ABT Fall 2022 season

[ABT Fan]

44 minutes ago, DPell said:

I was thinking we’d get a PP debut from Misseldine. I’ll have to double check the dancer’s pages on the ABT website, but I think Brandt, Paris, and Trenary are the only dancers in the company at the moment that have danced the role. 

Yep, those are the only three current dancers who do that role. I agree with canbelto that Misseldine is too tall for it, and The Boy, her partner, is obviously short as well. I suspect we’ll have probably two debuts as PP.

Edited August 4, 2022 by ABT Fan

[abatt]

1 hour ago, DPell said:

I was thinking we’d get a PP debut from Misseldine. I’ll have to double check the dancer’s pages on the ABT website, but I think Brandt, Paris, and Trenary are the only dancers in the company at the moment that have danced the role. 

Trenary is not available.  She is dancing with Twyla Tharp's company at City Center during the run of Whipped Cream.

[Kamicos]

My guess for PP debuts…Coker and Granlund!

[Becki Lee]

Any predictions for “The Boy”??

[DPell]

7 hours ago, Becki Lee said:

Any predictions for “The Boy”??

Probably Klein and Shayer, and Tyler Maloney, if he’s back from his injury. I’d like to see Patrick Frenette in the role. I’d imagine that Bell or Camargo are going to debut Prince Coffee this season. 

[bingham]

J Klein danced the boy in the last run of WC.

 

Edited August 6, 2022 by bingham

[ClaraFan]

Betsy keeping her surname or going to Wexler?

[DPell]

When is casting for the Fall season usually posted? I'm eagerly awaiting the casting for The Dream.

[Becki Lee]

Looked back at a couple previous fall emails/press and it looks like casting came out around this week. Hoping soon!!!

[Dale]

Casting release:

 

Casting Announced for American Ballet Theatre’s 2022 Fall Season at David H. Koch Theater

NEW YORK, NY (August 24, 2022) – Casting for American Ballet Theatre’s 2022 Fall season has been announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie.

Principal Dancers for the 2022 Fall season include Joo Won Ahn, Aran Bell, Isabella Boylston, Skylar Brandt, Daniel Camargo, Herman Cornejo, Thomas Forster, Catherine Hurlin, Gillian Murphy, Calvin Royal III, Hee Seo, Christine Shevchenko, Cory Stearns, Devon Teuscher, Cassandra Trenary, James Whiteside, and Roman Zhurbin.

The 2022 Fall season will open on Thursday evening, October 20 at 7:30 P.M. with the full- length production Whipped Cream, led by Christine Shevchenko making her debut as Princess Tea Flower, Calvin Royal III as Prince Coffee, Skylar Brandt as Princess Praline, and Jonathan Klein as The Boy. On Friday evening, October 21, Zimmi Coker will debut as Princess Praline, dancing alongside Devon Teuscher as Princess Tea Flower and Cory Stearns as Prince Coffee. Breanne Granlund will debut the role of Princess Praline at the Saturday matinee performance on October 22 at 2:00 P.M., with Isabella Boylston as Princess Tea Flower and James Whiteside as Prince Coffee.

Choreographed by ABT Artist in Residence Alexei Ratmansky, the ballet features scenery and costumes by artist Mark Ryden and lighting by Brad Fields. Whipped Cream, with a libretto and score by Richard Strauss, is based on the two-act ballet originally created as Schlagobers, which premiered at the Vienna State Opera in 1924. Ratmansky’s production received its World Premiere by ABT on March 15, 2017 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California danced by Daniil Simkin (The Boy), Stella Abrera (Princess Tea Flower), David Hallberg (Prince Coffee), and Sarah Lane (Princess Praline). Whipped Cream will be given five performances through Sunday, October 23. ABT’s Fall season continues Wednesday evening, October 26 with the Company return of Frederick Ashton’s The Dream, led by Gillian Murphy as Titania, Cory Stearns as Oberon, and Herman Cornejo as Puck. The roles of Titania and Oberon will be danced for the first time by Cassandra Trenary and Daniel Camargo on Saturday evening, October 29 at 8:00 P.M.

