PHILIP GLASS¹S A MUSICAL PORTRAIT OF CHUCK CLOSE
CHOREOGRAPHED BY JORMA ELO AND
A NEW WORK BY BENJAMIN MILLEPIED
TO HIGHLIGHT AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE¹S
2007 NEW YORK CITY CENTER SEASON, OCTOBER 23-NOVEMBER 4

Company Premieres of George Balanchine¹s Ballo della Regina and
Twyla Tharp¹s Baker¹s Dozen to Highlight Engagement


Repertory for American Ballet Theatre¹s 2007 Fall season at New
York City Center, October 23-November 4, was announced today by Artistic
Director Kevin McKenzie. Highlighting the engagement will be the World
Premieres of new works by Jorma Elo, in collaboration with Philip Glass and
Chuck Close, and by Benjamin Millepied, with a commissioned score by Nico
Muhly.

American Ballet Theatre¹s 2007 Fall Season at City Center will
open with a Gala Performance on October 23 at 6:30 PM and features ABT¹s
Principal Dancers in selections of the season¹s works. ABT¹s Opening Night
Fall Gala is sponsored by Nina Ricci. For information on ABT¹s Gala
benefit, please call the Special Events office at 212-477-3030, ext. 3239


World Premieres

The friendship between two influential artists is the
inspiration for a new ballet by Jorma Elo, set to Philip Glass¹s A Musical
Portrait of Chuck Close, Glass¹s musical portrayal of the life of artist
Chuck Close was conceived and first performed in 2005 by concert pianist
Bruce Levingston. ABT¹s premiere of the work will include three new
movements composed by Glass and performed on stage by Levingston. Featuring
a set design by Chuck Close and costumes by designer Ralph Rucci, the new
Elo/Glass/Close ballet will receive its World Premiere on Saturday evening,
October 27. Elo previously choreographed Glow - Stop for ABT in 2006.

The World Premiere of a new work by Benjamin Millepied is
scheduled for Friday evening, October 26. Set to a commissioned score by
composer Nico Muhly, Millepied¹s work, a ballet for 12 dancers, also
features costumes designed by Millepied and lighting by Roderick Murray. A
principal dancer with New York City Ballet, Millepied has previously
choreographed Double Aria (2003) for New York City Ballet and Circular
Motion (2005). He choreographed Capriccio in 2006 for the ABT Studio
Company. This is Millepied¹s first work for American Ballet Theatre.

Countrywide Financial is the National Sponsor of American Ballet
Theatre. Superfund Asset Management, Inc. is the sponsor of American Ballet
Theatre¹s 2007 New York City Center season. CA, Inc. is the Leading Sponsor
of ABT¹s 2007 Family Initiative and Saks Fifth Avenue is the Leading Sponsor
of ABT¹s Costume Fund. Benjamin Millepied¹s new work is underwritten by
Cheryl Bergenfield Katz and the New York State Council on the Arts, a state
agency. Nico Muhly's original score has been generously underwritten
through a gift from Michele and Steven Pesner. The new Elo/Glass/Close work
is made possible by the generous support of Leading Underwriters Barbara
Hemmerle Gollust, Lewis S. Ranieri, Leila and Mickey Straus, and the New
York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.


Company Premieres

George Balanchine¹s Ballo della Regina, staged for American
Ballet Theatre by Merrill Ashley, will be given its Company Premiere on
opening night, October 23. Set to music by Giuseppe Verdi from the opera
Don Carlos, with costumes by Ben Benson, Ballo della Regina was given its
World Premiere by New York City Ballet on January 12, 1978. The ballet will
receive five performances by ABT.

Twyla Tharp¹s 1979 Baker¹s Dozen will be given its Company
Premiere by American Ballet Theatre on Tuesday evening, October 30. A work
for twelve dancers in five sections, Baker¹s Dozen is set to music by Willie
³The Lion² Smith and features costumes by Santo Loquasto and lighting by
Jennifer Tipton. Baker¹s Dozen received its World Premiere by the Twyla
Tharp Dance Company on February 15, 1979 and featured Tharp in the original
cast. The ballet will be staged for ABT by Elaine Kudo.


Revivals

Antony Tudor¹s The Leaves Are Fading, last performed by American
Ballet Theatre in 1997, will be given five performances this season
beginning Wednesday evening, October 24. Created for ABT in 1975, the
ballet has music by Antonin Dvorak, scenery by Ming Cho Lee, costumes by
Patricia Zipprodt and lighting by Jennifer Tipton. ABT¹s revival of The
Leaves Are Fading will be staged by Amanda McKerrow and John Gardner.

Agnes de Mille¹s Fall River Legend will be given its Revival
Premiere on Thursday, November 1. Last performed by ABT in 1999, Fall River
Legend, based upon the true story of Lizzie Borden, is set to music by
Morton Gould with scenery by Oliver Smith, costumes by Miles White and
lighting designed by Thomas Skelton.


