Gift to Support Company's New Production of The Sleeping Beauty

American Ballet Theatre announced today the receipt of a $1 million gift from Tara and John Milne to support the Company’s all-new production of The Sleeping Beauty. The four-act ballet, scheduled for its World Premiere on Friday evening, June 1, 2007, is choreographed by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie after Marius Petipa, and assisted by former ABT ballerina Gelsey Kirkland.

“Ballet is my passion, and John and I are so pleased to help bring ABT’s very special production of The Sleeping Beauty to the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House this spring,” said Tara Milne. “The Sleeping Beauty is the quintessential classical ballet, embracing all things wonderful found in a great ballet: the exquisite combination of elegance and athleticism on the part of the dancers, the beauty and grandeur of a lavishly detailed production, and a truly rich musical score. We cannot wait to see it come to life.”

“We are extremely grateful to the Milnes for their tremendous support,” said Rachel Moore, ABT Executive Director. “The Sleeping Beauty is one of the most important ballets in the classical dance canon. The Milnes’ gift helps us to bring this glorious ballet back to ABT’s repertory and will allow us to share the beauty of this production with audiences across the globe.”

Set to the famous score by Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky, American Ballet Theatre’s all-new production of The Sleeping Beauty brings together the Tony Award-winning team of Tony Walton (scenery) and Willa Kim (costumes), with lighting to be designed by Richard Pilbrow and Dawn Chiang. ABT will present eleven performances of the ballet this spring, June 1 through June 9 at the Metropolitan Opera House. The Sleeping Beauty will also have seven performances at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, California, July 17-22, 2007.

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