The Dream received its World Premiere by The Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London on April 2, 1964, danced by Antoinette Sibley as Titania, Anthony Dowell as Oberon, and Keith Martin as Puck. American Ballet Theatre’s first-ever performance of The Dream was at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York on May 24, 2002, danced by Alessandra Ferri as Titania, Ethan Stiefel as Oberon, and Herman Cornejo as Puck. ABT last performed The Dream in 2014.

Alexei Ratmansky’s The Seasons will also return on the evening of Wednesday, October 26, featuring Isabella Boylston and Thomas Forster in the central roles. Hee Seo and Joo Won Ahn will make their debuts in the leading roles on Saturday, October 29. Please see the attached grid for additional principal casting.

Set to a score of the same name by Alexander Glazunov, The Seasons features costumes by Robert Perdziola and lighting by Mark Stanley. Created to commemorate Ratmansky’s 10th anniversary as ABT Artist in Residence, the ballet received its World Premiere on May 20, 2019 at the Metropolitan Opera House.

The 2022 Fall Gala performance on Thursday, October 27 will be highlighted by the World Premiere of Lifted by Christopher Rudd. Designed to highlight, amplify, and celebrate Black creative voices, Lifted will be performed by Erica Lall, Courtney Lavine, Calvin Royal III, Gabe Stone Shayer, Jose Sebastian, and Melvin Lawovi. The ballet will be set to music by Kennedy Center Composer-in-Residence Carlos Simon, with Roderick Cox making his debut as Guest Conductor with ABT. The work will feature costumes by New York-based creative director and fashion designer Carly Cushnie, sets by Carlos Soto, lighting by Alan Edwards, and dramaturgy by Phaedra Scott. Sarah Lozoff will serve as Intimacy Director.

The Fall Gala program will also highlight the Company in Sinfonietta, featuring many of ABT’s Principal Dancers and Soloists. Jiří Kylián’s Sinfonietta is set to music by Leoš Janáček, and features scenery and costumes by Walter Nobbe and lighting by Kees Tjebbes. The ballet was given its World Premiere in Charleston, South Carolina by the Nederlands Dans Theater on June 9, 1978, and received its ABT Premiere at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. on January 25, 1991. Sinfonietta will be staged for ABT by Roslyn Anderson and Glenn Edgerton.

Jessica Lang’s Children’s Songs Dance will feature performances by some of the newest members of the Company on Friday evening, October 28 and Saturday matinee, October 29. Set to selections from Children’s Songs by the late American jazz composer Chick Corea, the ballet was created on ABT Studio Company in January 2020 during a residency at The Pocantico Center in Tarrytown, New York. The work was first seen on screen as part of the ABT Studio Company Spring Festival, a program of filmed performances that aired online in June 2021. The ballet received its main Company Premiere on August 9, 2022 as part of Lincoln Center’s BAAND Together Dance Festival. This production of Children’s Songs Dance for the 2022 Fall season will feature new costumes by Jillian Lewis and lighting by Nicole Pearce.

Tickets for American Ballet Theatre’s 2022 Fall season, starting at $30, are available beginning Tuesday, September 6 at 12:00 Noon in person at the Koch Theater box office, by phone by calling 212-496-0600, and online. During the 2022 Fall season, ABT will offer audience members the opportunity to exchange their tickets or receive refunds free of charge up until Noon on the day of performance. Based on CDC and New York State guidelines at the time of performance, entry requirements for both adults and children may include valid proof of vaccination with a CDC approved COVID vaccine, mask usage, and more.

ABOUT AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE

American Ballet Theatre is one of the greatest dance companies in the world. Revered as a national treasure since its founding season in 1940, its mission is to create, present, preserve, and extend the great repertoire of classical dancing for the widest possible audience. Headquartered in New York City, ABT is the only cultural institution of its size and stature to extensively tour, enchanting audiences for eight decades in 50 U.S. states, 45 countries, and over 480 cities worldwide. ABT’s repertoire includes full-length classics from the nineteenth century, the finest works from the early twentieth century, and acclaimed contemporary masterpieces. In 2006, by

an act of Congress, ABT was designated America's National Ballet Company®.

