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ABT City Center season - third week casting


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From the company release:

CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THIRD WEEK OF

AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE’S 2006 NEW YORK CITY CENTER SEASON

Casting for the third week of American Ballet Theatre’s 2006 season at NY City Center was announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie.

The third week will feature the season’s first performance of Antony Tudor’s Dark Elegies on Thursday evening, November 2, with Melissa Thomas, Julie Kent, Isaac Stappas, Sascha Radetsky, Hee Seo and Jesus Pastor in the leading roles. At the evening performance on Saturday, November 4, Melanie Hamrick and Roman Zhurbin will make their debuts in the second song of Dark Elegies.

The third week will also include the debut of Gillian Murphy in Lar Lubovitch’s Meadow, dancing opposite Marcelo Gomes at the matinee on Saturday, November 4.

Tickets for American Ballet Theatre’s 2006 Fall season at NY City Center, priced from $26-$93, are available on-line at www.abt.org <http://www.abt.org> or by calling CityTix at 212-581-1212. Performance-only tickets for American Ballet Theatre’s Opening Night at New York City Center are priced from $35 to $130. 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 ABT’s New York City seasons. The 2006 NY City Center season is also made possible with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. ABT’s Opening Night Gala is generously underwritten by Reckson Associates.

Complete casting follows:\

THIRD WEEK

Tue. Eve., Oct. 31, 7:30 P.M. SYMPHONIE CONCERTANTE – Kent, Saveliev, Herrera

NEW ELO BALLET - Company

THE GREEN TABLE – Hallberg

Wed. Eve., Nov. 1, 8:00 P.M. DRINK TO ME ONLY WITH THINE EYES - Company

CLEAR – Kent, Gomes

IN THE UPPER ROOM – Company

Thurs. Eve., Nov. 2, 7:30 P.M. SYMPHONIE CONCERTANTE –Dvorovenko, Beloserkovsky, Murphy

DARK ELEGIES – Thomas, Kent, Stappas, Radetsky, Seo, Pastor

IN THE UPPER ROOM – Company

Fri. Eve., Nov. 3, 8 P.M. CLEAR – Reyes, Corella

AFTERNOON OF A FAUN – Riccetto, Hallberg

SWAN LAKE, Act III Pas de Deux - Dvorovenko, Beloserkovsky

FANCY FREE – Cornejo, Stiefel, Gomes, Abrera, Kent

Sat. Mat., Nov. 4, 2 P.M. NEW ELO BALLET - Company

MEADOW – Murphy*, Gomes

THE GREEN TABLE – Stappas

Sat. Eve., Nov. 4, 8 P.M. DRINK TO ME ONLY WITH THINE EYES - Company

DARK ELEGIES – Wiles, Hamrick*, Zhurbin*, Matthews, Schulte, Lopez

FANCY FREE – Cornejo, Stiefel, Gomes, Abrera, Kent

Sun. Mat., Nov. 5, 2 P.M. CLEAR – Kent, Corella

MEADOW – Abrera, Hallberg

IN THE UPPER ROOM - Company

*Please Note: first time in a role:

Sat. Mat., Nov. 4 – Murphy in Meadow

Sat. Eve., Nov. 4 – Hamrick, Zhurbin in Dark Elegies

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Kind of weird that there's no mention of who will be the female leads in Sinatra Suite. The casting for Dark Elegies looks good. Adrienne Schulte, who is in the Saturday cast, was outstanding last year. Come to think of it, she's been outstanding in most everything I've seen her in over the past couple of seasons. Hope she's considered a strong candidate for soloist this year.

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Kind of weird that there's no mention of who will be the female leads in Sinatra Suite. The casting for Dark Elegies looks good. Adrienne Schulte, who is in the Saturday cast, was outstanding last year. Come to think of it, she's been outstanding in most everything I've seen her in over the past couple of seasons. Hope she's considered a strong candidate for soloist this year.

Sarah Lane had been listed for a couple of Sinatra Suites and then removed. Is it possible that the role is being divided?

The problem in ABT seems to be too much talent and not enough opportunity. Many principles are doing few performance at City Center this season.

Sorry to disagree but Lane gets my vote for soloist.

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Vipa,

My vote's with you re Sarah Lane!

There are many in the corps who ought to be given more solo/principal opportunities, but, as you said, the opportunities are too few for everyone at ABT. Rep at ABT is definitely limited in this way when compared to a company like NYCB where there never seems to be enough dancers to fill all the demanding roles. ABT needs to expand their rep, and NYCB needs to hire many more dancers!!! I can dream can't I?!!

I'll agree with everyone, that it is VERY odd ABT doesn't list any female leads (only the males) for Sinatra Suite.... But, as I've never seen the piece, perhaps the females are not listed because "Sinatra" is the only big part.... We'll all soon see!

Edited by sz
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I'll agree with everyone, that it is VERY odd ABT doesn't list any female leads (only the males) for Sinatra Suite.... But, as I've never seen the piece, perhaps the females are not listed because "Sinatra" is the only big part.... We'll all soon see!
That's exactly it, sz.

There's no single Sinatra figure, and the ballet is mostly a series of pas de deux. Baryshnikov had a big solo, which I guess is what justifies the listing of a male lead, but his partner is no more prominent than the rest of her castmates.

I think ABT under-lists casts, anyway. For those ballets danced by "Company," I'd appreciate knowing whether it's Cast A or Cast B -- or to make things more egalitarian, Cast A and Cast #1. :wink: It would help us choose our performances. Last year, I saw Upper Room three times. Saw one cast three times, missed the other altogether. :mad: I'd have switched one of them had I known which cast danced when.

Editing to add: There are at least two roles in Sinatra Suite which would have been great vehicles for Erica Cornejo. Alas!