Returning Repertory

American Ballet Theatre rounds out its New York City Center
season with the return of Lar Lubovitch¹s Meadow, Stanton Welch¹s Clear,
Twyla Tharp¹s Sinatra Suite and Jerome Robbins¹ Fancy Free.

Lar Lubovitch¹s Meadow will be given five performances beginning
Thursday evening, October 25. Set to music by Franz Schubert, Gavin Bryars,
Ferruccio Busoni and William David Brohn, with costumes by Ann Hould-Ward,
Meadow received its World Premiere by ABT in 1999.

Stanton Welch¹s Clear, premiered by ABT in 2001, is set to music
by Johann Sebastian Bach with costumes by Michael Kors and Lisa Pinkham.
The ballet will be given five performances beginning Tuesday evening,
October 23.

Jerome Robbins¹ Fancy Free will have four performances beginning
Wednesday evening, October 24. Staged for ABT by Jean-Pierre Frohlich, Fancy
Free has music by Leonard Bernstein, costumes by Kermit Love and lighting by
Jennifer Tipton after original designs by Nananne Porcher. Fancy Free was
premiered at the Metropolitan Opera House by American Ballet Theatre on
April 18, 1944.

Tickets for American Ballet Theatre¹s 2007 Fall season at New
York City Center, priced $27-$98, go on sale by mail, by phone at
212-581-1212 and at the City Center Box office beginning July 16. Discounts
are available for packages of three or more performances. For more
information, please visit ABT¹s website at www.abt.org <http://www.abt.org>
.

Well, I guess I can take "The Leaves are Fading" off my wish list. Thank you, Kevin. As much as I loved Amanda McKerrow in the lead role, I would like to have had Gelsey Kirkland, on whom Tudor created the role, have a hand in its staging. But McKerrow is the next best choice. Now, Kevin, who are you going to cast in the lead role? Hint: she's on the cover of this month's Dance Magazine.

Now, how about trying to get the rights to Cranko's "Taming of the Shrew" for next year at the Met?

Roster updates

(caveat - ABT has been known to leave their website partially updated in the past, so none of these departures are confirmed).

Matthew Golding, Ashley Ellis, Carmen Corella and Jesus Pastor are all no longer on the website. The first three are listed as participating in gala for Angel Corella's new company, so they may have joined that company. But it seems odd that Carmen Corella would move and not her husband Herman Cornejo.

Kate

Adrienne Schulte has also departed, and as mentioned on Matt Murphy's blog, she is joining the English National Ballet.

Also departed: Daniel Mantei, Angela Snow, Sasha Dmchowski, Amanda Cobb and Lauren Bossen.

Mary Mills Thomas (sister, I think, to Melissa Thomas) is now an apprentice and Leanne Underwood has joined the corps.

No signs on Angel Corella, so perhaps he is sitting this season out to concentrate on his own company in Spain. Apologies for the formatting, but this is what was sent:

CONTACT:
Kelly Ryan
212-477-3030 ext. 3235
kryan@abt.org



CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE¹S
2007 NEW YORK CITY CENTER SEASON


Casting for American Ballet Theatre¹s 2007 season at New York
City Center was announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie.

American Ballet Theatre¹s Fall 2007 season will open on Tuesday,
October 23 at 6:30 P.M. with a Gala performance highlighted by the Company
Premiere of George Balanchine¹s Ballo della Regina, led by Gillian Murphy
and David Hallberg. The program will also feature pas de deux from Antony
Tudor¹s The Leaves Are Fading, Stanton Welch¹s Clear, and Act III of Don
Quixote. A performance of Jerome Robbin¹s Fancy Free will round out the
evening.

The first week at NY City Center will feature the World
Premieres of Benjamin Millepied¹s From Here On Out on Friday, October 26,
and a new work by Jorma Elo on Saturday evening, October 27, led by Misty
Copeland, Julie Kent, Kristi Boone, Herman Cornejo, Marcelo Gomes and Jared
Matthews. The Leaves Are Fading will have its Revival Premiere on
Wednesday, October 24, led by Julie Kent and Marcelo Gomes, who will dance
the role for the first time. Xiomara Reyes and Gennadi Saveliev will debut
in these roles on Friday, October 26. On Thursday, October 25, Paloma
Herrera and Jose Manuel Carreño will debut the leading roles in Clear and
Michele Wiles and Maxim Beloserkovsky will debut the leading roles in Ballo
della Regina.

