Meet
The Characters
CIARA CONNELLY
16-year-old blonde dynamo Ciara excels in every facet of her life: top student, valedictorian, school president, field hockey captain, and object of affection for boys. Most importantly, she is the golden girl of the Tierney School who harbors the pressure to bring home the gold. A true oldest daughter, she is determined to bring pride to her family and herself and harbors unreasonable pressure to be perfect.
SHEILA
40 year old mom of 3 girls – honey blonde shoulder length hair, sharp nose + jawline. The matriarch – traditional Irish Mummy – who will do anything to make her girls happy.
MADDIE
Maddie, the narrator, the 15-year-old middle child, perpetually overshadowed by her older sister Ciara, exudes dry wit and wisdom beyond her years, serving as the family’s comedic relief and unsung hero, secretly cherished by Mrs. Tierney and embodying the glue that binds her family together.
CHLOE
The 9-year-old baby of the family, dancing before she could walk, exudes confidence with impeccable rhythm, striking looks, a six-pack, and a surprising deep raspy voice, earning her the nickname “Zaza Gabor” from her nana, effortlessly dominating both school and the dance world as the coolest kid around.
Meet
The Dancers
FINLEY DELIGHT, LEE
A 17-year-old male dancer from Dublin, newly relocated with his family, dazzles with his unbeatable talent, always clinching top honors in competitions. With aspirations to fill Michael Flatley’s shoes in Riverdance, he charms with his humor and regularly elevates choreography with his unmatched skill, seamlessly enhancing Mrs. Tierney’s routines without her ever noticing. He has a dry sense of humor well beyond his years and keeps the girls giggling.
FRANCESCA SICILIA, FRANKIE
The 16-year-old Italian girl, though insists her dark olive skin mother is Irish, battles her insecurities and envy of Ciara’s limelight, duct-taping her ample chest and donning wigs to compete in Irish Dance. Her parents spare no expense for, making her personal competition with Ciara a hilarious spectacle of duct-taped dreams and extravagant ensembles.
MEGAN MARTIN
Adopted from Korea into an Irish family, she is constantly getting stares about why exactly she is here… shaking up the crew with her rebellious antics; she’s the classic cool girl who rocks up to practice in her Catholic school uniform, skirt rolled up three times, still on the quest to find her place while refusing to conform.
OONA KELLY
Oona Kelly, reigning champion of the Ladies under 16 competition, embodies elegance and grace as part of the “rival” Kerri school, though she sees no rivalry herself. Tall and delicate with a signature curly bun, she reigns as the queen bee of Irish Dancing, gracing magazine covers and setting trends effortlessly. Yet beneath her poised exterior lies a sense of loneliness, craving the camaraderie she observes at Tierney School, where despite fewer wins, the dancers exude joy and unity.
Meet
The God Father of Dance
Sheamus O’Donnelly
Sheamus O’Donnelly, a 75-year-old Irish man with snow-white hair and nutcracker dentures, stands as the patriarch of Irish Dance in America, holding the esteemed title of “President Emeritus of An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha.” Despite being wheelchair-bound and blind, his unwavering presence commands both fear and respect, as he oversees every event with precision, adorned in his title sash, medallion, and a collection of gold rings, never failing to distinguish insiders from outsiders.
Meet
The Rival Teachers
MICK MURRAY
37-year-old Irish dance teacher and dressmaker. Mick is the owner of another rival school. He is charismatic but sneaky – the type of guy you suspect is up to no good but could convince you to do most anything. The most well dressed man on the scene, he weaves his way in and out of situations and has a command over his dance students that is formidable. You don’t want to cross Mick.
KRIS KERRI
The impeccably poised 36-year-old, towering in clean-cut suits and Louboutin heels, exudes a commanding presence that speaks volumes as her winning dancers sweep competitions, embodying a silent power that could rule the world with grace. She … is … Scary.
Meet
The Dance Moms & Dads
MRS. KELLY
Think Melissa McCarthy. Oona’s mom – she is an overweight woman with an over the top personality. It is clear that she is living vicariously through her daughter. Her demeanor contrasts with Oona’s composure and politeness – which presents as ironic given their roles. She is kind but enthusiastic. She knows everything about everyone in the dance world.
LAURA MARTIN
Megan’s adoptive mom.
PENINA SICILIA
40 age range, mom of Francesca. She is about 4 foot tall with dark brown skin, with a raspy voice and a smokers cough. She is the type of mom that would do dirty for her kid to win and doesn’t have much concern for the feelings of other people’s kids. She is what the Irish call Black Irish.
ED MARTIN
Dance Dad. 40 age range, lean man with salt and pepper hair. He is the type of guy you could rely on – kind, gentle yet secure. He is a guitar player and often plays sessions with Sheila on dance trips to entertain the rest of the crew.
UGLY MAKEUP LADY
Dance Mom. Retired pageant queen herself. Feels most comfortable adding purple eyeshadow to a child’s face. Her kids actually quit dance but she still comes for the fanfare and has been for years.
HART AND WINNIE DELIGHT
Finley’s parents – unwilling Irishmen in the US.
Meet
The Shoemaker
SEAN KEANE
A 35-year-old hot single shoemaker, clad in a snug black tee and jeans, commands attention behind his vendor stand at Feises, handcrafting coveted Irish Dance shoes from stretch leather and plexiglass tips. As he expertly fits shoes on bended knee, swooning girls and moms alike can’t resist his charm, even as they wonder why their shoes seem to wear out faster in his presence.
Meet
Other Adults
JOHNNY MAC
The older gent with a heart of gold, turning his Irish bar into a haven where Ciara finds a weekend gig, proving that his charm isn’t just in the drinks he serves, but in the lucky breaks he dishes out.
DRESSMAKER
The elusive dressmaker, hidden away in her mystical home in the Catskills akin to a banshee’s haunt, possesses the secret threads of the dance world, orchestrating Ciara’s fate with a touch of luck woven into her hoarder-like abode, unseen yet instrumental in securing the perfect dress.