Auditorium Theatre, Ravinia Festival Co-Commission New Twyla Tharp Works

In a momentous co-commission, Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University and Ravinia Festival, will present two new works by world-renowned choreographer Twyla Tharp November 6 - 8, 2015. Celebrating 50 years of creating dance for both modern and ballet companies, television, Broadway and Hollywood, the program will be seen throughout North America during a 10-week anniversary tour to 15 cities, honoring Tharp's five decades of dance-making. The new works, each comprised of 12 dancers-many whom have worked with Tharp over the years-will have music by J.S. Bach, Henry Butler, Steve Bernstein and John Zorn.

"Chicago is honored to be amongst the five other cities that have commissioned this exciting new work honoring one of the most celebrated choreographers of our time," said Auditorium Theatre Executive Director Brett Batterson. "Including this extraordinary 50th Anniversary Tour in the Auditorium's 2015-16 season continues our mission to feature the best dance from around the world. Ms. Tharp's contributions to dance are invaluable and have had a deep impact on choreographers working in all genres of dance today. It is a privilege to be a part of this significant anniversary celebration."

"There's a reason why legends become legends, and there are many reasons why Twyla Tharp is nothing short of a living legend, said Ravinia President and CEO Welz Kaufman. "That is why Ravinia is proud to be among the commissioners of this expansive new program that celebrates a brilliantly choreographed career that never lost momentum. Tharp is sort of like Ravinia itself, dancing on the line between history and progress and busting down the walls that separate genres, combining modern dance and ballet as fluidly as she calls upon Bach and Sinatra. This premiere presentation is just the latest in a long line of premieres at Ravinia in the last 15 years, from Golijov to Adams, Glass to Heggie, Rorem to Bill T. Jones."

The Joyce Theater in New York City and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. initiated the commissioning of these new works. In addition to the Auditorium Theatre and Ravinia Festival other members of the consortium include TITAS Presents in association with AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas and the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills.

The Auditorium Theatre's complete 2015-16 Season will be announced at a later date. Ravinia Festival's 2015 Season will be announced on March 5, 2015. This presentation is part of Ravinia's annual Ruth Page Festival of Dance.

Performance Schedule and Ticket Information

All performances are at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60605.

Friday, November 6, 2015 | 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 7, 2015 | 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 8, 2015 | 2:00 p.m.

Subscriptions will go on sale this spring, with individual tickets on sale over the summer. For more information, please visit AuditoriumTheatre.org.