sf_herminator

That's unfortunate.... And I found the program book because I started poking around the site to see if casting was up.....

Digital Program Book for Program 4 is now available. The long-awaited return of Bournonville's La Sylphide and the long-awaited SFB premiere of Ratmansky's The Seasons are on this program: https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/2022-season/2022-program-books/#program-4

Casting News: For the Friday 3/4 and Sunday 3/6 performances, Wei Wang will now dance Basilio to Sasha De Sola's Kitri. How did this happen? Here is the principal casting listed for Tuesday 3/1 (Kitri & Basilio only, but full casting available (CASTING - San Francisco Ballet (sfballet.org) - click on the performance date): ACT I: Town Square in Barcelona Kitri: SASHA DE SOLA Basilio: AARON ROBISON ACT II, Scene One: Spanish Countryside Kitri: SASHA DE SOLA Basilio: JOSEPH WALSH ACT III: The Wedding, Town Square Kitri: WONA PARK Basilio: JOSEPH WALSH On Thursday, Sasha posted on her IG stories that Wei was now dancing Basilio with her on Friday and Sunday. I then checked the site for casting and saw the update. Looking forward to seeing them dance tonight. On another note and a reminder: full casting for each performance is posted just prior to the performance. Casting sheets are no longer handed out. Instead, there are stands on each level which have the casting with a QR code which will open up the casting page on the SFB website. This practice started during Nutcracker. I can also report that although on both Saturday night and Wednesday night, although it was not a full house the audience has been very responsive. I will try to post more before the end of the run. I will be attending tonight and tomorrow night.

Principal casting for Thursday 2/3 and Friday 2/4 now up - https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting/ Thursday, March 3, 7:30 PM Kitri: Wona Park Basilio: Joseph Walsh Don Quixote: Alexander Reneff-Olson Sancho Panza: Davide Occhipinti Mercedes: Madison Keesler Espada: Cavan Conley Friday, March 4, 8:00 PM Kitri: Sasha De Sola Basilio: Aaron Robison Don Quixote: Tiit Helimets Sancho Panza: Diego Cruz Mercedes: Sasha Mukhamedov Espada: John-Paul Simoens Casting is subject to change without notice. Since debuts are not being noted, from my recollection these are the debuts of what has posted so far: Misa Kuranaga debuts as Kitri in this production (most likely has done Don Q at Boston Ballet if it is in their rep) John-Paul Simeons as Espada Dores Andres as Mercedes (she danced Kitri in 2019 and one of Kitri's friends in 2015) Sasha Mukhamedov as Mercedes Tiit Helimets as Don Quixote (danced Basilio in 2007) Currently, I will be attending both Saturday performances (2/26 and 3/6 evening), Wednesday 3/2, and Friday 3/5.

I have watched some of these videos. The 'Pointes of View' lectures occurred on Wednesdays at 6 PM prior the scheduled performances. Now they are on FB Live & YouTube Live the day of the performance and will be available through the end of the season. The first was a discussion with Helgi & 'The Three Graces' - former Ballet Mistresses Bonita Borne & Betsy Erickson and current Ballet Mistress/Master Anita Paciotti. The second focuses on 'In The Night' which was part of Program 2. The 'Talking Dance' videos are short & entertaining, with the dancer walking us through their thoughts while going through what we are seeing on the screen. One is of Luke Ingham talking through a section of 'Caprice', the other is of Mathilde Froustey as Kitri in Act 3 of Don Q. Definitely worth checking out.

More principal casting - https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting/ Sunday, February 27, 2:00 PM Kitri: Wona Park Basilio: Joseph Walsh Don Quixote: Alexander Reneff-Olson Sancho Panza: Davide Occhipinti Mercedes: Jennifer Stahl Espada: John-Paul Simoens Tuesday, March 1, 7:30 PM Kitri: Sasha De Sola Basilio: Aaron Robison Don Quixote: Tiit Helimets Sancho Panza: Diego Cruz Mercedes: Dores Andre Espada: Daniel Deivison-Olivera Wednesday, March 2, 7:30 PM Kitri: Misa Kuranaga Basilio: Angelo Greco Don Quixote: Jim Sohm Sancho Panza: Pascal Molat Mercedes: Sarah Van Patten Espada: Luke Ingham Casting is subject to change without notice.

