Tulanians compete on "America's Got Talent"
Tune in tonight (Sept. 4) to “America's Got Talent” to see the high-tech dance troupe Lightwire Theater led by co-founder and artistic director Ian Carney (Tulane class of 1990). The group is competing on the NBC television show for a slot in the finals.
Ian Carney, a 1990 Tulane alumnus, suits up in a dinosaur rig to perform with Lightwire Theater, a company he co-founded. (Photo from Lightwire Theater)
Lightwire has reached the semifinals of the national talent show. In addition to gaining widespread recognition, the winning act takes home a $1 million prize.
After 12 groups perform tonight for three slots in the finals, viewers may vote for their favorite act by phone or text message. Results will be announced on the television show on Thursday (Sept. 6).
Carney and his wife, Eleanor Carney, who performed and got a standing ovation in the semifinals in July are adjunct dance professors at Tulane and have performed with Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane.
Also in the Lightwire troupe are Michael Quintana (Tulane class of 2009) and Tulane student Camille Lavoie (class of 2013).
Utilizing illuminated, full-body puppetry, the company tours extensively, with their take on Hans Christian Andersen's “The Ugly Duckling” slated for August in Hong Kong, and the troupe's own “Darwin the Dinosaur” scheduled in Russia for October and November.
