CONTACT Davidson & Choy Publicity Tim Choy (323) 954-7510, T.Choy@DCPublicity.com David Barber (323) 954-7510, D.Barber@DCPublicity.com Segerstrom Center for the Arts Tim Dunn (714) 556-2122 x4209, TDunn@SCFTA.org RELEASE UPDATED October 15, 2018 Images: SCFTA.org/media American Ballet Theatre Kelly Ryan (212) 477-3030 x 3235, KRyan@ABT.org AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE ANNOUNCES CASTING UPDATES FOR WEST COAST PREMIERE OF HARLEQUINADE AT SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS STELLA ABRERA AND MISTY COPELAND PORTRAY THE ROLE OF PIERRETTE Photo: Rosalie O Connor January 17 20, 2019 in Segerstrom Hall Tickets on sale now COSTA MESA, CA American Ballet Theatre Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie has announced that ABT Principal Dancer Stella Abrera will dance the role of Pierrette at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in in its West Coast premiere on January 17. Abrera will also dance in the January 20 matinee. Misty Copeland will make her debut as Pierrette on Friday, January 18. Audiences are in for a delightful treat with this new production of a rare comic gem created over a remarkable 18 months by ABT Artist in Residence Alexei Ratmansky, inspired by the archival notes of
American Ballet Theatre Harlequinade NEWS 2/6 Marius Petipa. Harlequinade is set to a score by Riccardo Drigo, played live by Pacific Symphony. The ballet features sets and costumes by Robert Perdziola, praised by Forbes as a feast of colors and whimsy. Harlequinade will be performed January 17-20 in Segerstrom Hall. As previously announced, the Thursday, January 17 opening night cast also includes Isabella Boylston as Columbine, James Whiteside as Harlequin and Thomas Forster as Pierrot. Additional casts include Skylar Brandt, Sarah Lane, Hee Seo, Christine Shevchenko, Cassandra Trenary, Alexandre Hammoudi, Blaine Hoven, Alban Lendorf, Tyler Maloney, Calvin Royal III and Daniil Simkin. Columbine Harlequin Pierrette Pierrot Principal Casting for Harlequinade at Segerstrom Center for the Arts Artists and program are subject to change. Thursday, January 17 at 7:30 p.m. Columbine - Isabella Boylston Harlequin - Thomas Forster Pierrette - Stella Abrera Pierrot - James Whiteside Friday, January 18 at 7:30 p.m. Columbine - Sarah Lane Harlequin - Calvin Royal III* Pierrette - Misty Copeland* Pierrot - Alban Lendorf* Saturday, January 19 at 2 p.m. Columbine - Skylar Brandt Harlequin - Alexandre Hammoudi Pierrette - Hee Seo Pierrot - Daniil Simkin Saturday, January 19 at 7:30 p.m. Columbine - Cassandra Trenary Harlequin - Blaine Hoven Pierrette - Christine Shevchenko Pierrot - Tyler Maloney* Sunday, January 20 at 1 p.m. Columbine - Isabella Boylston Harlequin - Thomas Forster Pierrette - Stella Abrera Pierrot - James Whiteside * Debut in role Single tickets for American Ballet Theatre s Harlequinade start at $29 and are now available online at SCFTA.org, at the Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa or by calling (714) 556-2787. For
American Ballet Theatre Harlequinade NEWS 3/6 inquiries about group ticket discounts for 10 or more, call the Group Services office at (714) 755-0236. About the Ballet Marius Petipa originally created Harlequinade, known as Les Millions d Arlequin (Harlequin s Millions), for the Imperial Ballet of St. Petersburg in 1900, with music composition by the Imperial Ballet s conductor and composer of the time Riccardo Drigo. A ballet in two acts, the plot revolves around the well-known characters of Italian commedia dell arte: Pierrot, his wife Pierrette, Columbine and her romantic suitor Harlequin. Distilling through its own expressive language Commedia s particular traits of wit, humor, farce and mime Harlequinade tells the charming tale of the love struck Harlequin and his pursuit of the captivating Columbine. Taking inspiration from Petipa s archival notes, acclaimed choreographer Alexei Ratmansky has restaged this comic gem for American Ballet Theatre s first full-length production of the ballet (a co-production with Australian Ballet), which received its world premiere in June of 2018 at the Metropolitan Opera House. Set and costumes are designed by Robert Perdziola in a sumptuous evocation of the Imperial Ballet and colorful Commedia dell arte tradition. The Story In the first act, the Harlequin and Columbine are kept apart by her father Cassandre, who would prefer that his daughter marry the wealthier (and older!) Le andre. Not to be deterred, Harlequin tries futilely to win Cassandre over, only to be turned away again and again by Cassandre and his servant Pierrot. Finally, with the help of a Good Fairy and Pierrot s sympathetic wife Pierrette, Harlequin s bad fortunes are turned around, and Cassandre agrees to bless the union. Harlequin and Columbine are married in the festive second act, when love finally triumphs over all. The Center's International Dance Series is made possible by the Audrey Steele Burnand Endowed Fund for International Dance and The Segerstrom Foundation Endowment for Great Performances. Segerstrom Center for the Arts thanks its corporate partners including Kia Motors America, Official Automotive Partner; and United Airlines, Official Airline. American Ballet Theatre is one of the great dance companies in the world. Few ballet companies equal ABT for its combination of size, scope and outreach. Recognized as a living national treasure since its founding in 1940, ABT annually tours the United States, performing for more than 300,000 people, and is the only major cultural institution to do so. For 78 years, the Company has appeared in a total of 132 cities in 50 countries and has performed in all 50 states of the United States. ABT has recently enjoyed triumphant successes with engagements in Paris, Brisbane, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
