President Obama, First Lady serve as honorary chairman for ABT G

[Dale]

From the company:

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND MRS. MICHELLE OBAMA TO SERVE

AS HONORARY CHAIRMEN OF AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE’S

2009 SPRING GALA, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 18, 6:30 P.M.

AT THE METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE

EVENING TO INCLUDE SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE BY

JAZZ ICON HERBIE HANCOCK

AND A PIÈCE D’OCCASION FOR NINA ANANIASHVILI

CHOREOGRAPHED BY ALEXEI RATMANSKY

President Barack Obama and Mrs. Michelle Obama will serve as Honorary Chairmen, along with Carolina Herrera, Caroline Kennedy, Blaine Trump and Renée Zellweger, for American Ballet Theatre’s Opening Night Gala on Monday, May 18. In honor of the farewell season of Principal Dancer Nina Ananiashvili, ABT Artist in Residence Alexei Ratmansky has created a pièce d’occasion set to the waltz from Aram Khachaturian's Masquerade Suite to be performed by Ms. Ananiashvili. The Gala evening, which begins at 6:30 P.M., will feature ABT’s Principal Dancers in highlights from the Company’s eight-week season, a special guest appearance by jazz pianist Herbie Hancock and a performance by the students of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre.

Henri Barguirdjian, Anne Grauso, Ashley McDermott, Florence Low Sloan and Caryn Zucker will serve as Gala Co-Chairmen and Danielle Ganek and Ivanka Trump will serve as Vice Chairmen of the evening. Aileen Mehle is Chairman Emerita and Karin and Stephen Sadove are Corporate Co-Chairmen.

American Ballet Theatre’s 2009 Spring Gala is sponsored by Graff and Carolina Herrera, Ltd. Superfund Asset Management, Inc. is the sponsor of the 2009 Metropolitan Opera House season. A portion of the proceeds from the Spring Gala will support ABT’s education and community outreach programs.

A Gala dinner under the Tent at Lincoln Center will immediately follow the performance. Gala benefit tickets priced at $1,500, $2,000 and $2,500 include the performance and post-performance dinner. For Gala benefit ticket information only, call American Ballet Theatre’s Special Events office at 212-477-3030, ext. 3239. Performance-only tickets, priced $30 to $150, are available at the Metropolitan Opera House box office or by calling 212-362-6000. For more information, please visit ABT’s website at www.abt.org <http://www.abt.org> .

[Ilya]

Does this mean they will actually attend the performance?

[rg]

the actual presence of high-profile chair(s) is hard to predict.

a number of times (a majority?), i think, these big names were not in attendance, but on the odd occasion, they did indeed attend.

this year it might might depend on what's up (or down) with world on this date, among other factors.

the only wrinkle on such nights is that security is so tight, one needs added time to enter the house, etc.

additionally Lincoln Center's plaza is a mess of renovation obstructions, so the lines to enter and go through security could be long and slow...

[abatt]

Form the press release, it does not sound like they will actually attend. It is likely that a proclamation or greeting will be issued by the President and will be read by McKenzie or Caroline Kennedy from the stage. Don't forget that Caroline Kennedy (who is a major ABT supporter) is in the Obama inner circle because she and uncle Ted were early, ardent supporters of Obama for Prez. She probably orchestrated this to lend prestige to the ABT opening night.

[papeetepatrick]

Aileen Mehle is Chairman Emerita

Delicious tidbit, I'd wondered what had become of Suzy Knickerbocker. Good to hear so I can reminisce about Arlene Francis and the old 'What's My Line' days.

I think the whole gala sounds pretty stupendous, what with Herbie and Nina dancing Ratmansky, would be even nicer if the Obamas were able to be there.

[strikermcgee]

First Wife???

Usually it is First Lady!

[Dale]

You are right "First Lady" - I put it up quickly and my brain wasn't functioning. Will correct.

[Dale]

She'll be there (translation - get to the Met early so you can go through the security):

FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA TO ATTEND

OPENING NIGHT GALA AT AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE

MONDAY, MAY 18 AT METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE

First Lady Michelle Obama will attend American Ballet Theatre’s Opening Night Gala on Monday evening, May 18 at the Metropolitan Opera House. Mrs. Obama and President Barack Obama are Honorary Chairmen of ABT’s 2009 Spring Gala.

American Ballet Theatre’s Opening Night Gala, which begins at 6:30 P.M., kicks off the Company’s eight week season at the Metropolitan Opera House and features ABT’s Principal Dancers in highlights from the season, a special guest appearance by jazz pianist Herbie Hancock and a performance by the students of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre.

“It is with honor and great pleasure that we welcome Michelle Obama to American Ballet Theatre’s Opening Night Gala celebration,” said Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie. “This administration’s commitment to the arts and, in particular, arts education, is music to our ears. The combination of seasoned artists and young talent on our stage is a true testament to the importance of that ongoing commitment.”

A Gala dinner under the Tent at Lincoln Center will immediately follow the performance. Gala benefit tickets priced at $1,500, $2,000 and $2,500 include the performance and post-performance dinner. For Gala benefit ticket information only, call American Ballet Theatre’s Special Events office at 212-477-3030, ext. 3239. Performance-only tickets, priced $30 to $150, are available at the Metropolitan Opera House box office or by calling 212-362-6000. For more information, please visit ABT’s website at www.abt.org < http://www.abt.org > .

[Goldfish17]

Thanks for the update, Dale!

Any idea how early should we arrive to the theater?

[richard53dog]

Thanks for the update, Dale!

Any idea how early should we arrive to the theater?

Also, does anyone know what the policy is for standing room sales?

[bingham]

Thanks for the update, Dale!

Any idea how early should we arrive to the theater?

Also, does anyone know what the policy is for standing room sales?

The standing room policy is mentioned in detail at the ticket sales section of ABT in the Met website.