Don Quixote opens Saturday 2/26 at 8 PM. Principal casting has been posted: https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting/ DON QUIXOTE Composer: Ludwig Minkus Choreographer: Alexander Gorsky after Marius Petipa Staging and Additional Choreography: Helgi Tomasson and Yuri Possokhov Scenic and Costume Design: Martin Pakledinaz Lighting Design: James F. Ingalls Associate Scenic Designer: Arnulfo Maldonado Associate Costume Designer: Heather Lockard Author of Don Quixote: Miguel de Cervantes Kitri: Misa Kuranaga Basilio: Angelo Greco Don Quixote: Jim Sohm Sancho Panza: Pascal Molat Mercedes: Sarah Van Patten Espada: Luke Ingham Casting is subject to change without notice.

Digital Program Book for Program 3 - Don Quixote is now available: https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/2022-season/2022-program-books/#program-3

I was in the audience and I thought she did very well. She was in couple #2. Not sure if she has done the role before, as casting for these programs did not denote any debuts. Still haven't posted my thoughts on Program 2, but will try to do so by the end of this week.

Oh no!! I was wondering why we haven't seen her during this run. She had posted on IG that she would be in Blake Works, In the Night 2nd couple, and Symphony in C 2nd movement: https://www.instagram.com/p/CZCjjwIpISQ/ I was so impressed with her as Sugar Plum Fairy during Nutcracker and was so looking forward to seeing more of her!! She also posted on IG about the current situation: https://www.instagram.com/p/CZw_uLhpUFK/ I hope she will be back some time during the season. Dwight Rhoden had high praise for her - https://www.dancemagazine.com/nikisha-fogo-2/. I also know she was rehearsing both Don Q and Swan Lake. Probably will not be able to do Don Q but hopefully Swan Lake..... Here is a link from Julian McKay's IG: https://www.instagram.com/p/CW9mBLmJNPJ/. She was also rehearsing Ratmansky's The Seasons.

Casting Alert: Yuan Yuan Tan will be dancing in 'In The Night' on Friday 2/11 and Sunday 2/13. She will be dancing with Luke Ingham in the third couple. She has previously danced this role with Damian Smith. If I recall correctly, Luke danced with Sarah Van Patten before. https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting/

I was in attendance last night for the opening of Program 1. Before the performance, a short video (approximately 3 minutes) with testimonials from various people such as Christopher Wheeldon, Mikko Nissenen, and Cathy Marston (to name a few) on Helgi Tomasson in honor of his final season as Artistic Director. It was a wonderful evening. I just wanted to post something brief as I will be in attendance every night this week through Saturday. But a few thoughts: MVP has to be Sarah Van Patten. She danced the title role in the world premiere (FINALLY!!) of Mrs. Robinson, then did the adagio role in the second movement of Symphony in C!! Other principals with multiple performances: Sasha De Sola (Trio 1st movement, Symphony in C 1st movement), Max Cauthorn (Trio 1st movement, Symphony in C 3rd movement), Jennifer Stahl (Mrs. Braddock in Mrs. Robinson, Symphony in C 4th movement), Luke Ingham (Trio 2nd movement, Mr. Robinson), and Dores Andre (Trio 2nd movement, Symphony in C 3rd movement). Mrs. Robinson is very thought provoking and I think will spark a lot of discussion. I can't say I loved it but the premise and idea is very interesting. I look forward to watching it again. Overall the company looks fantastic. Who would have thought that these dancers were absent from the stage for about 1.5 years??? Looking forward to rest of this run and the entire season!!

A sneak peak of Cathy Marston's Mrs. Robinson: https://fb.watch/aTLRpXrhmf/

Cathy Marston on creating Mrs. Robinson:

Principal casting now posted for Friday February 4: https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting/ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 8:00 PM TRIO Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson First Movement: Sasha De Sola, Max Cauthorn Second Movement: Sarah Van Patten, Tiit Helimets, Aaron Robison Third and Fourth Movements: Wona Park, Esteban Hernandez MRS. ROBINSON (WORLD PREMIERE) Music Composed by: Terry Davies Choreographer: Cathy Marston Mrs. Robinson: Dores Andre Benjamin Braddock: Lonnie Weeks Elaine Robinson: Julia Rowe Mr. Robinson: Ulrik Birkkjaer Mr. Braddock: Nathaniel Remez Mrs. Braddock: Ludmila Bizalion SYMPHONY IN C Composer: Georges Bizet Choreographer: George Balanchine First Movement: Misa Kuranaga, Angelo Greco Second Movement: Sarah Van Patten, Ulrik Birkkjaer Third Movement: Isabella DeVivo, Joseph Walsh Fourth Movement: Jennifer Stahl, Henry Sidford Casting subject to change