American Ballet Theatre Harlequinade NEWS 4/6 On April 27, 2006, by an act of Congress, American Ballet Theatre became America s National Ballet Company. Pacific Symphony, led by Music Director Carl St.Clair for the last 29 years, has been the resident orchestra of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall for over a decade. Currently in its 40th anniversary season, the Symphony is the largest orchestra formed in the U.S. in the last 50 years and is recognized as an outstanding ensemble making strides on both the national and international scene, as well as here in Orange County. Pacific Symphony is dedicated to expanding the orchestral repertoire, illustrated through its many commissions and recordings, in-depth explorations of American artists and themes. The Symphony s innovative approaches to new works received the ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming in 2005 and 2010. In April 2018, Pacific Symphony made its debut at Carnegie Hall as one of two orchestras invited to perform during a yearlong celebration of composer Philip Glass 80th birthday. The New York Times saluted Pacific Symphony as excellent a major ensemble. The following month the orchestra toured China, and in June 2018 made its national PBS debut on Great Performances with Peter Boyer s Ellis Island: The Dream of America, conducted by St.Clair. Presenting more than 100 concerts and events a year and a rich array of education and community engagement programs, the Symphony reaches more than 300,000 residents from school children to senior citizens. Segerstrom Center for the Arts is an acclaimed arts institution as well as a beautiful multi-disciplinary cultural campus. It is committed to supporting artistic excellence, offering unsurpassed experiences and engaging the entire community in new and exciting ways through the unique power of live performance and a diverse array of inspiring arts-based education and community engagement programs. Previously called the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Segerstrom Center is Orange County s largest non-profit arts organization. In addition to its six performance venues, Segerstrom Center is also home to the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School. The Center presents a broad range of programming for audiences of all ages, including international ballet and dance, national tours of top Broadway shows, jazz and cabaret, contemporary artists, classical music performed by renowned chamber orchestras and ensembles, family-friendly programming, free performances open to the public from outdoor movie screenings to dancing on the plaza and many other special events. Segerstrom Center is a leader among the nation s performing arts centers for providing education programs designed to inspire young people through the arts. The Center s programs reach hundreds of thousands of students each year in five Southern California counties. Community engagement programs developed through the Center for Dance and Innovation and Center Without Boundaries also connect the Center more comprehensively with Orange County s many diverse communities. The CDI supports flagship artistic programming and a wide range of projects that celebrate innovation, nurture creativity and engage audiences of the future. It is home to the ABT Gillespie School and the School of Dance and Music for Children with Disabilities. The Center Without Boundaries develops partnerships with noncultural organizations to help them in their own efforts to respond to the ever-changing needs of the community. Segerstrom Center for the Arts is also proud to serve as the artistic home to three of the region s major performing arts organizations: Pacific Symphony, Philharmonic Society of Orange County and
American Ballet Theatre Harlequinade NEWS 5/6 Pacific Chorale, who contribute greatly to the artistic life of the region with annual seasons performed at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. In addition to Segerstrom Center for the Arts as a presenting and producing institution, it also identifies the beautiful 14-acre campus that embraces the Center s own facilities as well as two independently acclaimed organizations: Tony Award -winning South Coast Repertory and a site designated as the future home of the Orange County Museum of Art. AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE: HARLEQUINADE Segerstrom Center for the Arts Segerstrom Hall 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA Choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky Music by Riccardo Drigo Sets and Costumes by Robert Perdziola Music performed live by Pacific Symphony January 17 20, 2019 Thursday Friday at 7:30 pm Saturday at 2:00 and 7:30 pm Sunday at 1:00 pm Tickets - Start at $29 In person - The Box Office 600 Town Center Drive Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Open 10 a.m. 6 p.m. daily Online - www.scfta.org www.abt.org Phone - (714) 556-2787 Open 10 a.m. 6 p.m. daily Group Sales - (714) 755-0236 Open 9 a.m. 5 p.m. Monday-Friday Segerstrom Center for the Arts 2018-19 International Dance Series also continues with the Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg Pygmalion (American Premiere - May 24-26, 2019), Mark Morris Dance Group Pepperland (Center Premiere - June 14 & 15, 2019). Information provided is accurate at the time of printing but is subject to change. Segerstrom Center for the Arts is a public, non-profit organization. Segerstrom Center for the Arts is a registered trademark.
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