December 4, 2003
AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE MAKES TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO CHICAGO WITH THE TCHAIKOVSKY CLASSIC, SWAN LAKE IN EIGHT PERFORMANCES ONLY AT CIVIC OPERA HOUSE, MARCH 24-28, 2004
Engagement Marks Chicago Premiere of Kevin McKenzie's Swan Lake;
Paloma Herrera and Marcelo Gomes to Lead Opening Night Cast
Following a nearly nine-year absence from the Chicago stage, the internationally-renowned American Ballet Theatre triumphantly returns with the romantic full-length classic, Swan Lake&##44; in eight performances only at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago, March 24-28, 2004. This engagement marks the Chicago Premiere of Swan Lake as staged by American Ballet Theatre Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie.
American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancers Paloma Herrera and Marcelo Gomes will perform the romantic leads, Odette/Odile and Prince Siegfried, on the Opening Night program, Wednesday, March 24, 2004. Other casting includes: Ashley Tuttle and Angel Corella (March 25 matinee and March 28 evening); Gillian Murphy and Ethan Stiefel (March 25 evening); Paloma Herrera and Jose Manuel Carreño (March 26); Michele Wiles and David Hallberg (March 27 matinee); and Irina Dvorovenko and Maxim Beloserkovsky (March 27 evening). Casting for the March 28 matinee program is TBA. Of note, Soloists Wiles and Hallberg will make their debuts in these roles with this engagement.
“We’re delighted to once again perform for Chicago audiences,” said Kevin McKenzie, ABT Artistic Director. “Chicago was a regular tour stop for American Ballet Theatre for so many years. We especially cherish returning to the Civic Opera House, one of our country’s greatest stages.”
American Ballet Theatre’s Swan Lake features choreography by McKenzie, after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov (1895) and is set to the lush score by Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky.
The full-length classic was given its World Premiere by ABT at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC in 2000 and received its New York Premiere later that year at the Metropolitan Opera House. ABT had previously performed David Blair’s staging of Swan Lake. Of note, the World Premiere performance of Blair’s staging was given by ABT at the Civic Opera House in February 1967.
ABT’s 80+ member company will be accompanied by a live orchestra performing the Tchaikovsky score. Scenery and costumes for Swan Lake are designed by New York-based Zack Brown with lighting by Duane Schuler.
American Ballet Theatre, the nation’s foremost classical ballet company, last appeared in Chicago at The Auditorium Theatre in October, 1995.
Performances for Swan Lake at the Civic Opera House are as follows: Wednesday, March 24 at 7:30 P.M.; Thursday, March 25 at 2 and 7:30 P.M.; Friday, March 26 at 8 P.M.; Saturday, March 27 at 2 and 8 P.M.; and Sunday, March 28 at 2 and 7:30 P.M. The Saturday matinee performance of Swan Lake will be an abridged “family-friendly” version featuring a special appearance by Angelina Ballerina in the lobby before and after the performance.
Tickets for American Ballet Theatre’s Swan Lake, $85.00-$15.00, go on sale Sunday, December 7 at noon and can be purchased 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) 943-5537.
For more information on American Ballet Theatre’s presentation of Swan Lake at the Civic Opera House, March 24-28, 2004, please call (312) 902-1500 or visit www.civicoperahouse.com.