A Celtic Christmas
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Tomáseen Foley Shows
Tomáseen Foley
Parcel From America




Based on Tomseen Foley’s story Parcel from America

Book by Tomaseen Foley

Music and Lyrics by Matty Selman 

Arrangements and Orchestration by William Coulter

Traditional songs and music arranged by William
Coulter,Patricia O’Scannell, Kevin Carr,
Barbara Mendelsohn

It is Christmas 1950, and half the closely-knit
community of the parish of Teampall an Ghleanntáin
is in “the next parish over” – three thousand miles
across the Atlantic in the city of Springfield,
Massachusetts, USA.

Many of those who remain behind are more-or-less
dependent on the parcels that arrive into the parish
every Christmas from tearful family members in
Springfield, MA.  A lonely widow awaits, apparently
in vain, for a parcel from her errant son, her only
child - - the only eye in the spud - -who has run away
to Springfield, MA. But this is at a time when everyone
lives in the shelter of the neighbors, so they rally around
her to create an unforgettable Christmas.

• Oregon Cabaret


“Oregon Cabaret Theater’s Parcel from
America . . . is an enchanting and authentic
Irish musical.  For starters, it’s based on a
book by Tomaseen Foley, insuring a script
that has the full flavor of his poetic and
sensitive language and takes us to the
Ireland he knows and loves.. . .And, oh, the
sound of music! . . . Matty Selman’s music
and lyrics are exceptional.”
ROBERT H. MILLER, ASHLAND DAILY TIDINGS,
Ashland, OR.

"Utterly charming, heartwarming . . .
filledwith captivating melodies.”
THE CLEVELAND PLAYHOUSE, CLEVELAND, OH.

“The world of Tomaseen Foley’s play is
light years beyond sentimentality.  In fact,
it is quite radical in its disdain for the
assumptions that enforce the
contemporary American dream."
MOLLY TINSLEY, JEFFERSON MONTHLY, AHLAND, OR

"Parcel From America is a basketful of
laughter, tears and everything in between
that makes life - - even a difficult one - -
worth living. It’s the perfect Christmas
present from a simpler Christmas past.”
RICHARD MOESCHL, MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, OR

"Charming, heartwarming . . . Foley’s
language is often lyrical and evocative and
enlivened with whimsical sayings.”
LEE JUILLERAT, HERALD AND NEWS,
KLAMATH FALLS, OR.

“ . . . flowingly poetic language . . . “
EDITH DECKER, DAILY COURIER, GRANTS PASS, OR

"Tomáseen Foley and director Roger
DeLaurier have dropped a delightful parcel
on Ashland’s doorstep . . . “
LIZ REDLER, SNEAK PREVIEW, ASHLAND, OR

“ ‘Parcel’ is a classic holiday story.”
SCAT STEUSSY, SISKIYOU SCENE, ASHLAND, OR

 

Native Irish Storyteller


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a celtic christmas •
a celtic christmas with orchestra irish timessaint patrick celebrationlines from my grandmother's forehead parcel from america

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