Celtic Crooner

Irish crooner Tony Kenny thinks he's hot property. So much so that his website has the words "Tony On Tour Now!" encrypted in virtual flames. That's as corny as it gets, but still, you've got to love guys like Kenny and the few remaining song-and-dance men like him. His dusting off of the 78 rpm classics "Carolina In The Morning," "Sonny Boy," and "Toot-Toot-Tootsie" brought him Ireland's "Entertainer of the Year" award in 1998. Sure, that was almost ten years ago, but Kenny's got showbiz in his blood. Although the fact that he cites Al Jolson (the famous blackface singer of the 1920s) as one of his greatest influences makes us a little skeptical. He comes to the States every winter like clockwork and plays some of the classiest venues in the business (OK, a few high school auditoriums as well). The Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat veteran is now heading up a traveling variety extravaganza. Tony Kenny's Ireland features a ten-strong, co-ed troupe of step dancers, traditional Irish instrumentalists, and, of course, the well-tuned voice of the man himself, presenting a repertoire of unrivaled Celtic pizzazz. He's a week late for St. Patty's, but bet on Kenny to conjure up the Éire go Brách spirit for its Broward encore.

Tony Kenny performs at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 24, at the Parker Playhouse, 707 NE 8th St., Fort Lauderdale. Tickets cost $24. For more information call 954-462-0222, or visit www.parkerplayhouse.com.