25 July 2019 It was announced today that comedian and broadcaster Bernard O’Shea will tread the boards this August, in his first theatrical acting role, when he steps onto the stage of the Olympia Theatre in the role of Grandpa Hoover in the musical comedy Little Miss Sunshine, based on the Academy Award-winning film by Michael Arndt. Grandpa Hoover is not your average American Senior Citizen. He’s a foul mouthed, sex obsessed drug addict who’s been kicked out of his retirement home and finds himself back living with his son & family sleeping on a sofa! But despite his protestations he loves his family and in particular, his 8yr old granddaughter Olive. He’s been training Olive and teaching her dance routines for the Alberquerque Little Miss Chilli Bean contest and when the opportunity comes for Olive to go to the regional finals The ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ contest in California there’s no way he’s going to miss out on being there - even if that involves an 800 mile road trip with all the whole family in their clapped out campervan.In radio, Bernard has written sketches for TodayFM and co-hosted two breakfast shows on 2FM and iRadio. In television he first made his name on RTÉ’s Republic of Telly, co-wrote and co-starred in the sitcom Bridget & Eamon, and more recently can be seen in Marty and Bernard’s Big Adventure. In the course of his stand-up career he has won the 2000 Harp Newcomer Comedy Award, and performed at the BBC Newcomer Awards the same year. He has performed at comedy festivals around the world, including Montreal and Edinburgh and is a full-time comedy writer and performer.Bernard will star alongside Irish singer / actress Lucy O’Byrne who shot to fame on The Voice (BBC) in 2015 and was the runner-up that year. She has gone on to be a leading lady in a number of major musicals including Eva Peron in Evita (UK, Ireland & Germany Tour), Fantine in Les Misérables (Queen’s Theatre – West End), Maria in The Sound of Music (UK and Ireland Tour) and more.This European premiere production comes to The Olympia Theatre for five days only from Tues 13 - Sat 17 August, with matinee performances on Wed 14 and Sat 17 August.The Hoover family has more than a few troubles, but young Olive has her heart set on winning the Little Miss Sunshine beauty contest. When an invitation to compete comes out of the blue, the Hoovers must pile into their rickety, yellow VW camper van. Can it survive the 800-mile trip from New Mexico to California – and more importantly, can they? This inventive and uplifting musical celebrates the quirks of every family, the potholes in every road, and the power of overcoming our differences.Little Miss Sunshine is the off-beat musical comedy created by the Tony Award-winning team of James Lapine (who collaborated with Stephen Sondheim on Into the Woods and Sunday in the Park with George) and William Finn (25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Falsettos). This new production is directed by Arcola’s Artistic Director Mehmet Ergen with design by David Woodhead, musical direction by Arlene McNaught, musical supervision by Mark Crossland, lighting design by Richard Williamson, sound design by Olly Steel, and choreography by Anthony Whiteman. Go Back
