 Music by Leonard Bernstein Choreography by Jerome Robbins Staged by Jean-Pierre Frohlich Scenery by Oliver Smith Costumes by Kermit Love Lighting by Nananne Porcher* *Revived on 2/3/90 with lighting by Jennifer Tipton World Premiere: Metropolitan Opera House, New York, 4/18/44 Original Cast: Jerome Robbins, Harold Lang, John Kriza (Sailors), Muriel Bentley, Janet Reed, Shirley Eckl (Passersby), Rex Cooper (Bartender) 
When Jerome
Robbins' first ballet, Fancy Free
was premiered on April, 18, 1944, it proved
to be one of the most exciting evenings in the
history of Ballet in America, marking the emergence
of so many new American talents. Jerome
Robbins, a original member of American Ballet
Theatre, had created the choreography while on
a coast-to-coast tour with the company, working
closely through correspondence with a young,
unknown composer in New York. The composer,
Leonard Bernstein, sprang into national prominence
shortly before the premiere of Fancy
Free when he stepped in at the last moment
and, without rehearsal, conducted the New
York Philharmonic as a substitute for the ailing
Bruno Walter. The last of the triumverate of twenty-five
year old collaborators was Oliver Smith whose
set for the ballet was the first of a series of brilliant
designs executed for American Ballet Theatre's
contemporary repertory. The ballet also brought
to the forefront six of the company's junior
soloists who comprised the original cast: John
Kriza, Janet Reed, Jerome Robbins, Muriel Bentley,
Harold Lang, and Shirley Eckl. Following the
success of the ballet, it was translated into a musical
comedy entitled On The Town, which
in turn was adapted for the screen with Gene Kelly
as the star. Fancy Free with its youthful
and zestfully modern spirt has become the
trademark of American Ballet Theatre. The
setting of the ballet is in New York City on a hot
summer night. Three sailors on shore leave pick
up two girls and a fight develops over which sailor
is to be left without a partner. In the bar, they stage
a competition, each dancing a variation designed
to win the favor of a girl, but at the same time
revealing his individual character. When the girls
are still unable to choose between them, the fight
is resumed and the girls slip away. The sailors make
up, but one wonders when a third girl passes their
way, whether they have learned their lesson. |