I was poking around the site and found the program book for the first two programs are available online: https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/2022-season/2022-program-books/#programs-1-2 I found the link on the Program 2 page: https://www.sfballet.org/productions/program-2/. The program book for Nutcracker is also available. Program books for the rest of the season will be posted as they become available - probably the week before the program opens. On a similar note: Paper casting sheets were not given during Nutcracker. Instead, there was a poster board on each level with the casting listed. On the board there was a QR code which would take you to the full casting online. This makes sense now as during Nutcracker the full casting was available online and remained online throughout the run. I actually like this as it saves a lot of paper.

Program 2 which includes Helgi Tomasson's Caprice, Jerome Robbins' In the Night, and the West Coast Premiere of William Forsythe's Blake Works will open on Thursday February 3. Principal casting has open posted for the first performance: https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting/. As always, casting is subject to change. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 7:30 PM CAPRICE Composer: Camille Saint-Saëns Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Misa Kuranaga, Angelo Greco Yuan Yuan Tan, Luke Ingham IN THE NIGHT Composer: Frédéric Chopin Choreographer: Jerome Robbins Mathilde Froustey, Benjamin Freemantle Jennifer Stahl, Tiit Helimets Sarah Van Patten, Ulrik Birkkjaer BLAKE WORKS I (SF BALLET PREMIERE) Composer: James Blake Choreographer: William Forsythe Sasha De Sola, Julia Rowe Max Cauthorn, Aaron Robison

Program 1 with Helgi Tomasson's Trio, George Balanchine's Symphony in C, and the long awaited premiere of Cathy Marston's Mrs. Robinson will open on Tuesday February 1. Principal Casting is up for the first two performances of Program 1 - https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting/ PROGRAM 1 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 7:30 PM TRIO Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson First Movement: Sasha De Sola, Max Cauthorn Second Movement: Dores André, Luke Ingham, Daniel Deivison-Oliveira Third and Fourth Movements: Misa Kuranaga, Angelo Greco MRS. ROBINSON (WORLD PREMIERE) Music Composed by: Terry Davies Choreographer: Cathy Marston Mrs. Robinson: Sarah Van Patten Benjamin Braddock: Joseph Walsh Elaine Robinson: Madison Keesler Mr. Robinson: Luke Ingham Mr. Braddock: Tiit Helimets Mrs. Braddock: Jennifer Stahl SYMPHONY IN C Composer: Georges Bizet Choreographer: George Balanchine First Movement: Sasha De Sola, Aaron Robison Second Movement: Sarah Van Patten, Ulrik Birkkjaer Third Movement: Dores André, Max Cauthorn Fourth Movement: Jennifer Stahl, Henry Sidford WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 7:30 PM TRIO Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson First Movement: Norika Matsuyama, Cavan Conley Second Movement: Dores André, Luke Ingham, Daniel Deivison-Oliveira Third and Fourth Movements: Misa Kuranaga, Angelo Greco MRS. ROBINSON (WORLD PREMIERE) Music Composed by: Terry Davies Choreographer: Cathy Marston Mrs. Robinson: Sarah Van Patten Benjamin Braddock: Joseph Walsh Elaine Robinson: Madison Keesler Mr. Robinson: Luke Ingham Mr. Braddock: Tiit Helimets Mrs. Braddock: Jennifer Stahl SYMPHONY IN C Composer: Georges Bizet Choreographer: George Balanchine First Movement: Sasha De Sola, Aaron Robison Second Movement: Sarah Van Patten, Ulrik Birkkjaer Third Movement: Julia Rowe, Lucas Erni Fourth Movement: WanTing Zhao, Hansuke Yamamoto Casting is subject to change.

