 Music by Ludwig Minkus Arranged by Jack Everly Choreography after Marius Petipa and Alexander Gorsky Staged by Kevin McKenzie and Susan Jones Scenery and costumes by Santo Loquasto Lighting by Natasha Katz Author of Don Quixote: Miguel de Cervantes World Premiere: (original production) Imperial Ballet, Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, 12/14/1869 Original Cast: Anna Sobeshenskaya (Kitri), Sergei Sokolov (Basil) ABT Premiere: (of full-length version) Choreography by Mikhail Baryshnikov after Petipa and Gorsky Kennedy Center Opera House, Washington, D.C., 3/28/78 Cast: Gelsey Kirkland (Kitri), Mikhail Baryshnikov (Basil), Alexander Minz (Don Quixote), Enrique Martinez (Sancho Panza), Victor Barbee (Gamache), Frank Smith (Lorenzo), John Meehan (Espada), Nanette Glushak (Mercedes), Rebecca Wright (Amour), Cynthia Harvey, Janet Shibata (Flower Girls) Timing: Act 1- 33:00 Act 2- 36:00 Act 3- 20:00 
Prologue: Driven by
the vision of Dulcinea, the
tarnished, yet inspired, Don Quixote
begins his adventures with his trusty squire Sancho Panza in tow.Act I: Sevilla. Kitri, Lorenzo's
daughter, is in love with Basilio. Much to her
chagrin, she learns of her father's plans to marry
her to Gamache, a foppish nobleman. Don
Quixote and Sancho Panza enter the village,
causing great commotion. Noticing Kitri, Don
Quixote wonders if he has, at last, found his
Dulcinea. At the height of merriment, Kitri and
Basilio, aided by their friends, Espada and
Mercedes, sneak off followed by Don Quixote
and Sancho Panza. Gamache and Lorenzo
attempt to pursue the young
couple.Act II. Scene 1: Gypsy Camp. Don
Quixote and Sancho Panza discover the fleeing
couple in a friendly gypsy camp. All are inspired
by the romance of the night. As the vision of
Dulcinea appears to him, Don Quixote realizes
Kitri is not his "ideal", but indeed belongs with
Basilio. Suddenly the wind gains momentum.
Don Quixote foolishly attacks a windmill,
believing it to be a giant threatening Dulcinea's
safety. Failing miserably, he collapses into a deep
sleep.Act II, Scene 2: The Dream. Don
Quixote has an enchanted dream of beautiful
maidens in which the image of Kitri symbolizes
his
Dulcinea.Act II. Scene 3: Sunrise. Lorenzo and
Gamache interrupt Don Quixote's dream.
Sympathetic to the plight of the young lovers,
Don Quixote attempts to lead Lorenzo and
Gamache
astray.Act II, Scene 4: A Tavern. Finally
discovered, Kitri is forced by Lorenzo to accept
the attentions of Gamache. The thwarted Basilio
commits "suicide". Upon learning of the farce,
Kitri implores Don Quixote to persuade Lorenzo
to wed her to the "corpse". Instantly Basilio
comes to "life"! Triumphantly, Kitri leaves to
prepare for marriage while Don Quixote and
Basilio salute Lorenzo and Gamache for stoically
accepting the
inevitable.Act III: The Wedding. The village
celebrates the marriage. Don Quixote
congratulates the couple, bids them a warm
"farewell", and resumes his ever-lasting
adventures. |