In the News: THE AUDITORIUM THEATRE KICKS OFF THEIR 125TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON WITH THE RETURN OF AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE, OCTOBER 3 - 5
Friday, October 3, 2014 at 6:55AM ABT’s “All-American Celebration” Brings a Stunning Mixed Repertoire Including Works by Twyla Tharp, Clark Tippet and Jerome Robbins
By now, you've probably seen the moving video that briefly tells the story of rejection that Misty Copeland faced in her quest to become a ballerina and her subsequent triumph over prejudicial obstacles. If you haven't, stop and take a look (below). Then, buy tickets to see her perform Friday, October 3, 2014 or Saturday, October 4, 2014 at the Auditorium Theatre!
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Celebrating their milestone 125th Anniversary, Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University kicks off the 2014 – 15 season with the return of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) October 3 – 5, 2014. Led by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie, the acclaimed company brings an “All-American Celebration” including “Bach Partita” and “Sinatra Suite” by Twyla Tharp, “Some Assembly Required” by Clark Tippet and “Fancy Free” by Jerome Robbins. Last seen at the Auditorium in 2012 with their highly acclaimed production of “Giselle,” the “Chicago Tribune” raved, “…any engagement by ABT is a welcome chance to see some of the finest practitioners of ballet working in the U.S.” Tickets ($34 – $129) are on sale now and available online at AuditoriumTheatre.org, by calling (800) 982-ARTS (2787) or at the Auditorium Theatre Box Office (50 E Congress Pkwy).
“There is no better way to kick off our 125th Anniversary Season than with the highly anticipated return of American Ballet Theatre to the Auditorium’s landmark stage,” said Auditorium Theatre Executive Director Brett Batterson. “ABT truly embodies the world-class dance that we strive to present and this program of heralded American choreographers—Twyla Tharp, Clark Tippet and Jerome Robbins—will have audiences in awe of the incredible company that we are privileged to bring to Chicago.”
American Ballet Theatre Programming
“It is always a joy for us to perform at the Auditorium Theatre and we are truly honored to be kicking off this incredible venue’s 125th Anniversary Season just as we are celebrating our 75th Anniversary,” said American Ballet Theatre Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie. “We think that our ‘All-American Celebration,’ is the perfect way to commemorate the extraordinary history that this historic landmark has embodied over the past 125 years and speaks to the true American spirit of dance and entertainment.”
“BACH PARTITA”
Choreographed by Twyla Tharp and staged by Susan Jones, “Bach Partita” received its World Premiere by American Ballet Theatre at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 9, 1983. Set to “Bach’s Partita No. 2 in d minor for solo violin,”—performed live at the Auditorium by violinist Charles Yang—“Bach Partita” was called “a treasure of dance innovation” by “The New York Times.”
“FANCY FREE”
“Fancy Free,” Jerome Robbins' first ballet, shows what happens to three sailors on a hot summer night in New York during World War II, the two girls they meet and the ensuing competition, and tough good humor of wartime comradeship. Set to the music of Leonard Bernstein performed live by the Chicago Philharmonic, “Fancy Free” was heralded by “The New York Times” as “a tremendous slice of dance theatre. One of the best loved ballets in the repertory, as joyous and perfect as ever.”
“SINATRA SUITE”
Twyla Tharp’s “Sinatra Suite,” set to five Frank Sinatra songs including “Strangers in the Night,” “All the Way,” “That’s Life,” “My Way” and “One For My Baby (And One More for the Road),” is a suite of dances from Tharp’s “Nine Sinatra Songs,” which Tharp created for her own company in 1982. The ballet set for two dancers received its World Premiere by ABT at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington D.C. on December 6, 1983, danced by Elaine Kudo and Mikhail Baryshnikov. During the Auditorium engagement, Misty Copeland and Marcelo Gomes along with Luciana Paris and James Whiteside will dance this stunning pas de deux.
“SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED”
Clark Tippet’s pas de deux, “Some Assembly Required,” received its World Premiere by American Ballet Theatre on April 14, 1989 at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Staged by Amanda McKerrow and John Gardner “Some Assembly Required” is set to William Bolcom’s “Second Sonata for violin and piano.” “The New York Times” raves “…this unconventional pas de deux is so well performed because [Tippet] has captured something very American and current in an essay about relationships.”
Performance Schedule, Casting and Ticket Information
Friday, October 3 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, October 4 at 7:30 p.m.