Full Casting is posted for tonight's performance Thursday 12/16, but only principal casting for the rest of the performances through Thursday 12/23. They also have casting for the previous performances to date (12/10 - 12/15, full casting). Below is tonight's full cast. https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting/ Casting subject to change Thursday 12/16, 7 PM ACT I Uncle Drosselmeyer: Tiit Helimets Clara: Abby Cannon Fritz: Kai Hannigan Housekeeper and Maid: Maggie Weirich, Isabella DeVivo Dr. & Mrs. Stahlbaum: Ricardo Bustamante, Ludmila Bizalion Grandparents: Alexander Reneff-Olson, Anita Paciotti Party Guests: Juliana Bellissimo, Megan Amanda Ehrlich, Blake Johnston, Swane Messaoudi, Davide Occhipinti, Jacob Seltzer, Mingxuan Wang, Adrian Zeisel, with Students of San Francisco Ballet School Dancing Dolls: Lleyton Ho, Elizabeth Powell, Lucas Erni The Nutcracker Prince: Angelo Greco King of the Mice: John-Paul Simoens Queen & King of the Snow: Thamires Chuvas and Estéban Cuadrado Snowflakes: Alexis Aiudi, Sofia Albers, Olivia Brothers, Jacey Gailliard, Gabriela Gonzalez, Blake Johnston, SunMin Lee, Carmela Mayo, Nicole Moyer, Pemberley Ann Olson, Lauren Parrott, Basia Rhoden, Natasha Sheehan, Jamie Adele Stephens, Angela Watson, Victoria Wright ACT II The Sugar Plum Fairy: Jennifer Stahl Spanish: Megan Amanda Ehrlich, Elizabeth Mateer, Rubén Cítores, Nathaniel Remez, Mingxuan Wang Arabian: Kamryn Baldwin with Joshua Jack Price, Jacob Seltzer Chinese: Luca Ferrò with Students of San Francisco Ballet School French: SunMin Lee, Swane Messaoudi, Jamie Adele Stephens Russian: Cavan Conley with John-Paul Simoens, Joseph Warton Madame Du Cirque: Louis Schilling with her Buffoons: Students of San Francisco Ballet School with Diego Cruz Waltzing Flowers: Alexis Aiudi, Juliana Bellissimo, Olivia Brothers, Tess Browning, Carlota Cruz, Jihyun Choi, Gabriela Gonzalez, Carmela Mayo, Nicole Moyer, Pemberley Ann Olson, Lauren Parrott, Leili Rackow, Basia Rhoden, Natasha Sheehan, Angela Watson, Maggie Weirich Grand Pas de Deux: Misa Kuranaga and Angelo Greco

just a quick post to say: San Francisco Ballet had a welcome and triumphant return to the War Memorial Opera House Stage tonight!! Company looks great and Helgi even had a few words to signal the the company is back!! Everyone looked so happy to be back on stage where they belong!! I am tired but will post a bit more later.

Yes, very unexpected and surprising. Interestingly, the SFB website has not yet been updated as Jasmine is still listed under Soloists. I am sure this will be updated very soon. Perhaps with Helgi leaving at the end of the season (and we are still waiting for his successor to be announced) maybe she thought to change now rather than wait and see what happens?

Casting for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evening https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting/ Tuesday 12/14, 7 PM Uncle Drosselmeyer: Val Caniparoli Clara: Kendall Foley Queen & King of the Snow: Wona Park and Steven Morse The Sugar Plum Fairy: Isabella DeVivo Grand Pas de Deux: Sarah Van Patten and Luke Ingham Wednesday 12/15, 7 PM (Julian MacKay's debut!!!) Uncle Drosselmeyer: Tiit Helimets Clara: Neve Margaret Chang Queen & King of the Snow: WanTing Zhao and Benjamin Freemantle The Sugar Plum Fairy: Norika Matsuyama Grand Pas de Deux: Nikisha Fogo* and Julian MacKay† Thursday 12/16, 7 PM Uncle Drosselmeyer: Tiit Helimets Clara: Abby Cannon Queen & King of the Snow: Thamires Chuvas and Estéban Cuadrado The Sugar Plum Fairy: Jennifer Stahl Grand Pas de Deux: Misa Kuranaga and Angelo Greco *Denotes principal role debut in current production ‡Denotes principal role debut at San Francisco Ballet †Denotes principal debut in current production Casting subject to change

