Pacific Northwest Ballet is trying to take a lighthearted approach in announcing its new 2010-11 season, which trims the number of performances per program from eight to seven.
In a press release, PNB’s media relations manager Gary Tucker wrote, “Thank you, economy!”
The release said ticket sales and donations have suffered during the economic downturn and though PNB has enacted administrative staff furloughs, reduced expenses and renegotiated contracts with artists, the ballet company had to reduce the number of subscriber performances, beginning with the first program in the 2010-11 season.
Starting in September, PNB will eliminate the first Thursday performances and move opening night to Fridays. The first Thursday performances are the least-subscribed series, thus affecting the fewest number of subscribers.
For affected subscribers, PNB is offering to move dates, seats or series. Those subscribers should call the box office at 206-441-2424.
Though lighter on the number of performances, the season is a heavyweight in terms of its program, which includes the return of Jiri Kylian’s “Petite Mort,” Kent Stowell’s “Cinderella,” George Balanchine’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” company premieres of works by Jerome Robbins and Alexei Ratmansky and an all-Twyla Tharp program.
Subscriptions to the new season are available now. Call 206-441-2424 or inquire in person at the box office at 301 Mercer St., Seattle.
Single tickets go on sale to the general public July 19. For more information, go to www.pnb.org.
The new season program:
“Director’s Choice”: Opens Sept. 24. The program includes “Six Dances” and “Petite Mort,” with music by Mozart, choreography by Jiri Kylian and staging by Roslyn Anderson. Also “Jardi Tancat,” with music by Maria del Mar Bonet, choreography by Nacho Duato and staging by Hilde Koch. And the PNB premiere of “Glass Pieces” with music by Philip Glass and choreography by Jerome Robbins.
“All Tharp”: Opens Nov. 5. The program includes “Opus 111,” with music by Johannes Brahms and choreography by Twyla Tharp. Also “Afternoon Ball” with music by Vladimir Martynov and choreography by Tharp, and “Waterbaby Bagatelles” with music by 20th-century bagatelles, choreography by Tharp and staging by Shelley Washington.
“Cinderella”: Opens Feb. 4, 2011, with music by Sergei Prokofiev, choreography by Kent Stowell and staging by Stowell and Francia Russell.
“Ancient Airs/Modern Dances”: Opens March 18, 2011, with music by Ottorino Respighi and choreography by Richard Tanner. Also, a world premiere with choreography by Marco Goecke; “Pacific” with music by Lou Harrison, choreography by Mark Morris and staging by Tina Fehlandt and “The Piano Dance,” with music by John Cage, Frederic Chopin, Alberto Ginastera, Bela Bartok, Gyorgy Ligeti and choreography by Paul Gibson.
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”: Opens April 8, 2011, with music by Felix Mendelssohn and choreography by George Balanchine with staging by Francia Russell.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
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