“Bach Partita”
Misty Copeland, Gillian Murphy, Stella Abrera, James Whiteside, Marcelo Gomes,
Calvin Royal III
“Some Assembly Required”
Sarah Lane, Sterling Baca
“Sinatra Suite”
Misty Copeland, Marcelo Gomes
“Fancy Free”
Daniil Simkin, Cory Stearns, James Whiteside, Luciana Paris, Isabella Boylston
Saturday, October 4 at 2 p.m. and Sunday, October 5 at 2 p.m.
“Bach Partita”
April Giangeruso, Devon Teuscher, Isabella Boylston, Eric Tamm, Thomas Forster,
Craig Salstein
“Some Assembly Required”
Nicole Graniero, Grant DeLong
“Sinatra Suite”
Luciana Paris, James Whiteside
“Fancy Free”
Craig Salstein, Eric Tamm, Marcelo Gomes, Stella Abrera, Gillian Murphy
Tickets ($34 - $129) are available online at AuditoriumTheatre.org, by calling
(800) 982-ARTS (2787) or in-person at Auditorium Theatre’s Box Office (50 E Congress Pkwy). Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more are available at (312) 341-2357 or sales@auditoriumtheatre.org.
International Dance Series subscriptions, including ABT as well as Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Eifman Ballet and The Royal Ballet are available at a 30% discount at (312) 341.2357 or AuditoriumTheatre.org.
Auditorium Theatre’s 2014 - 15 Season:
The full Auditorium Theatre 2014 – 15 season includes “On Stage With…Susan Werner” (November 8); Chicago Jazz Philharmonic’s “CJP @ Ten” (November 14); Dance Theatre of Harlem (November 21 – 23); Thodos Dance Chicago (November 29); “Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah” (January 17 – 18); Tango Buenos Aires (January 25); Giordano Dance Chicago (January 31); Grupo Corpo (February 28 – March 1); Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (March 6 – 15); River North Dance Chicago (March 28); Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg’s “Tender is the Night” (May 8 – 10); “His Way - A Sinatra Centennial Celebration” (May 30); and The Royal Ballet’s “Don Quixote” (June 18 – 21). For a complete listing of events at the Auditorium Theatre, please click here.
125th Anniversary Season Sponsors
The Auditorium Theatre would like to thank their 125th Anniversary Season Sponsors: Lead Corporate Sponsor Nicor Gas, Lead Foundation Sponsor Robert R. McCormick Foundation and David D. Hiller, International Dance Series Sponsor NIB Foundation, and “Made in Chicago” Dance Series sponsor The Boeing Company. Media sponsors include Chicago Magazine and WXRT, and the Pasquinelli Family Foundation is the Gala Dinner Celebration Sponsor. Student Matinee Series Sponsors for the 2014-15 Season include The Private Bank and The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation.
About American Ballet Theatre
Recognized as one of the premier dance companies in the world, American Ballet Theatre brings the highest quality dance and dancers to audiences across the globe. Celebrating its role as America’s National Ballet Company® ABT tours nationally and internationally, performing for over 400,000 people annually. Since its founding in 1940, ABT developed a repertoire, under the direction of Lucia Chase and Oliver Smith that honored the past while encouraging the development of the art form through the creation of new works. Classics from the 19th century like “Swan Lake,” “Giselle” and “The Sleeping Beauty” live side by side with seminal works of the early 20th century such as “Apollo,” “Les Sylphides,” “Jardin aux Lilas” and “Rodeo,” as well as such contemporary masterpieces as “Push Comes to Shove” and “Airs.” In acquiring such an extraordinary repertoire, ABT has commissioned works by the great choreographic geniuses of the 20th century: George Balanchine, Antony Tudor, Jerome Robbins, Agnes de Mille and Twyla Tharp, among others. Today, under the artistic direction of former ABT Principal Dancer Kevin McKenzie, the Company remains steadfast in its vision as “American” and continues to bring the art of dance theater to the great stages of the world.
About the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University
The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, located at 50 E Congress Pkwy, is an Illinois, not-for-profit organization committed to presenting the finest in international, cultural, community and educational programming to Chicago, and to the continued restoration and preservation of the National Historic Landmark Auditorium Theatre. In August of 2014, the Auditorium Theatre was named as an inaugural Fifth Star Award Honoree by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. The Auditorium Theatre is generously supported by the MacArthur Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council, the Sage Foundation, and the Palmer House Hilton. For more information about programming, volunteer and donor opportunities or theatre tours, call (312) 341-2310 or visit AuditoriumTheatre.org.
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