ABOUT US
Tommy
Drennan
Tommy Drennan’s music career began when he was discovered as a rare principal boy soprano, winning solo performances in choirs and Radio Eireann programmes during early childhood. He went on to study voice at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. During this time he was first prize winner at Dublin Feis Ceoil, did several half-hour programmes of classical songs for Radio Eireann, and also appeared regularly on UTV in 'Teatime With Tommy'.
Tommy toured with ‘The Freshmen’ as their lead singer before returning home to front the Limerick Showband, The Monarchas. With an EMI contract, Tommy Drennan & The Monarchs became a household name with numerous albums released internationally and a string of hit singles, several reaching number one in the Irish charts including 'Boolavouge', 'The Promise and the Dream', and 'O Holy Night'. UK and USA tours followed as did regular TV appearances on the Late Late Show and New Faces on ITV.
Tommy has always had an abiding interest in musical theatre playing lead roles in the popular Gilbert & Sullivan shows, Franz Lehar's 'Land of Smiles', 'The Fantastics' and more. He holds an ALCM in Music Theatre from the London College of Music and is a member of the Association of Teachers of Singing (AOTOS).
Tommy is the co-founder of the Ennis Academy for the Performing Arts and has been sharing his passion for musical theatre with the youth of County Clare for 25 years.
Pearl
Kiely
PEARL KIELY, as a young mezzo-soprano, played major roles in several operas performing with artists from all over Europe. Having studied voice from a very young age, she continued her studies under Dr. Veronica Dunne at the College of Music, and spent some time teaching the Zoltan Kodaly Method of Teaching Singing.
She became interested in Musical Theatre through her involvement with the National Tops of the Town Competition and later studied Musical Theatre at Mountview Academy in London and holds a Diploma in Musical Theatre from the London College of Music.
As co-founder of the Ennis Academy for the Performing Arts, Pearl has dedicated herself to fostering a love of music and theatre in all her students.
Geri O'Sullivan
Geri O’Sullivan is resident choreographer with Ennis Academy for the Performing Arts. She started her dancing career at the tender age of five. As an Irish Dancer, Geri won Munster, All-Ireland and World Championships. She performed for many years in the very popular Irish Cabarets in Dromoland Castle and other leading hotels in the region.
She holds a qualification as a Fitsteps Instructor, having studied in London under two of the professional dancers from Strictly Come Dancing, Ian Waite and Natalie Lowe. Along with her dance experience, Geri holds a N.C.E.F. qualification as a fitness instructor from the University of Limerick, and for many years ran her very successful Aerobic and Step Aerobic classes. She was an original member of the hugely popular JAZZMIC Dance Group. Following the success of this group, she later went on to open her own Dance Academy at the Red Apple Studio in Limerick.
As a much-sought after choreographer, Geri went on to do numerous shows for Musical Societies, Tops of the Town, Siamsa, and Macra na Feirme Groups in the Limerick area, winning many awards in all categories of dance.
The eternal student of Dance, Geri continues her studies in London studying Ballroom Dancing.
Jessica
Bray
Jessica Bray studied Musical Theatre Performance at the Guildhall School of Acting in the United Kingdom where she graduated with a B.A Hons (Performance) in Musical Theatre in 2008.
During her time at Guildhall, she received the much coveted Sir Michael Redgrave Scholarship and the Sir John Gielgud Award for Musical Theatre. Whilst in England, in addition to her performing career, Jessica taught the Early Stages of Musical Theatre to children and young people.
On her return to Ireland Jessica became a much sought-after Performer, Director and Teacher. The Ennis Academy for the Performing Arts are delighted to have Jessica as their Acting and Drama teacher. In addition to her many talents, Jessica displays a great rapport with her students and has proved to be an extremely popular member of the team.
Jessica directed the ENNIS MUSICAL SOCIETY'S production of SISTER ACT this year and has been invited back to direct the 2019 production of ANYTHING GOES.
She is a very popular director with SHANNON MUSICAL SOCIETY and this year she directed THE WIZ, having previously directed LEGALLY BLONDE and 9 TO 5,THE MUSICAL with this hardworking group. She is presently preparing to direct GREASE in Limerick.
Jessica has played leading roles with Limerick's Cecilian Musical Society, Shannon Musical Society and Limerick Musical Society.
Roles as a performer include LILY in A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, ANITA in WEST SIDE STORY, GLADYS in COPACABANA, DELORIS in SISTER ACT, MARTHA in THE SECRET GARDEN, GIRLEEN in THE LONESOME WEST, FRENCHIE in DESTRY RIDES AGAIN and most recently as ALDONZA in THE MAN OF LA MANCHA for which she received an AIMS NOMINATION for BEST FEMALE SINGER.
Grace
O'Brien
Grace took an interest in performing at a young age. She joined Expressive Arts, Limerick at the age of 8 and her passion and love for performing has continued to grow ever since. Over the years, Grace has participated in various amateur productions with several of Limericks household theatrical names such as Limerick Musical Society, Limerick PantoSociety & The Torch Players.
Whilst performing in Limerick's Tops of the Town Reunion shows, Graces love for dancing blossomed. As a result, She was delighted to be able to get the oppurtunity to join the Ennis Academy for the Performing Arts team 3 years ago and garner valuable experience from not the talented Choreographer Geri O'Sullivan.
Grace also has a real passion for teaching. She is a qualified Primary School teacher with a Higher Diploma in Primary Education and is also a qualified Zumba instructor. Between putting on annual school shows to carrying out afterschool dance classes, Grace continues to combine her love for education and Dance in her current role as a primary school teacher in Limerick city.