More casting - but only principal roles. Saturday 12/11 and Sunday 12/12 below. https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting/ Saturday 12/11, 2 PM Uncle Drosselmeyer: Ricardo Bustamante Clara: Neve Margaret Chang Queen & King of the Snow: Isabella DeVivo and Lucas Erni* The Sugar Plum Fairy: Sarah Van Patten Grand Pas de Deux: Sasha De Sola and Aaron Robison Saturday 12/11, 7 PM Uncle Drosselmeyer: Ricardo Bustamante Clara: Neve Margaret Chang Queen & King of the Snow: Wona Park and Steven Morse The Sugar Plum Fairy: Jennifer Stahl Grand Pas de Deux: Misa Kuranaga and Angelo Greco Sunday 12/12, 2 PM Uncle Drosselmeyer: Pascal Molat Clara: Kendall Foley Queen & King of the Snow: WanTing Zhao and Mingxuan Wang The Sugar Plum Fairy: Sasha De Sola Grand Pas de Deux: Dores André and Max Cauthorn Sunday 12/12, 7 PM Uncle Drosselmeyer: Pascal Molat Clara: Kendall Foley Queen & King of the Snow: Julia Rowe and Cavan Conley The Sugar Plum Fairy: Nikisha Fogo Grand Pas de Deux: Wona Park and Wei Wang *Denotes principal role debut in current production ‡Denotes principal role debut at San Francisco Ballet †Denotes principal debut in current production Casting subject to change

Yes, I was lucky to access the complete casting that day. But now they are back to the standard of listing principal casting only. I will also be in the house tonight for opening night. Plus, as a volunteer will be chaperoning Saturday evening and in the gift shop Sunday evening. More casting has been posted which I will add shortly.

Nutcracker is back!! Opening night is Friday 12/10 and casting is up!!! https://www.sfballet.org/tickets/casting/ NUTCRACKER CASTING Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson Scenic Design: Michael Yeargan Costume Design: Martin Pakledinaz Lighting Design: James F. Ingalls Projection Design: Wendall K. Harrington Conductor: Martin West ACT I Uncle Drosselmeyer: Tiit Helimets Clara: Abby Cannon Fritz: Kai Hannigan Housekeeper and Maid: Maggie Weirich, Ellen Rose Hummel Dr. & Mrs. Stahlbaum: Nathaniel Remez, Katita Waldo Grandparents: Jim Sohm, Kristi DeCaminada Party Guests: Megan Amanda Ehrlich, Blake Johnston, Swane Messaoudi, Elizabeth Powell, Sean Bennett, Estéban Cuadrado, Joshua Jack Price, Jacob Seltzer, with Students of San Francisco Ballet School Dancing Dolls: Lonnie Weeks, Lauren Parrott, Cavan Conley The Nutcracker Prince: Joseph Walsh King of the Mice: Alexander Reneff-Olson Queen & King of the Snow: Yuan Yuan Tan and Henry Sidford Snowflakes: Alexis Aiudi, Kamryn Baldwin, Juliana Bellissimo, Samantha Bristow, Olivia Brothers, Thamires Chuvas, Megan Amanda Ehrlich, Gabriela Gonzalez, SunMin Lee, Elizabeth Mateer, Carmela Mayo, Pemberley Ann Olson, Leili Rackow, Natasha Sheehan, Tyla Steinbach, Jamie Adele Stephens ACT II The Sugar Plum Fairy: Nikisha Fogo† Spanish: Isabella DeVivo, Ellen Rose Hummel, Diego Cruz, Cavan Conley, Myles Thatcher Arabian: WanTing Zhao with Daniel Deivison-Oliveira, Steven Morse Chinese: Esteban Hernandez with Students of San Francisco Ballet School French: Ludmila Bizalion, Blake Johnston, Maggie Weirich Russian: Lucas Erni with Joshua Jack Price, Jacob Seltzer Madame Du Cirque: Louis Schilling with her Buffoons: Students of San Francisco Ballet School with Lleyton Ho Waltzing Flowers: Alexis Aiudi, Kamryn Baldwin, Samantha Bristow, Olivia Brothers, Thamires Chuvas, Megan Amanda Ehrlich, Gabriela Gonzalez, SunMin Lee, Elizabeth Mateer, Carmela Mayo, Swane Messaoudi, Lauren Parrott, Leili Rackow, Natasha Sheehan, Tyla Steinbach, Jamie Adele Stephens Grand Pas de Deux: Frances Chung and Joseph Walsh *Denotes principal role debut in current production ‡Denotes principal role debut at San Francisco Ballet †Denotes principal debut in current production Casting subject to change ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ First, I think it's wonderful that all casting is posted - not just the principal roles. Excited to finally see Nikisha Fogo dance. Also looking forward to Yuan Yuan Tan and Henry Sidford as the Queen & King of the Snow.