Theatrical Comedy and a Powerful Masterwork In One Production
Ballet West presents two productions in one featuring Sir Frederick Ashton’s The Dream and Bronislava Nijinska’s Les Noces (The Wedding), running Nov. 7-15 at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre.
This extraordinary program pairs the comedic charm of Shakespeare’s enchanted forest in The Dream with one of ballet’s most powerful masterworks of Les Noces.
Sir Frederick Ashton’s The Dream, a Victorian-era adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, blends classical ballet with theatrical comedy, including a male dancer performing on pointe to create the appearance of hooves one of the characters.
“The Dream is actually one of my favorite works,” said Ballet West Artistic Director Adam Sklute. “It follows Shakespeare’s story beautifully, is both charming and comic, and has wonderful references to other classic ballets throughout.”
The program also includes Les Noces, Bronislava Nijinska’s revolutionary 1923 masterpiece set to Stravinsky’s dramatic score. This artistic rarity features groundbreaking choreography by a woman with scenic and costume designs also by another woman, Natalia Goncharova, a notable achievement for its era.
The production also requires enormous resources with four pianos, full chorus, solo singers, percussion, and over 40 cast members on stage.
Performance Details
Ballet West’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs from Nov. 7-15 at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City. Single tickets are available, starting at $32.
ABOUT BALLET WEST
Ballet West, led since 2007 by Artistic Director Adam Sklute, has been celebrated for innovation and excellence since 1963. Based in Salt Lake City, it presents classical masterpieces, historic works like America’s 1st Nutcracker™, and groundbreaking creations with unparalleled artistic standards.
