Whoa!

Balanchine, the World Hath Need of Thee!
Stuffed tights and tutus at Lincoln Center.

By Carol Iannone for National Review Online

What in the world has happened to the New York City Ballet?

<small>[ 09 February 2004, 04:10 PM: Message edited by: Stuart Sweeney ]</small>

Thanks for that link DavidH. Put it down to my hyper-sensitive radar, but reading between the lines, I sense that Ms Iannone didn't enjoy the performance.

Greetings!
Casting for the first week of "Sleeping Beauty" has been posted! It's the largest (person wise) of any ballets in the NYCB repertory and given the massive number of multiple debuts, clearly pushing the company to it's limit.

On that note, the current MIA (injury, illness or other) list seems to be: Marcovici, laCour(?), Millepied(?), Ansanelli(?), Somogyi, Sylve, Taylor and Whelan.

And Igor Zelensky, who was scheduled to guest in two performances was also injured and will not be dancing either night.

Highlights and notes:
* Weese and Boal are replacing Ansanelli (debut) and Martins in both performances
*Merrill Ashley as Carabosse, and Kowroski & Nichols debuting in the role
*Former soloist Robert Lyon guesting as the King
*Jared Angle returning as one of the princes
*Robert Tewsley as Gold (he apprarently was back and in good form in Jewels!)
*Hendrickson, Ulbricht & Carmena-all star jesters!!
(Survival award goes to Hendrickson, who will be alternating performances as a jester and Bluebird)

*Tons of debuts! Among those of note
-De Luz and Fairchild as Bluebird and Florine
-Reichlen and Tinsley as the Lilac Fairy

Others:
-as Catalabutte: Froman
-as the queen: Beskow, Muller
-as various fairies: Mandradjieff, Rutherford, Beskow, Keenan, Dronova, Krohn, Barak, Flynn, Hyltin,
-as jewels: J. Stafford, Hanna, Reichlen, Fairchild, Bouder, Tinsley, Rutherford, Keenan, van Kipnis
-as princes: Orza, Hanna, Veyette, Stafford
-as the Puss & White Cat: Hyltin, Ramasar, Flynn, Orza, Dronova, Suozzi
-as Princess Florine: Riggins, Edge
-as Jesters: Peiffer, Severini

Phew!
And that's just the first week. It will be interesting to see who dances next week. One would expect Millepied to dance Desire is he is healthy, as well as Woetzel.
Casting
Program and Casting Subject to Change
* First time in role
+ Guest Artist
# SAB Student

FEBRUARY 17-22, 2004
TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 17
No Performance

WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 18 AT 8:00PM [Quinn]
The Sleeping Beauty:
    Aurora: RINGER
    Desire: NEAL
    Lilac Fairy: KOWROSKI
    Carabosse: ASHLEY
    King: LYON+
    Queen: ABERGEL
    Catalabutte: KRAMAREVSKY
    Lackey: BOEHMER
    Tenderness: HANSON
    Vivacity: RIGGINS
    Generosity: RUTHERFORD*
    Eloquence: MANDRADJIEFF*
    Courage: BAR
    Fairies, Cavaliers: VEYETTE, ORZA, RAMASAR*, SETH, J. STAFFORD, SUOZZI*
    Africa: SETH
    Asia: J. STAFFORD*
    Europe: HIGGINS
    America: HANNA
    Countess: BESKOW
    Friend: BOEHMER
    Gold: TEWSLEY
    Diamond: BOUDER*
    Emerald: EDGE*
    Ruby: van KIPNIS
    White Cat: FLYNN*
    Boots: ORZA*
    Red Riding: FELLINNI
    Wolf: SETH
    Florine: FAIRCHILD*
    Bluebird: DE LUZ*
    Jesters: ULBRICHT, CARMENA, HENDRICKSON

THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 19 AT 8:00PM [Kaplow]
The Sleeping Beauty:
    Aurora: BORREE
    Desire: HÜBBE
    Lilac Fairy: REICHLEN*
    Carabosse: NICHOLS*
    King: LYON+
    Queen: MULLER*
    Catalabutte: FROMAN*
    Lackey: BOEHMER
    Tenderness: BESKOW*
    Vivacity: KEENAN*
    Generosity: KROHN*
    Eloquence: DRONOVA*
    Courage: BARAK*
    Fairies, Cavaliers: VEYETTE, ORZA, RAMASAR, SETH, J. STAFFORD, SUOZZI
    Africa: CRENSHAW
    Asia: VEYETTE*
    Europe: ANGLE
    America: ORZA*
    Countess: KÖRBES*
    Friend: BOEHMER
    Gold: HANNA*
    Diamond: TINSLEY*
    Emerald: RUTHERFORD*
    Ruby: MANDRADJIEFF*
    White Cat: HYLTIN*
    Boots: RAMASAR*
    Red Riding: FELLINNI
    Wolf: TWORZYANSKI*
    Florine: RIGGINS*
    Bluebird: HENDRICKSON
    Jesters: LAURENT*, PEIFFER*, SEVERINI*

FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 20 AT 8:00PM [Moredock]
The Sleeping Beauty:
    Aurora: WEESE
    Desire: BOAL
    Lilac Fairy: TINSLEY*
    Carabosse: KOWROSKI*
    King: LYON+
    Queen: BESKOW*
    Catalabutte: KRAMAREVSKY
    Lackey: BOEHMER
    Tenderness: ABERGEL
    Vivacity: FLYNN*
    Generosity: KÖRBES
    Eloquence: HYLTIN*
    Courage: GOLBIN
    Fairies, Cavaliers: VEYETTE, ORZA, RAMASAR, SETH, J. STAFFORD, SUOZZI
    Africa: SETH
    Asia: J. STAFFORD
    Europe: HIGGINS
    America: HANNA
    Countess: KROHN*
    Friend: BOEHMER
    Gold: J. STAFFORD*
    Diamond: van KIPNIS*
    Emerald: KEENAN*
    Ruby: FAIRCHILD*
    White Cat: DRONOVA*
    Boots: SUOZZI*
    Red Riding: FELLINNI
    Wolf: SETH
    Florine: EDGE*
    Bluebird: GOLD
    Jesters: ULBRICHT, CARMENA, HENDRICKSON

SATURDAY MATINEE, FEBRUARY 21 AT 2:00PM [Quinn]
The Sleeping Beauty:
    Aurora: RINGER
    Desire: NEAL
    Lilac Fairy: KOWROSKI
    Carabosse: ASHLEY
    King: LYON+
    Queen: ABERGEL
    Catalabutte: FROMAN
    Lackey: BOEHMER
    Tenderness: HANSON
    Vivacity: RIGGINS
    Generosity: RUTHERFORD
    Eloquence: MANDRADJIEFF
    Courage: BAR
    Fairies, Cavaliers: VEYETTE, ORZA, RAMASAR, SETH, J. STAFFORD, SUOZZI
    Africa: SETH
    Asia: J. STAFFORD
    Europe: HIGGINS
    America: HANNA
    Countess: BESKOW
    Friend: BOEHMER
    Gold: TEWSLEY
    Diamond: BOUDER
    Emerald: EDGE
    Ruby: van KIPNIS
    White Cat: FLYNN
    Boots: ORZA
    Red Riding: De VIVO
    Wolf: TWORZYANSKI
    Florine: FAIRCHILD
    Bluebird: DE LUZ
    Jesters: ULBRICHT, CARMENA, HENDRICKSON

SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 21 AT 8:00PM [Kaplow]
The Sleeping Beauty:
    Aurora: BORREE
    Desire: HÜBBE
    Lilac Fairy: REICHLEN
    Carabosse: NICHOLS
    King: LYON+
    Queen: MULLER
    Catalabutte: KRAMAREVSKY
    Lackey: BOEHMER
    Tenderness: BESKOW
    Vivacity: KEENAN
    Generosity: KROHN
    Eloquence: DRONOVA
    Courage: BARAK
    Fairies, Cavaliers: VEYETTE, ORZA, RAMASAR, SETH, J. STAFFORD, SUOZZI
    Africa: CRENSHAW
    Asia: VEYETTE
    Europe: ANGLE
    America: ORZA
    Countess: KÖRBES
    Friend: BOEHMER
    Gold: HANNA
    Diamond: TINSLEY
    Emerald: RUTHERFORD
    Ruby: MANDRADJIEFF
    White Cat: HYLTIN
    Boots: RAMASAR
    Red Riding: De VIVO
    Wolf: SETH
    Florine: RIGGINS
    Bluebird: HENDRICKSON
    Jesters: LAURENT, PEIFFER, SEVERINI

SUNDAY MATINEE, FEBRUARY 22 AT 3:00PM [Moredock]
The Sleeping Beauty:
    Aurora: WEESE
    Desire: BOAL
    Lilac Fairy: TINSLEY
    Carabosse: KOWROSKI
    King: LYON+
    Queen: BESKOW
    Catalabutte: FROMAN
    Lackey: BOEHMER
    Tenderness: ABERGEL
    Vivacity: FLYNN
    Generosity: KÖRBES
    Eloquence: HYLTIN
    Courage: GOLBIN
    Fairies, Cavaliers: VEYETTE, ORZA, RAMASAR, SETH, J. STAFFORD, SUOZZI
    Africa: SETH
    Asia: J. STAFFORD
    Europe: HIGGINS
    America: HANNA
    Countess: KROHN
    Friend: BOEHMER
    Gold: J. STAFFORD
    Diamond: van KIPNIS
    Emerald: KEENAN
    Ruby: FAIRCHILD
    White Cat: DRONOVA
    Boots: SUOZZI
    Red Riding: FELLINNI
    Wolf: TWORZYANSKI
    Florine: EDGE
    Bluebird: GOLD
    Jesters: ULBRICHT, CARMENA, HENDRICKSON

