CriticalDance Forum

A contract dispute prompted Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre dancers to hand out leaflets outside the Benedum Center, Downtown, for Thursday's opening of "Cleopatra."

The message of the pink leaflets: "Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre wants to charge you $75 to see a student recital!" The leaflets urged patrons to call ballet managing director Steven Libman to complain.

Corps, soloist and principal dancers say they are protesting management's decision to dilute the professional company with student dancers next year while hiking ticket prices by 10 percent. Management is trying to cut dancers' salaries and benefits while reducing the number of professional dancers to an all-time low, says an attorney for the union that represents the dancers.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Asks Musicians to Reopen Contract

By Ben Mattison
Playbill

The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre has asked its musicians to renegotiate the terms of their contract, the company confirmed yesterday. <a href=http://www.playbillarts.com/news/article/1115.html target=_blank>more</a>

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre struggling to survive
$1 million deficit may force merger; still seeking managing director

By Marylynne Pitz, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

With a deficit of $1 million or more, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre is considering downsizing or merging with another arts group. <a href=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05016/443033.stm target=_blank>more</a>

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre May Downsize

by Associated Press

PITTSBURGH - The financially troubled Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre is considering downsizing or merging with another arts group, a newspaper reported.

Former WQED executive to oversee Ballet Theatre

by MARYLYNNE PITZ
the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Robert Petrilli, former chief operating officer of WQED, will serve as interim managing director of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.

Petrilli, who met with PBT board members yesterday, said he will oversee the operations, business and revenue generation at the company, which has a deficit of $1 million or more.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Appoints Interim Managing Director

By Emily Quinn
Playbill

The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre has appointed Robert F. Petrilli interim managing director. <a href=http://www.playbillarts.com/news/article/1301.html target=_blank>more</a>

Arts groups, charities fear effects of losing Kaufmann's

by DAN FITZPATRICK
the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre is afraid of what cultural life would be like without Kaufmann's, the lead corporate sponsor for the group's $2 million holiday production of "The Nutcracker."

In a move aimed at saving more than $500,000, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre members will dance to recorded music instead of an orchestra when the company opens its season in October with a production of "Carmen."

The cost-cutting measure was among several steps the financially strapped company has taken to reduce its budget by about $1 million, to $6.4 million.

Instead of a cue from a conductor's baton, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre productions for the 2005-06 season will begin with a stagehand pushing a button.
The struggling ballet announced Monday it will use recorded music for its five shows at the Benedum Center. The move sidelines the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Orchestra, which provides music for most Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre performances.