar Ronan Keating make his successful theatrical debut on a smash-hit West End musical.

There was huge anticipation as the award-winning singer-songwriter prepared to take the lead in the phenomenally successful Once The Musical on Monday night.

Despite months of preparation, the musician celebrated the world over for his Boyzone success and subsequent solo career admitted to nerves about his dramatic role change. 

But helping the daunted artist settle into the cast and fine-tune his on-stage presence was Downpatrick dancer and choreographer Jennifer Rooney, who became the show’s resident movement director at the beginning of the year.

Dance graduate Jennifer, who was recruited to Once after being spotted by a director in Derry, admitted Ronan’s casting had caused great excitement.

As his first production drew to a close on Monday evening, she was happy to give his performance a thumbs-up with confirmation that he had done “brilliantly.”

“Once is one of two Irish shows on the West End at the moment and Ronan’s arrival has given the show an extra bit of life,” she said.

“He is down to earth and has been working very hard since starting to rehearse with us at the Phoenix Theatre two weeks ago.

“I have been working closely with him to fine-tune movement.

“He is keen to impress and has been welcomed by the cast with open arms. He did brilliantly on his first night.”

Although Jennifer has been choreographing and teaching dance for over 10 years, she admits moving to Once  was an exciting change for her.

The work she is doing on the show, she explains, is unlike traditional choreography and is part of the growing trend towards actor musicianship — a field in which she is keen to specialise.

Once is a pared back musical based in a Dublin pub where the cast play fiddle, guitar, drums, accordion and mandolin. 

At the beginning of the show, the audience is invited on stage for a pint. Jennifer’s job is to ensure the movement and choreography is always in good shape and to direct the movements of the cast, who are all acting musicians.

She describes the on-stage movement as more pedestrian than dance-like. It is, she explains, more about the stamping of feet in the Irish dance tradition rather than typical Jazz hands.

While settling a new cast into the show, which has been in the West End since March 2013, Jennifer admits it is not uncommon to work full days before returning to the theatre at night to cast a critical eye over the live production.

Despite this gruelling regime, however, she says it still does not seem like work.

“This is such an exciting appointment. You can’t really turn a job like this down,” she said.

“It is something I have been working towards for years and it has been an exciting step.

“It opens up a lot of opportunities to be here and working at this level. I am loving it.”

As she prepares to leave the theatre following Ronan’s successful debut, looking forward to walking through the West End to catch her late train home, Jennifer says she remains thrilled to be where she is.

“The atmosphere and buzz in the West End is phenomenal,” she said.

“Being on a theatre production in Soho is as good as it gets.”

Once the Musical is at the Phoenix Theatre.