THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE PRESENTS
CHICAGO PREMIERE OF THE TIMELESS FAIRY TALE
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
AT THE CIVIC OPERA HOUSE, APRIL 9 – 13, 2008
Samara Harand/Beth Silverman
The Silverman Group, Inc.
312.932.9950
samara@silvermangroupchicago.com
For Release January 11, 2008
Irina Dvorovenko, Paloma Herrera, Julie Kent, Gillian Murphy, Xiomara Reyes, Michele Wiles, Maxim Beloserkovsky, Jose Manuel Carreño, Angel Corella, Herman Cornejo, Marcelo Gomes, David Hallberg, and Ethan Stiefel
Among Principals Cast
January 11, 2008 - American Ballet Theatre (ABT), America’s National Ballet Company®, will present the Chicago premiere of the classic fairy tale, The Sleeping Beauty, with staging by ABT Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie, former ABT ballerina Gelsey Kirkland and Michael Chernov, at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago, in seven performances only, April 9 – 13, 2008.
The timeless fairy tale of the beautiful Princess Aurora, the evil sorceress Carabosse, a century of sleep and the awakening kiss of handsome Prince Désiré comes to life in a lavish all-new production by McKenzie, Kirkland, and Chernov, choreographed after Marius Petipa. Set to Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky’s dazzling score, The Sleeping Beauty features sets and costumes by Tony Award™-winners Tony Walton and Willa Kim, with additional designs by Holly Hynes, and lighting designed by Richard Pilbrow and Dawn Chiang.
“We look forward to bringing The Sleeping Beauty to the glorious Civic Opera House, a perfect framework for the ballet’s lavish design and extraordinary dancing,” said Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie. “Since first premiering the ballet in New York last Spring, we’ve revised some staging and added new costumes which we feel will enhance the overall production, as well as the audiences’ experience.”
Countrywide Financial is the National Sponsor of American Ballet Theatre. Saks Fifth Avenue is the Leading Corporate Sponsor of the Costume Fund. JPMorgan Chase is the Official Sponsor of Make a Ballet. American Airlines is ABT’s Official Airline. American Ballet Theatre’s 2008 Chicago engagement is made possible by the NIB Foundation.
Showcasing the breadth of the ABT roster, the roles of Princess Aurora, and Prince Désiré will be danced in Chicago by different dancers at each performance, as follows: Xiomara Reyes and Jose Manuel Carreño (Opening Night, Wednesday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m.); Michele Wiles and David Hallberg (Thursday, April 10 at 2 p.m.); Sarah Lane and Herman Cornejo (Thursday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m.); Julie Kent and Marcelo Gomes (Friday, April 11 at 8 p.m.); Gillian Murphy and Ethan Stiefel (Saturday, April 12 at 2 p.m.); Irina Dvorovenko and Maxim Beloserkovsky (Saturday, April 12 at 8 p.m.); and Paloma Herrera and Angel Corella (Sunday, April 13 at 2 p.m.). All casting is subject to change.
This production of The Sleeping Beauty received its World Premiere at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House on June 1, 2007 with Veronika Part as Princess Aurora and Marcelo Gomes as Prince Désiré. With its spectacular dancing and a storybook full of characters The Sleeping Beauty is the perfect family entertaininment showcase. American Ballet Theatre’s 80+ member company will be accompanied by a live 65-member orchestra performing the classic Tchaikovsky score.
Tickets for American Ballet Theatre’s The Sleeping Beauty, priced from $30 to $110, are available by calling (312) 902-1500; visiting the Civic Opera House box office; or on line at www.ticketmaster.com. Groups of 15 or more can receive discount pricing by calling (312) 431-2357. A limited number of student rush tickets, priced at $20, will be available on the day of each performance at the Civic Opera House box office and through Ticketmaster. Students must present a valid ID.
For more information on American Ballet Theatre’s presentation of The Sleeping Beauty at the Civic Opera House please visit www.abt.org.