Leadership support for Whipped Cream and The Seasons, part of The Ratmansky Project, has been generously provided by Avery and Andrew F. Barth, the Blavatnik Family Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton E. James, the Lloyd E. Rigler – Lawrence E. Deutsch Foundation, The Ted and Mary Jo Shen Charitable Gift Fund, and through an endowed gift from the Toni and Martin Sosnoff New Works Fund.

This production of The Dream is generously supported through an endowed gift from Anka Palitz, in memory of Clarence J. Palitz, Jr.

Children’s Songs Dance was commissioned by ABT Studio Company with leadership support from
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund. It was created in a residency at The Pocantico Center in Tarrytown, NY.

Commissions and presentations of new works by women choreographers are supported by the ABT Women’s Movement. Champion support for the ABT Women’s Movement is provided by Jenna Segal. Additional leadership support is provided by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

ABT’s Choreographic Innovation and Inspiration and Inclusion programs are generously supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Additional major support is provided by Mark Casey and Carrie Gaiser Casey, the Ford Foundation, The Ted and Mary Jo Shen Charitable Gift Fund and through an endowed gift from the Toni and Martin Sosnoff New Works Fund.

Special thanks to Denise Littlefield Sobel for her leadership gifts to: ABT’s Media Fund, advancing the Company’s digital endeavors; and ABT RISE, fueling the Company’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

American Airlines is a proud sponsor of American Ballet Theatre.
LG Electronics is the Global Electronics Partner of American Ballet Theatre. Bank of America is the Lead Corporate Partner of ABT Studio Company.

ABT is supported, in part, with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts; the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of The Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature; and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council.

[California]

Casting for each performance is now on the master calendar: https://www.abt.org/performances/master-calendar/?start=2022-10-20

I'm surprised to see that Aran Bell doesn't seem to be listed in any of the casting, including Seasons, a role he has done before. Sinfonietta doesn't list casting, so he might be doing that.

Both Whitehead and Stearns are scheduled.

[abatt]

18 minutes ago, California said:

I'm surprised to see that Aran Bell doesn't seem to be listed in any of the casting, including Seasons, a role he has done before. Sinfonietta doesn't list casting, so he might be doing that.

 

Yes, this is concerning and disappointing. 

[cobweb]

Only three performances of The Dream. Trenary and Camargo should be great as Titania and Oberon. I wonder who will do that Puck. In any case, I'm there!!

[ABT Fan]

1 hour ago, cobweb said:

Only three performances of The Dream. Trenary and Camargo should be great as Titania and Oberon. I wonder who will do that Puck. In any case, I'm there!!

Nice to see Trenary finally get some decent casting. She will be gorgeous as Titania.

I’m thrilled Coker gets a Princess Praline debut. Curious that several of The Boy and one Puck are TBA. I assumed Shayer would get those, as he’s done Boy before. Could we possibly get a debut by Magbitang, who I assume will be moved up to the corps for the season, for one of those??

Also agree that’s it’s strange Bell isn’t listed anywhere, not even for The Seasons.

[angelica]

I'm excited to see that Shevchenko is cast for opening night! Also Trenary as Titania.

Also glad to see Zimmi Coker and other upcoming corps members getting noticeable casting.

Can hardly wait until tickets go on sale. Helping me accept the coming of the end of summer.

 

[California]

4 hours ago, California said:

I'm surprised to see that Aran Bell doesn't seem to be listed in any of the casting, including Seasons, a role he has done before. Sinfonietta doesn't list casting, so he might be doing that.

The @ABTofficial photo posted today on Instagram includes Bell in a flesh-colored costume (does anybody recognize that?) and he is listed on the press release today. But his own Instagram has been quiet since a clip of Don Q from the spring. He also hasn't joined several ABT principals at a whirlwind of international festivals in the US and elsewhere this summer. Concerning...

https://www.instagram.com/p/ChptJEsp2YI/

[vagansmom]

Am I remembering correctly that he had an injury at the end of the season?

