‘Lord of the Dance’ Creator Michael Flatley Announces His Farewell

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Michael Flatley in a 2015 performance.Credit Brian Doherty

Michael Flatley’s starring role in “Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games” will mark more than one milestone for the 57-year-old who founded two major Irish dance franchises. It will be his Broadway debut — and his farewell.

The production, which runs from Nov. 7 through Jan. 3 at the cavernous Lyric Theater, will be a swan song for Mr. Flatley, who announced he will retire from performance at the end of its run.

“It’s bittersweet,” he said in an interview. “I feel like I’ve accomplished what I set out to do. I wanted to prove that dance could sell out the major arenas of the world. It’s the icing on the cake to end with Broadway.”

Mr. Flatley has been in the public eye since the late 1970s, touring as a dancer in “Green Fields of America” and with the Chieftains. In the ’90s he created “Riverdance” and the “Lord of the Dance” franchise, which brought his take on Irish dance into the mainstream. “Dangerous,” the latest addition to the franchise, comes to New York after a sold-out run in London.

On Broadway, Mr. Flatley will join his dancers for the finale most nights. “It doesn’t sound like much, but it’s the hardest number in the show,” he said. In addition to being difficult, it’s hard on his body, which he said has taken “a real serious beating” from the percussive dance.

Although Mr. Flatley is saying goodbye to the stage, he won’t be leaving “Lord of the Dance” anytime soon. “I love that show and those dancers with all my heart,” he said, adding that he will continue to direct, produce and even choose the costumes for the show.

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