American Ballet Theatre¹s second week at NY City Center will
include the Company Premiere of Twyla Tharp¹s Baker¹s Dozen on Tuesday,
October 30, and the Revival Premiere of Agnes de Mille¹s Fall River Legend,
led by Julie Kent and Gennadi Saveliev, on Thursday, November 1. Gillian
Murphy and Sascha Radetsky will make their debuts in Fall River Legend on
Friday, November 2, and Michele Wiles and Isaac Stappas will dance these
roles for the first time at the matinee on Sunday, November 4. Additional
highlights of ABT¹s second week include the debuts of Jacquelyn Reyes,
Xiomara Reyes, Stella Abrera, Craig Salstein, Sascha Radetsky and Blaine
Hoven in the new Elo/Glass/Close work on Tuesday, October 30, Stella Abrera
and Sascha Radetsky in The Leaves Are Fading on Wednesday, October 31, and
Sarah Lane and Herman Cornejo in Ballo della Regina at the matinee on
Sunday, November 4.

Tickets for American Ballet Theatre¹s 2007 Fall Season at New York
City Center, priced from $27-$93, are available online at www.abt.org
<http://www.abt.org> or by calling CityTix at 212-581-1212. Performance-only
tickets for American Ballet Theatre¹s Opening Night at NY City Center are
priced from $30 to $135. NY City Center is located on West 55th Street
between 6th and 7th Avenues in New York City.

Countrywide Financial is the National Sponsor of American Ballet
Theatre. Superfund Asset Management, Inc. is the sponsor of ABT¹s 2007 New
York City Center season. Saks Fifth Avenue is the Leading Sponsor of ABT¹s
Costume Fund and CA, Inc. is the Leading Sponsor of ABT¹s 2007 Family
Initiative. American Airlines is ABT¹s Official Airline. Additional support
has been provided by the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency,
and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Complete casting follows:

FIRST WEEK

Tue. Eve., Oct. 23, 6:30 P.M. GALA PROGRAM
BALLO
DELLA REGINA (Company Premiere) ­ Murphy, Hallberg
THE
LEAVES ARE FADING Pas de Deux ­ Wiles, Hammoudi
CLEAR
Pas de Deux ­ Reyes, Cornejo
DON
QUIXOTE Pas de Deux ­ Herrera, Carreño
FANCY
FREE ­ Cornejo, Radetsky, Gomes, Abrera, Kent

Wed. Eve., Oct. 24, 7:30 P.M. CLEAR ­ Reyes, Cornejo
THE
LEAVES ARE FADING ­ Kent, Gomes*
FANCY
FREE ­ Salstein, Hallberg, Carreño, Herrera, Murphy

Thurs. Eve., Oct. 25, 7:30 P.M. CLEAR ­ Herrera* ,Carreño*
MEADOW ­
Kent, Gomes
BALLO
DELLA REGINA ­ Wiles*, Beloserkovsky*

Fri. Eve., Oct. 26, 8 P.M. BALLO DELLA REGINA ­
Murphy, Hallberg
THE
LEAVES ARE FADING ­ Reyes*, Saveliev*
FROM
HERE ON OUT (World Premiere) - Company

Sat. Mat., Oct. 27, 2 P.M. BALLO DELLA REGINA ­
Wiles, Beloserkovsky
MEADOW ­
Abrera, Hallberg
FANCY
FREE ­ Cornejo, Radetsky, Gomes, Herrera, Kent

Sat. Eve., Oct. 27, 8 P.M. CLEAR ­ Herrera, Carreño
NEW ELO
BALLET (World Premiere) ­ Copeland, Kent, Boone,
Cornejo,
Gomes, Matthews
FROM HERE
ON OUT - Company

Sun. Mat., Oct. 28, 1:30 P.M. BALLO DELLA REGINA ­ Wiles,
Beloserkovsky
NEW ELO
BALLET ­ Copeland, Kent, Boone, Cornejo, Gomes,
Matthews
FANCY FREE
­ Salstein, Hallberg, Carreño, Abrera, Murphy

Sun. Eve., Oct. 28, 7 P.M. THE LEAVES ARE FADING ­
Reyes, Saveliev
MEADOW ­
Kent, Gomes
FROM HERE
ON OUT ­ Company


SECOND WEEK

Tue. Eve., Oct. 30, 7:30 P.M. BAKER¹S DOZEN (Company
Premiere) ­ Company
SINATRA SUITE
­ Gomes, Paris
NEW ELO
BALLET ­ J. Reyes*, Reyes*, Abrera*, Salstein*,
Radetsky*,
Hoven*
FANCY FREE ­
Salstein, Hallberg, Carreño, Herrera, Murphy

Wed. Eve. Oct. 31, 7:30 P. M. THE LEAVES ARE FADING ­ Abrera*,
Radetsky*
MEADOW ­ Kent,
Gomes
FROM HERE ON
OUT ­ Company