[ABT Fan]

2 hours ago, vagansmom said:

Am I remembering correctly that he had an injury at the end of the season?

Not that we saw and nothing official was announced. He and Shevchenko had their T&V's removed, without explanation, but the following week he did his two Romeo's without incident.

Maybe he has some guesting gigs that conflict with part of the fall season (like Trenary). It's possible we could see him in Sinfonietta. But, it is odd that he's not cast in Seasons and I really thought we'd see him debut as Oberon.

Added: is anyone else curious about, or reading into, the programming of The Dream, which they haven't done for years? Which contains two of the best roles for Murphy and Cornejo, the most senior dancers on the roster.....?

Edited August 25, 2022 by ABT Fan

[California]

35 minutes ago, ABT Fan said:

Not that we saw and nothing official was announced. He and Shevchenko had their T&V's removed, without explanation, but the following week he did his two Romeo's without incident.

And at the beginning of the Met season, his DonQ with Hurlin was cancelled and Ahn substituted. At the time, no explanation, but he was seen in rehearsal clips for Love and Rage, so the GUESS was to be safe and avoid injury for the premiere of Love/Rage. It's possible he's just been cast so much he needs a little rest or perhaps he has a slight injury that he doesn't want to take risks with. Pure speculation for all of this, but it does seem puzzling.

[vagansmom]

Re Aron Bell: I found the quote about a possible injury on the thread about Romeo and Juliet. I hope very much that Bell has other commitments and not an injury. JuliaJ posted, "Bell was also great, very boyish, and was technically strong although maybe a bit more careful than usual. There have been mysterious reports of him being injured this season, and I saw no clear evidence of that, although I've seen him give more "wow!" performances in the past. 

[ABT Fan]

11 hours ago, California said:

And at the beginning of the Met season, his DonQ with Hurlin was cancelled and Ahn substituted. At the time, no explanation, but he was seen in rehearsal clips for Love and Rage, so the GUESS was to be safe and avoid injury for the premiere of Love/Rage. It's possible he's just been cast so much he needs a little rest or perhaps he has a slight injury that he doesn't want to take risks with. Pure speculation for all of this, but it does seem puzzling.

I completely forgot about that DQ cancellation. Well, I hope we’ll get to see him in Sinfonietta and/or learn that he has a guesting gig somewhere and is not out with an injury.

[Helene]

Bell has ample opportunities to post whatever he wants us to know his status, and he hasn't indicated that he's injured.  Nor has the company, nor have any of his colleagues.

[JuliaJ]

In early July, during the program with Theme & Variations and the contemporary pieces, the company actually did insert a notice in the programs stating replacements "due to injury" (and Bell was originally supposed to dance in T&V and Zigzag and did not end up appearing in either). 

From Fjord Review's Don Q review: "Joo Won Ahn, who partnered Hurlin in place of an injured Aran Bell, was stalwart and handsome, but lacked pizazz." Not sure of the publication's fact-checking standards but presumably this was verified. 

Whatever the alleged injury, he did manage to dance Don Q (for the opening three-cast night and with Shevchenko as a replacement for Stearns), Of Love and Rage, Swan Lake, and Romeo and Juliet. 

 

Edited August 25, 2022 by JuliaJ

[coffeelover]

I was at ABT’s studios during the summer(post MET season that is) and saw Aran Bell there a couple times. Not sure if he was rehearsing or what but he did not appear injured to me. 

Edited August 25, 2022 by coffeelover
Clarifying info

[MoMo]

On 8/25/2022 at 7:15 AM, ABT Fan said:

I completely forgot about that DQ cancellation. Well, I hope we’ll get to see him in Sinfonietta and/or learn that he has a guesting gig somewhere and is not out with an injury.

I just saw an ABT publicity photo for Sinfonietta. Aran Bell was featured in the photo, along with Roman Zhurbin and Hee Seo.