ABT Fan

An article in the Times about Peck's injury and her return to Swan Lake: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/13/arts/dance/tiler-peck.html

I’m pretty sure it’s the end of March. I want to say the 22nd or the 29th, not sure which, but it’s usually a Sunday starting at noon.

I’m going to assume that the King of Babylon is a purely acting role, as Zhurbin does many of those in the full lengths as does Roberts. Roberts is an exceptional actor so casting him makes sense to me. Hoven is in the same cast as Dionysius, which is a dancing role (based off of Whiteside’s Instagram post in the same role).

Not surprising that Copeland wasn’t cast. She hasn’t been in a Ratmansky piece for some time (was replaced in Whipped Cream the last time it was performed and Brandt replaced her as Columbine before Harlequinade even opened). Lane is doing the second act in Bayadère in Chicago with Ahn, at least, but missing from the other tours as you mentioned. Disappointing she’s apparently not in Love and Rage (unless she gets a very little part...). At least Blaine Hoven finally has something to do. He is inexplicably missing from all plum casting on tour and at the Met (after an incredible year last year).

Casting for the secondary parts for the Costa Mesa run is now listed. https://www.abt.org/performances/master-calendar/

Cory Stearns has commented on his public Instagram (in the comments section in response to someone else) that he’s cast in Love and Rage. Since the principal casting has already been released, I assume that there are plum secondary roles and that he’s referring to that. Ratmansky does create a lot of such parts and it sounds like this ballet would require it. So hopefully we’ll see some great opportunities for Lane, Hoven, and a few others who so far have been cast dismally for the Met at best.

I’ve never been a big fan of Stearns, but he’s a much better partner than Gorak so I’m glad. I won’t be biting my nails in fear of her being dropped.

I saw that clip. Wonderful! She also recently posted a long clip of Nikiya. Also, beautiful.

Eric Tamm has rejoined the corps! As I was looking over the roster, I thought his photo was another one of their weird "typos", but his bio clearly states that he rejoined the company as of this year. He was always one of my favorites, so I look forward to seeing him again at the Met. It'll be interesting to see what opportunities he gets; he was being cast in soloist parts (and a principal role or two) when he left, but the male soloist roster is now chocked full, although a handful of those men are doing mainly principal roles. https://www.abt.org/people/eric-tamm/?type=performer

Yes, and I think a lot of us have been saying this for the past few years. Would like ABT to revive this, along with more Tudor, De Mille, Ashton (again, repeating past years wishes). And, Paquita.

Best: Sarah Lane and Herman Cornejo in Manon Sarah Lane as Columbine and Aurora Thomas Forster as Sergei and, in his first long-overdue leading role, as Mr. Rochester Catherine Hurlin and Aran Bell in everything I saw them in Brooklyn Mack as Conrad Keith Roberts as Monsieur G.M. and Carabosse Ratmansky's The Seasons ABT in In the Upper Room NYCB in Serenade Joseph Gordon in Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No 2 NY Philharmonic's performance of Mozart's Requiem Met Museum's new Native American Exhibit Slave Play Worst: Calvin Royal as Pierrot James Whiteside's New American Romance Tharp's A Gathering of Ghosts The mishmosh of costumes in The Seasons MoMa's redesign (the art layout, not the architecture)

It does sound like he’s leaving ballet, but staying in the arts in some capacity. Interesting plug at the end for the AD spot at the Joffrey.

Wow, thank you for posting this. They both look gorgeous. I sure hope Forster is eating his Wheaties in preparation for the upcoming season. What a load of debuts he will have. I’m thrilled he’s finally getting his due (and hopefully a promotion).

I am really looking forward to seeing her and Forster (in his debut) in SL. She was excellent with Whiteside this past season, but with Forster I predict it will be a performance not to be missed.

I saw that too. I was too upset to post about it. Lane not only has far fewer scheduled performances than all of the other female principals, but also fewer than soloists Brandt and Trenary. Why TBA for The Rose? Lane created that role. Even if she is given the lead in the new Ratmansky and at least two shows of that, it still won’t make up for the lack of casting in other things.

Casting is up for the tour to Chicago in March. Of note: Bayadere Act II: Teuscher/Stearns, Seo/Bell, Boylston/Cornejo, Lane/Ahn, then Teuscher/Stearns again. The rest of the casting can be viewed here: https://www.abt.org/performances/master-calendar/

Thanks for this. Interesting that the Cleveland Orchestra will accompany them. I always wonder how something like this is broached with the dancers (I assume it must be for the reasons you cited).

They're doing two shows of R&J in A.D. in April. Copeland/Cornejo and Trenary/Royal are the casts. (I'm wondering if the pairings are mixed up by mistake, since Copeland/Royal and Trenary/Cornejo are listed for the Met.) https://www.abt.org/performances/master-calendar/

I wondered that too. Also, given the injury/cancellation rate of Hallberg/Osipova, that’s another reason to have another team ready to go.

Wow. I see it’s now on ABT’s site. I wonder why Shevchenko and Royal were not given that slot for their debut prior to the Met season. That’s usually how they do it. The coaching staff will really have their hands full this season preparing so many soloists for major debuts in the classics.

Forster has now been cast as Prince Desire opposite Hurlin for the matinee on 6/17! I really think this could be his year to be promoted. Debuts as Albrecht, Siegfried, Romeo AND Desire! (OMG, that's a lot in a short amount of time....) Lane and Brandt's Desires are still TBD.

Who are you thinking of, I’m curious?

I’m really surprised Brooklyn Mack isn’t returning as a guest artist. I’m no advocate of guest artists (with the exception of a well-placed one or two, like Kim), but after his successful and popular appearances last summer I assumed he’d return. But, looking at the numbers alone, since three other guests are scheduled to appear I suppose one more would be too much. I’m wondering if Simkin won’t have a much larger plate once more casting is released. He may very well have a lead in the new Ratmansky, who chooses him regularly. And, maybe he’ll debut as Desire with Lane. The fast footwork would suit him well. Those TBA’s may be to see how he, and others who may debut, adapts to that style. I also just recalled that he’s done T&V with Lane before, so that’s a possibility (and has renewed my hope that maybe she’ll get that ballet again). Fancy Free is also in his repertoire as is Bluebird. But, it’s still surprising that he isn’t doing Siegfried. Now, Hoven. He danced SO much this past season and in many debuts: Lankendem, Lescaut, Bluebird, Pierrot. I saw most of them and he killed it so it makes no sense why he’s been left out this year (he’s no Hammoudi). So, I’m holding out hope that he will get a bunch of TBA’s and be cast in the new Ratmansky. I think he’d be terrific in T&V - much, much better than Gorak. And, as I’ve already suggested, as Desire with Lane or Brandt. He would also be great in Fancy Free. I’m excited for all the other male soloists getting debuts, but Hoven should be too.

Thanks for this. I can finally watch it.

He and Ferri danced together for weeks this past January, in something she had put together in London. He posted countless photos of that on his Instagram, which are still there. And he got married either in January or February. So he apparently found a way to keep dancing with her. Separately, I remember Hammoudi was initially cast in Time There Was opposite Seo in the second cast, but he didn’t dance Friday. He name wasn’t even in the program (Forster danced instead) so clearly it was not a last minute change. It’s possible he’s injured again, but that was the only ballet he was scheduled to dance in. With nothing on the horizon for him at the Met, so far, I wonder if he’ll be leaving at the end of the season.