17 replies to this topic

[Dale]

Any word on casting for the upcoming performances? I'm definitely going down to see this.

[pugbee]

I sure wish we could pressure this company to post casting on the website, as many other companies do! This show should be exciting. I can't wait to hear back from you, Dale. Enjoy!!

[socalgal]

yes, i wish they could post casting also. i do know who is rehearsing what... but the actual performance casts were not clear yet as of last weekend. when i go, i have to book my flight around a few days and then have the BD get tickets for the performances she is dancing. :shrug: very frustrating.

[Dale]

I'll try calling next week about the casting.

[BW]

Have you thought an email or calling campaign? There are email addresses on their website.

We can't make it down for this run, but I am planning on a visit soon.

[Dale]

I have the casting for "A Fancy 40th." There are two casts, which I'll list as A and B. I have to thank the public relations office of the company and I apologize for any spelling mistakes or errors as I took these over the phone and tried to match what I scratched out to the list of dancers. Here goes:

Cast A (Oct. 8, 10, 11m)

Concerto Barocco: Barfield, Chamberlain, Ihde

4Ts:
1 - Amiss, Cieslak
2 - Cruz, Ihde
3 - Chamberlain, Ady
M - Krensing
S - Ochoa, Rainey
Ph - Borovik
C - Aldridge

Fancy Free:
Sailors - Ady, Colucchi, Stiles
Women - Cox, Aldridge, Gall
Bartender - Charov


Cast B (Oct. 9, 11e, 12m)

Concerto Barocco: Aldridge, Ochoa, Rainey

4Ts:
1 - Smith, Marshall
2 - Gall, Goodman
3 - Lorenzo, Debes
M - Iziliaev
S - Barfield, Krensing
Ph - Cieslak
C - Cruz

Fancy Free:
Sailors - Ihde, Colucci, Cieslak
Women - Keating, Lorenzo, Reffner
Bartender - Charov

[Tessa]

Thank you, Dale! Both casts sound good, in my opinion though I'm tempted by the B cast since I'd like to see Jamar Goodman in his PA Ballet debut.

Very exciting to see that Philip Colucci is in both casts of Fancy Free- he's wonderful to watch and I think this ballet is an excellent fit for him. I'm also excited to see Jennifer Gall cast in two featured roles- she did a terrific job back when she was an Apprentice in demi roles in Interplay & Arden Court and I was actually surprised to see how much responsibility she was given so early on but then this past year she didn't seem to be cast so much...I was slightly worried that her trajectory would be that of some of the NYCB girls who get lots of early exposure and then seem to fade out a little, so the two roles in this program is a good development!

[Dale]

Tessa, Cast B caught my eye too, but mainly because it had Ochoa, Lorenzo and Iziliaev - dancers I know from either their time at SAB and/or NYCB. But I really want to see both.

Barfield and Chamberlain are Cast A in Concero Barocco. Can anyone tell me what type of dancers they are? I have a specific idea of what dancers do the leads in CB. The first - spiritual and legato, the second - classical and pure.

[Tessa]

Dale,
If you have specific Concerto Barocco needs, I'm not sure that they'll be met with the Barfield/Chamberlain pairing. I like both dancers a lot, but I'm not sure they fit the adjectives you used. Barfield is a very pretty, diminutive and winsome-looking dancer who is typically cast in "princess" roles. I would not describe her dancing as especially spiritual- she is more of a clean, straightforward dancer. Chamberlain is an interesting dancer- I like her a lot, but I like her best in roles where her comic talents shine (Swanhilda & Kate in Taming of the Shrew come to mind.) I would say that of the two, she is the more spiritual dancer...

The women in Cast B (Aldridge & Ochoa) come closer to fitting the ideals you described, I think.

Thoughts from anyone else? Agreements? Disagreements?

[Dale]

Thank you Tessa. I'm going to go with an open mind as far as the dancers go. From everything I've read, the company is pretty good and I'm looking forward to seeing them.

[socalgal]

I agree with Tessa about Barocco casting. But I too have some preconceived notions as to how I like this ballet to be danced. Keating, Flood and Matthews will also step in to cast B replacing Gall, Cruz and Smith in the corps roles. Looking forward to seeing both casts actually.

[socalgal]

I'm off to PHilly tomorrow for the "Fancy 40th" at PAB. I have been told that I have tickets for Sat mat and eve and Sun mat. Will anyone here at BA be going? It seems that many are off to see Suzanne Farrell's company in the vicinity or thereabouts. I am wondering if there is too much of a good thing going on at the same time

[Tessa]

There's a pretty nice review of this program in the Philadelphia Inquirer today:

http://www.philly.co...end/6976032.htm

[GWTW]

I'm going this evening. I just hope I'll be able to see - especially Fancy Free - I'm sitting waaaaaay up.

[GWTW]

Concerto Barocco, The Four Temperaments, Fancy Free - in that order. Just writing those titles excites me. I came prepared to enjoy myself and it really was a great evening at the ballet. That said, how come this program wasn't sold out? Is it too adventurous to program 3 masterpieces of the 20th century on one bill? But that's for another thread...
This was the first time I've seen Concerto Barocco and it was beautiful. It reminded me of Les Sylphides, in that the dancers completely embody the music. Except in CB, the dancers aren't romantic sylphs but some kind of Classical Olympian or Elysian beings bearing within them the essence and the rhythm of the music. However, it also reminded me of Les Sylphides in the actual structure of the choreography, in the interplay between the soloists and the corps de ballet, in the 'first among equals' atmosphere in this interplay. I don't know how or why this Les Sylphides analogy entered my head, but now I can't get it out. I'd have to see the ballet again to know whether it was just coincidence.
The Four Temperaments was the only ballet on the program that I had seen before and I had been completely over whelmed by it the first time. I must admit I wasn't as overwhelmed this time. Don't shoot me, but I think the live orchestra softened the music so the sound was more classical as opposed to the recorded version I heard the first time I saw it. Also, my seat was very high up this time. I could see well, but it was a bit difficult to 'feel' the dancers. Regardless, this must be one of the most modern ballets ever choreographed. In fact, The FTs is IMO a masterpiece of science fiction. I don't know the company so I don't want to mention many names, but Charity Eagens (3rd Theme) has gorgeous feet and Christine Cox was a very powerful Choleric. Overall, I though Concerto Barocco was better performed than The FTs and interstingly, when I checked the program, there was a repetiteur listed for Concerto Barocco (Sandra JEnnings) but not for The FTs. What does this mean?
Fancy Free was a delight. An incredibly well crafted ballet. Unbelievable to think this was someone's first choeogrpahy. It was performed well too, although the differences between the sailors weren't too perceptible. I laughed out loud a couple of times mainly in the 'chats' between the first and the second girl. I could just see how these girls of the '40s would grow up to be Jewish Mothers (This is supposed to be a compliment).
That was my evening. I'd like to hear some more experienced viewers too.