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I really don't see why the principals through demi soloists for every ballet couldn't be listed in the Times and/or ABT's website a week or more in advance. It certainly wouldn't hurt advance sales at the box office!! Why shouldn't the audience see in advance almost as much as what's listed in the program they receive at the theater?! Those programs are generally printed weeks in advance with buckslips added for any prominent last minute changes.

To put Sarah's name up on the casting for a couple of weeks, then take it off, only created bad feelings all around. But as they say, there are no small roles in the hands of a fine actor/dancer.

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Apparently there's much improvement needed at ABT.
Particularly when you look at the overhaul that NYCB did on its website, but even the old site was strong on casting. It's ironic that ABT, which publishes casting in the big New York Times ads (at least for the Spring/Summer seasons) and sells stars and partnerships, can't get basic website casting down.

The Metropolitan Opera also did an overhaul of its website, which is now far more appealing to net-savvy people, many of whom are in the demographic that needs to replace the aging audience. If you can't sell ABT online, I'm not sure where their future audiences are going to come from.

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It's ironic that ABT, which publishes casting in the big New York Times ads (at least for the Spring/Summer seasons) and sells stars and partnerships, can't get basic website casting down.
Not really ironic if ABT really believes that it's basically the stars and the blockbusters that interest its audience. They underestimate a large bunch of us -- those who attend multiple times each week and enjoy tracking the progress of junior dancers.
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But what about the female lead in Sinatra -- you'd think they'd want to publicize at least that much. Unless they think that if a name is not recognized at large or is part of an established partnership, it will scare people away. Like in opera, where the tenor is well-known, but the soprano or the baritone isn't a household name.

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Can't disagree with any of the above points on casting notification. However, with regard to the female in S.S. not really being "a lead", I think she originally was considered as such. If you look in the Library Archives section of the ABT website, not only is Elaine Kudo listed as having been in the original cast of S.S.. but she is listed prior to Baryshnikov's name. In any event, ABT is very intentionally holding back on announcing the female dancer. Maybe at this point, they are not yet sure who it's going to be for each performance.

My limited experience with ABT's press office has been that they will give you anything from the long casting that you want as soon as it's made available to them. The woman who usually answers the phone, I believe Myra is her name, is an absolute jewel, and is delighted to speak with people. And, if you bait her, she will tell you how Freddie Franklin was "my first Prince Siegfreid" - meaning, of course, the first Siegfried she saw in Swan Lake.

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Years ago,when Le Corsaire was new,they used to list the main cast including the" Odalisques".. and "lead pirate woman". At least, you knew that your favorite corp dancer is dancing soloist roles.

Speaking of soloists, it is just a week or so from openning night but there are still no news of promotions. Maybe there won't be any. Why promote someone(like V. Part) to a principal dancer when she can do principal roles while still a soloist.

Joe

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I really don't see why the principals through demi soloists for every ballet couldn't be listed in the Times and/or ABT's website a week or more in advance. It certainly wouldn't hurt advance sales at the box office!! Why shouldn't the audience see in advance almost as much as what's listed in the program they receive at the theater?! Those programs are generally printed weeks in advance with buckslips added for any prominent last minute changes.

To put Sarah's name up on the casting for a couple of weeks, then take it off, only created bad feelings all around. But as they say, there are no small roles in the hands of a fine actor/dancer.

z

I saw Sinatra Suite with the original case years ago and as the ads for that video suggest there are 2 principals. In the original cast the female lead was Elaine Kudo. Sarah Lane had been listed for the City Center season for a couple of perfomances. Now no females are listed -- the is definately a female lead role.

I too wish ABT would have more detailed listings in the casting. Maybe they thing fans only care about principals. Not true in my case

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:blushing: Boy, am I embarrassed!

I just looked up SinatraSuite on TwylaTharp.org, and checked the Program Notes, as I should have before inserting my foot in my mouth :foot: . I now realize that when posting above, I'd been thinking of "Nine Sinatra Songs," which is an ensemble ballet. This five-song version is for two dancers only, and yes, the woman certainly should be given the same billing as the man. :mad:

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I share everyone's frustration at the lack of casting information. Not only for Sinatra Suite but also for ballets that are listed as "company" - there certainly are featured roles in works like In The Upper Room and there's no excuse for omitting the casting.

Yet, although we are a dedicated few it seems that the masses have spoken. I went to buy a ticket for the 10/29 matinee this past weekend and there was nothing left except a few partial view seats and gallery seating. The woman at the box office said ABT tickets are selling exceptionally well this season

Susan

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Hah! Wouldn't it be something if it turns out that the City Center season helps underwrite the Met season! Maybe there's hope :blushing: that next fall :foot: , ABT will get a fourth week :mad: .

So much for mixed bills not filling the house! A strong rep will draw ticket buyers.

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Hah! Wouldn't it be something if it turns out that the City Center season helps underwrite the Met season! Maybe there's hope :blushing: that next fall :foot: , ABT will get a fourth week :mad: .

So much for mixed bills not filling the house! A strong rep will draw ticket buyers.

I'm glad ABT is selling well in rep. Is it odd that there seem to be 7 performances a week. Aren't there usually 8?

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You are not imaging it, Vina. There used to be a Sunday evening performance as well as Sun matinee.

To my mind, the three week season has only been an extension of the two week season in that there are two weeks of repertory spread out over three weeks. This season is slightly improved from the last several CC seasons but if ABT did go to four weeks would we really get a real four weeks of repertory?

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ABT's pre-opening e-mail seems consistent with this "women-don't-matter" policy. It features three photos: Sasha Radetsky and Jesus Pastor in Drink to Me Only; The Green Table (all "men") and Rodeo (four cowboys). Not a woman in sight! Could this have been a mere oversight?

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