ABT Fan

Casting change for three performances, with Murphy replaced. I'm guessing she has had another obligation come up. She's still scheduled to dance in the Nutcracker and Pierrette in DC the week after LA. Thursday, January 17 at 7:30 p.m.Isabella BoylstonJames Whiteside**Stella Abrera (replaces Murphy)Thomas ForsterFriday, January 18 at 7:30 p.m.Sarah LaneAlban Lendorf**Misty Copeland (replaces Abrera)Calvin Royal IIISunday, January 20 at 1 p.m.Isabella BoylstonJames Whiteside**Stella Abrera (replaces Murphy)Thomas Forster

canbelto, thank you for posting that video. Wish I could have been there. So glad I got to see him and Peck in Tschai Pas a few weeks ago. What a career. He's obviously much loved. Apparently, he's going to be teaching at ABT's school and at the Studio Company. I'll be looking forward to seeing what else he does next.

Cornejo was recently interviewed for a podcast with the NEA. He tells a great story on how he came to be promoted from an apprentice to the corps. https://www.arts.gov/audio/herman-cornejo

Thanks for the head's up. That was a great listen.

This is a really good point and a great analogy.

I have to say that reading these comments and Clifford's Instagram is some kind of strange entertainment. He is so tone deaf it's mind-boggling and he takes social media self-promotion to a completely different level ("I was the youngest...." "I was the only one who...."). I find it hilarious that he's tagging Sarah Jessica Parker is some of his posts, I suppose assuming that she's on the hiring committee.

Boy, I didn't even know this thread existed. McBride is one of my new favorite dancers at ABT. I saw her perform a lot this past Met season, and she is indeed very talented with a wonderful onstage persona. I really hope to see her continually given bigger parts. I can definitely picture her as a soloist someday soon.

According to IMDb, Ansel Elgort has been tapped to play Tony. How many (former or current) ballet dancers will we see join the dancing cast? Robbie Fairchild, David Prottas, Craig Salstein, Patricia Delgado....? https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3581652/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast

Realizing that this list is only a prediction, still, I can imagine some principal-level movement with these ballets. If, and I'm not wishing it, Murphy and/or Abrera are going to retire this year, it would make sense for Murphy to go out with SL (one of her signature roles). And, I could see Abrera going out with SB (though Giselle is more likely I think...). And, Brandt/Trenary could be set up nicely with a slew of principal roles/debuts foreshadowing their promotions (would need Abrera/Murphy to retire to make room, though): We all remember the very-last-minute and extraordinary debut that Brandt gave in Corsaire a few years ago. So she would of course dance Medora again, along with Columbine and Princess Praline. And, maybe she'd get a debut as Aurora. Trenary, who got rave reviews for her Aurora, would reprise that role along with Columbine and Princess Praline as well. Perhaps she'd get a debut as Medora or Gulnare (preferably). And, I want to see Lane get an O/O this year (with appropriate rehearsal time this go around), though I'm sure that's just very wishful thinking since she didn't get it this past season. For the guys, I suspect we'll see more big debuts for Bell. I could see SB. Hoping for a major role for Forster. I'd have preferred Albrecht, but I'll take Siegfried. I'd also like to see a big debut for Royal. Looking at his rep, I guess he hasn't taken any of the leads in Corsaire. How about Conrad (which I thought he'd done) or Lankendem. And, would love a SL with Hurlin some day (ongoing wish list). I wonder if Shayer will get Harlequin again, since Maloney is doing it on tour instead of him. He better be promoted this year, otherwise he should leave, IMO.

A Hallberg/Abrera Manon is my preference. I'd be there in a hot minute. Shevchenko/Teuscher can wait. A Hallberg/Boylston SL could be interesting (though I did not like their R&J this past summer). I saw Boylston's SL several years ago with Simkin, and though it was a bit rough in several places, she was new to the role and also showed a lot of promise. From what else I've seen of her she's improved a lot since then so I imagine (hope) her O/O has grown considerably.

I had the same thought.

