Tenor brings smiling Irish eyes to Bremerton

Michael Londra laughingly refers to his tour guide persona — in which he flies American tourists across the Atlantic to show them around his native Eire — as “drunk Rick Steves.”

“Rick knows that, and he approves,” Londra said of Steves, arguably the world’s leading travel maven. He might not be in Steves’ class, but the affable Irishman, who brings his part-concert, part-travelog “Ireland With Michael” to the Admiral Theatre in Bremerton for a show March 17 — St. Patrick’s Day, wouldn’t you know it — has his homeland covered, and in more ways than one.

Londra, an acclaimed tenor who’s been touring the U.S. since he was the lead voice for Riverdance in the 1990s, has been organizing tours of the Emerald Isle several times a year for the last nine years. More recently, he began hosting a travel series called “Ireland With Michael,” in its third season on PBS and the fourth season of which he’s already at work. The touring show features Londra fronting a live band, singing and talking about Ireland as images of the island’s spectacular beauty are projected around the stage.

“We haven’t performed for a while,” said Londra, who’s road-tripping for the first time since the COVID shutdowns. “So we pivoted; we decided to create something new. It’s now a multimedia experience. “One thing I know. When I gather my band on stage, they’re the best of Irish musicians,” he says of the longtime touring unit. Londra said the live show, like the TV and tourism versions, takes Americans to Irish destinations and experiences they might not see on some other sort of visit.

Londra had been based in Chicago for years, but recently relocated to Ames, Iowa, where his partner works for Iowa State University. He also recently earned his U.S. citizenship, joking to American Twitter followers: “I guess you’re stuck with me now.” Londra — who’s also written a book on Irish travel — oversees his recording and touring careers, the TV show, and a number of other projects he just doesn’t seem to be able to say no to.

“I love a project,” he said, “looking at something and trying to build it. I produce musical theater; I’m currently developing a show for Broadway.” Among his projects is serving as an ambassador for Concern Worldwide, a charity that fights poverty and hunger around the globe.

The event starts at 7:30 March 17 at 515 Pacific Ave. Tickets are $34-$79. Information: 360-373-6743, admiraltheatre.org.

Michael C. Moore is the Arts and Entertainment reporter for the Admiral Theatre Foundation.