Thurs. Eve., Nov. 1, 7:30 P.M. FROM HERE ON OUT ­ Company
NEW ELO BALLET
­ J. Reyes, Reyes, Abrera, Salstein,
Radetsky,
Hoven
FALL RIVER
LEGEND ­ Kent*, Saveliev*

Fri. Eve., Nov. 2, 8 P. M. BAKER¹S DOZEN ­ Company
SINATRA SUITE ­
Carreño, Copeland+
MEADOW ­ Abrera,
Hallberg
FALL RIVER LEGEND
­ Murphy*, Radetsky*

Sat. Mat., Nov. 3, 2 P.M. BAKER¹S DOZEN ­ Company
SINATRA SUITE ­
Cornejo, Lane
THE LEAVES ARE
FADING ­ Kent, Gomes
FROM HERE ON OUT ­
Company

Sat. Eve., Nov. 3, 8 P. M. BALLO DELLA REGNA ­ Murphy,
Hallberg
BAKER¹S DOZEN ­
Company
SINATRA SUITE ­
Gomes, Paris
FALL RIVER LEGEND ­
Kent, Saveliev

Sun. Mat., Nov. 4, 1:30 P. M. BALLO DELLA REGINA ­ Lane*, Cornejo*
FROM HERE ON OUT ­
Company
FALL RIVER LEGEND ­
Wiles*, Stappas*

Sun. Eve., Nov. 4, 7 P. M. BAKER¹S DOZEN ­ Company
SINATRA SUITE ­
Carreño, Paris
NEW ELO BALLET ­
Copeland, Kent, Boone, Cornejo,
Gomes, Matthews
FALL RIVER LEGEND ­
Murphy, Radetsky

*Editors please note: First time in a role
Wed. Eve., Oct. 24 ­ Gomes in The Leaves Are Fading
Thurs. Eve., Oct. 25 ­ Herrera and Carreño in Clear
Fri. Eve., Oct. 26 ­ Reyes and Saveliev in The Leaves Are Fading
Sun Mat., Oct. 27 ­ Wiles and Beloserkovsky in Ballo della Regina
Tue. Eve., Oct. 30 ­ J. Reyes, Reyes, Abrera, Salstein, Radetsky, Hoven in
New Elo Ballet
Wed. Eve., Oct. 31 ­ Abrera and Radetsky in The Leaves Are Fading
Thurs. Eve., Nov. 1 ­ Kent and Saveliev in Fall River Legend
Fri. Eve., Nov. 2 ­ Murphy and Radetsky in Fall River Legend
Sun. Mat., Nov. 4 ­ Lane and Cornejo in Ballo della Regina; Wiles and
Stappas in Fall River Legend

+Editors please note: First time in a role in New York
Fri. Eve., Nov. 2 ­ Copeland in Sinatra Suite

I'm intrigued by the casting for Ballo de la Regina - mostly tall, 'princely' male dancers and taller female dancers. At NYCB it tends to be cast in more of a demi caractere fashion - for instance, NYCB's repertory guide picture is of Joaquin De Luz and Ashley Bouder.

The original cast was Merrill Ashley and Robert Weiss. I don't know much about Weiss, but Ashley - I think - was not overly tall and more power and pizazz than classical princess (i.e Aurora/Odette etc.).

Kate

Ángel has some performances schedulled in Spain and a lot of work, I assume, but he also will be dancing end October at The Bolshoi with the “Kings of the Dance”.

http://www.moscowbolshoi.com/index.html ... _theatre=5

The New York press reviews the Tuesday, October 23, 2007 Gala Performance.

Alastair Macauley in the New York Times:

NY Times

Clive Barnes in the New York Post:

NY Post

Joel Lobenthal in the New York Sun:

NY Sun

Clive Barnes reviews the Wednesday, October 24, 2007 performance of "The Leaves are Fading" in the New York Post:

NY Post

Hilary Osterle reviews the Tuesday, October 23 Gala Performance in the Financial Times (registration required, but free):

Financial Times

In the New York Times, Roslyn Sulcas discusses some of the stagers responsible for the Fall Season at City Center:

NY times

Alastair Macaulay reviews works by Jorma Elo and Benjamin Millepied from the City Center program in the New York Times:

NY Times

Joel Lobenthal reviews the same in the New York Sun:

NY Sun

Alastair Macauley reviews "The Leaves are Fading," "Ballo della Regina," "Meadow" and "Clear" in the New York Times:

NY Times

Deborah Jowitt reviews the Gala Performance in the Village Voice:

Village Voice

Hilary Osterle reviews "Baker's Dozen," "Sinatra Suite" and "C to C" in the Financial Times:

Financial Times

Alastair Macauley reviews the same program (which also includes "Fancy Free") in the New York Times:

NY Times

Clive Barnes in the New York Post:

NY Post

Joel Lobenthal spends the entire review on "Baker's Dozen" in the New York Sun:

NY Sun