FEBRUARY 10-15, 2004
TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 10 AT 7:30PM [Kaplow]
Jewels:
Emeralds: RUTHERFORD, TEWSLEY*, van KIPNIS*, FAYETTE, EDGE*, RIGGINS*, CARMENA*
Intermission
Rubies: BORREE, BOAL, REICHLEN [Grant]
Intermission
Diamonds: KISTLER, ASKEGARD

WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 11 AT 8:00PM [Moredock]
Coppélia: RINGER, WOETZEL, La FOSSE
    Waltz: EDGE
    Dawn: TINSLEY*
    Prayer: HANSON
    Spinner: van KIPNIS
    War & Discord: BAR, HENDRICKSON

THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 12 AT 8:00PM [Kaplow]
Jewels:
Emeralds: RUTHERFORD, TEWSLEY, van KIPNIS, FAYETTE, EDGE, RIGGINS, CARMENA
Intermission
Rubies: WEESE, HÜBBE, LOWERY* [Grant]
Intermission
Diamonds: KOWROSKI, NEAL

FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 13 AT 8:00PM [Fiorato]
Coppélia: RINGER, WOETZEL, La FOSSE
    Waltz: EDGE
    Dawn: TINSLEY
    Prayer: HANSON
    Spinner: van KIPNIS
    War & Discord: BAR, HENDRICKSON

SATURDAY MATINEE, FEBRUARY 14 AT 2:00PM [Kaplow]
Jewels:
Emeralds: RUTHERFORD, TEWSLEY, van KIPNIS, FAYETTE, EDGE, RIGGINS, CARMENA
Intermission
Rubies: WEESE, HÜBBE, LOWERY [Grant]
Intermission
Diamonds: KOWROSKI, NEAL

SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 14 AT 8:00PM [Fletcher+]
Coppélia: FAIRCHILD*, DE LUZ*, HENDRICKSON
    Waltz: MANDRADJIEFF
    Dawn: TINSLEY
    Prayer: ABERGEL
    Spinner: RIGGINS
    War & Discord: BAR, ORZA

SUNDAY MATINEE, FEBRUARY 15 AT 3:00PM [Fletcher+]
Coppélia: FAIRCHILD, DE LUZ, HENDRICKSON
    Waltz: MANDRADJIEFF
    Dawn: TINSLEY
    Prayer: ABERGEL
    Spinner: RIGGINS
    War & Discord: BAR, ORZA

<small>[ 12 February 2004, 01:11 PM: Message edited by: ksneds ]</small>

In the Boston Phoenix, Marcia Siegel reviews Susan Stroman's "Double Feature":

For complete article, see: Susan Stroman at NYCB

Good news and bad news at NYCB...

First the good news....Promotions!!!

Stephen Hanna, Ashley Bouder and Megan Fairchild have been promoted to soloist, effective immediately! Congratulations to all three! (I would hope to see more men promoted before the Centennial season is over, but Hanna is well deserved of this honor!)

And the bad, very bad news...

This will be the last summer for NYCB up at Saratoga.

Despite the fact that NYCB attendance was up last summer, the powers at be have decided that NYCB isn't profitable enough. All signs point towards SPAC management that is more interested in good relations with Clear Channel Entertainment (mega booker of rock & other concerts that now books shows for Saratoga) and less in promoting culture, keeping up the long history of ballet at Saratoga and respecting the tradition that Balanchine started. Shame on those in charge at SPAC.
One has to wonder if this will be the end of NYCB's summer performances or whether the company will try to find another summer season location or even set up tours during that time. I can't imagine Saratoga brought in too much in the way of profits, so it had to be more a labor of love.
Other losers in this decision are the summer ballet programs in & near Saratoga who have benefited from the performances and the coaching of NYCB dancers. NYSSA, especially, has close ties to NYCB, with Damian Woetzel running the program, and numerous former and current dancers teaching classes during the summer. If the company finds another home or chooses to tour, it will be much harder for the dancers to come teach classes in Saratoga.

Cheers and not so cheery news
Kate

Wow, so sad about Saratoga! Now there's a totally disheartening change!

Also, Tobi Tobias had some thoughts as well on Megan Fairchild's Coppelia in Arts Journal:
MORE

Greetings!
Various tidbits...

To correct a misconception-Megan Fairchild's debut as Swanhilda actually took place this past summer up at Saratoga. This past week marked her NYC debut in the role.

Changes for this week's Sleeping Beauty's

*Austin Laurent is making his debut as a jester in place of Joaquin de Luz. De Luz is still debuting as the Blue Bird, so it's more likely that between Franz and Blue Bird, he didn't have enough time to properly learn the jester role.

Previews of the last week to come tomorrow!
Kate

OOooch...ouch.... eeep.

Another review, this one from Robert Gottlieb at the NY Observer:
MORE