MoMo

I think her timing is poor. One week before Met Season and NYC debut of Like Water for Chocolate. Why now and not after Season was over? What’s the rush?

Thank you for the time you took to write what are essentially “performance evaluations “, as they were called with my employer, before I retired. ( Not in the entertainment industry). I agree about Jarod Curley, Carlos González and Patrick Frenette. They performed well last season and I was disappointed they weren’t promoted. Patrick Frenette was wonderful as Hilarion, Benvolio and Pas de Trois in SL. He also received great notices in OLAR. He definitely has “princely” demeanor. I believe Zimmi is due for promotion as well. She has been cast as Gertrudis in LWFC, which will be perfect for her. And Erica Lall, is a shining light in everything she does. You can’t take your eyes off her when she is onstage. I also agree about Joey Gorak and Gabe Stone Shayer. Time to move on. Thank you.

Devon was excellent. Ahn is a good dancer but not a good actor. This part requires Pedro to be passionate. He did not convey that, imo.

I saw LWFC on April 1st, with Tuescher and Ahn. I am very excited for Carlos and Skylar. Carlos was excellent as the “Revolutionary “ in the production I saw. Good for Susan Jaffe for casting them.

Oh, that would be wonderful! ABT hasn’t performed that in years. They have the dancers who could do it.

I saw Dress Rehearsal/Tech Rehearsal of Like Water for Chocolate yesterday , 3/29. ABT rehearsed Act I twice with different casts. The ballet has clever sets and lighting. The stage crew has to be on their toes! It helped to read the synopsis before the ballet. This ballet has a complex story and intricate steps. The choreography is not classical. But to me resembled Anthony Tudor/Pillar of Fire. There is much emotion and feeling in this ballet. But the dancer/actors are up to the task. Music was by a solo piano but performances will have SoCal’s Pacific Symphony. I will be seeing full ballet on Saturday, April 1st matinee.

I agree about the promotions. IMO there at least four male Corps members who deserved promotions and didn’t receive them : Patrick Frenette, Jarod Curley. Carlos González and Tyler Maloney. This is based on their extensive good work last year. I hope Susan Jaffe looks at these dancers closely this year.

Very excited for this casting. I have tickets for Matinee 4/1, purchased before casting announced. Interesting interview of Christopher Wheeldon in current March issue of Dance magazine.

Waiting for casting to be published for Like Water for Chocolate. ABT will be premiering it March29-April 2nd, at Segerstrom in Costa Mesa. I have seen a few rehearsal scenes on Instagram: Herman Cornejo and Cassie Trenary. Also Devon Tuescher and Joo Won Ahn. Skylar Brandt showed a scene with Jose Sebastian with a fabulous lift!

I agree. The number of male partners is lacking and in my opinion there aren’t enough male soloists, who could partner.

I didn’t document my question correctly. I meant to say how are they going to cast Juliet when Misty comes back? I am aware of current casting of Juliet. But thank you for providing that information.

I am going to be unpopular on this. I love R and J and never tire of it. ABT performs it beautifully and it is a standard in their repertoire. It is very popular with audiences. I do agree about casting, though. What will be the R and J pairings? Skylar is due her Juliet.

In spirit, I agree with you. We need happier ballets. How about Etudes or Bruch Violin Concerto? But ABT’s choices bring me joy, because they are danced so well, even though they are sad. ( I have a friend, a non ballet person, who asks me every time “Does someone die in the ballet “? It bothers him. But he goes anyway! )

Thank you for the lovely review. I have given your review to Patrick. I agree with it. He is modest and self effacing, so he was very pleased. Lots of good artists and actors at ABT. Thank you.

If anyone attends any of the Romeo and Juliet performances, please report back. There are a number of debuts in the performances. Thank you.

Thank you for posting the casting.

I saw this today. It is beautiful. Two couples dancing to piano music by Schuman. A lovely adagio for four then goes into separate pieces for each couple. Ends with a brilliant allegro section. Women wearing long tutus of cobalt blue and the men with same color tunics. Costumes designed by Duncan Lyle. The four dancers, Lauren Bonfiglio, Isadora Loyola, Jose Sebastian and Mikey de la Nunez, are lovely to watch. Well done.

So happy for both Carlos González and Tyler Maloney. They were both injured last year and worked hard to recover and come back. They deserved this.

It’s time for those in the Corps de Ballet, some of whom perform soloist roles, to get their just recognition. ABT is in transition mode now. Give those dancers their due: Jarod Curley, Carlos González, Jonathan Klein, Patrick Frenette, Zimmi Coker. Promote them or at least showcase them. Then people will see how good ABT is now.

With Alexei Ratmansky leaving, will ABT still have access to perform his works?

Good lineup. But I wonder why Skylar Brandt hasn’t been given a Juliet yet?

I agree with you on your assessment of Tommy’s partnering. I was at the performance too. The Ratmansky choreography is very complex, especially in this pas de deux. The torch lift was exquisite.

Is the casting already posted, and if so, where? Thank you.

Misty said in her interview on CBS morning yesterday, that she will be back Winter 2023.

ABT has posted their casting for their Nutcracker 2022 engagement at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. This posting is for the Nutcracker Prince and Princess. Of note is the debuts of Calvin Royal III and Cassandra Trenary in the roles on Sunday Matinee, December 11th. Also is the return to the stage of James Whiteside with Isabella Boylston after his devasting injury last year in the same role.