From the Times today: At the Koch Theatre's stage door, "a very different sort of message was posted there anonymously in September as the company was preparing to open its fall season. It demanded “justice for the accused men of City Ballet,” called for a boycott of the company and urged people to “stop believing the word of jilted whores,” along with even cruder insults." And: "But as more details of the texting allegations emerged in a lawsuit, a number of women in the company made it clear to management that they would not feel comfortable dancing with those men again, and some expressed dismay that their labor union was contesting their removal." Also, the article states that Finlay was actually suspended over the summer after showing up to a matinee in Paris hung over. And, before that he had been given a warning after damaging a pipe in a hotel in D.C. which caused flooding (that explains the large fine). https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/03/arts/dance/new-york-city-ballet-metoo.html?action=click&module=Top Stories&pgtype=Homepage

Well, he certainly deserves the distinction of "guest artist" as opposed to "principal dancer" now more than ever. (Along with Bolle....) So, he's returning to Swan Lake with ABT; I wonder with whom? And, I wonder if this means that Giselle will be retired for a season or two, since he didn't mention it, or if he's simply not doing it this time around.

I don't think SB would come back this year. It's safe to say that Harlequinade and Whipped Cream will since they're doing it on tour before the Met season, and I can't imagine they'd have 3 Ratmansky full lengths on the schedule. But, stranger things have happened. I also doubt a Bolle/Copeland R&J retirement performance. Seo is his most frequent ABT partner and they have a very good rapport. Bolle sells the house very well on his own (if not completely sells it out) as does Copeland, obviously, so ABT would be smart to let him choose Seo, if he wishes, and keep Copeland paired up with someone else.

Good for him. It's funny how updated casting makes it onto the theatre's site first, but still isn't posted on ABT's site. https://www.scfta.org/events/2018/the-nutcracker-abt

nysusan - thank you for posting the casting! I can't wait for this!

The only costume I like is the first one, the dress in teal. All the others are pretty bad. And, the fluffy headpieces? Eeek.

There is an interesting interview with Zhong-Jing Fang in Broadwayworld.com. I didn't realize she was out for so long (2 years) with her injury. https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwdance/article/BWW-Interview-ZJ-Fang-the-Chinese-Soloist-In-ABT-How-Injury-Gave-Me-A-Second-Chance-In-Ballet-at-Lincoln-Center-20180925

Their season starts in only three weeks and there are a ton, and I mean a TON, of seats available. I only looked at the orchestra, except for one or two shows, but it's shocking how poorly it's sold. I know many of us on this board aren't overwhelmed with the ballets/casting, but I guess no one else is either. Not even the 27th matinee w/ the Copeland Nutcracker pas has sold well (including the first - fourth rings). A strange thing - on the Koch website, I just noticed that it lists Other Dances with Lane/Cornejo for "all performances", but that is not the case on ABT's site (Seo/Stearns get 2). I'm sure that's some weird typo.

I didn’t notice that but you’re right, he’s not listed in anything. He got injured at the end of the Met season but I thought judging by his Instagram he had recovered. (He’s also not cast in Harlequinade in January, a role he did this summer.)

Also, Shayer has been left out. He debuted Harlequin at the Met this summer with two performances, but in DC Maloney is cast instead.

I’ll add more later, but Tschai pas with Peck and De Luz brought the house down tonight! I finally got to see them both in this piece and it was worth the entire ticket. They both make everything look so easy and their joy is perfectly matched. What technique, what musicality, what charisma!

Casting sheets are back up. No changes for tonight are listed. https://www.nycballet.com/NYCB/media/NYCBMediaLibrary/PDFs/Press/Casting/NYCB-Casting_September-18-23-2018-UPDATED2.pdf

I get that now too. Strange as I was able to view it about an hour ago and also this morning. Perhaps they’re updating it.

Casting has been announced for Harlequinade in D.C. in January. Of note, Simkin will join. Debuts: Trenary, Maloney, Royal, and Lendorf (who will return after a long-injury). Great to see another corps dancer get a big debut. I'm sure Trenary will be terrific as well. Also, of note, IMO, Lane/Abrera with Lendorf/Royal get only one performance. Lane/Abrera gave magical performances at the ballet's debut, but now they get seconds (Trenary/Brandt who are soloists get 2 perf's each). Not begrudging Trenary/Brandt at all, of whom I'm a big fan. But, Lane is a principal. And, as I just posted on the Fall season thread, Lane only gets one performance in one ballet in October. I knew she wasn't a favorite of the AD, but this is a new low. Sorry, rant over. https://www.abt.org/events/harlequinade-dc/ Added: I believe Trenary already did Columbine. My memory is failing me right now.