Irvine Barclay Theatre Welcomes SLEEPING BEAUTY Ballet This Weekend

Presented by Festival Ballet Theatre, SLEEPING BEAUTY comes to Irvine Barclay Theatre tonight, March 19, 2016 at 7:00 PM and tomorrow, March 20, 2016 at 2:00 PM. This timeless love story will feature International Ballet Stars, Gillian Murphy and Marcelo Gomes and FBT's professional company dancers. Tickets: $40 adults; $35 senior (65+) and children (12 and under). Enjoyable for the entire family!

Celebrate spring with a full-length production of the beloved classical ballet, SLEEPING BEAUTY. FBT's heart-warming production of Tchaikovsky's masterpiece brings to life fabled storybook favorites Princess Aurora, Puss 'n Boots, Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf...characters that remind us that good always triumphs over evil.

SLEEPING BEAUTY is the story of a beautiful princess who, at her christening, is bestowed with enchanting gifts by the magical beings of her father's kingdom - the Fairies of Serenity; Benevolence; Generosity; Happiness; Temperament and, the embodiment of all that is good and kind, the Lilac Fairy. Furious at being overlooked, the Evil Fairy Carabosse places a curse on Princess Aurora as her "gift," proclaiming that upon reaching her 16th birthday, the Princess will prick her finger on a spindle and die. The Lilac Fairy, although unable to completely reverse the spell, vows that it will be only partly true. The Princess will prick her finger, but she will not die. Instead, she and the Court will fall into a deep, 100-year long sleep until a handsome Prince awakens her with a kiss. On her 16th birthday, the curse is fulfilled: the Princess pricks her finger, and falls into a long sleep. Upon the passing of 100 years, Prince Florimund finds our sleeping heroine, breaking the 100 years of sleep when he kisses the Princess and declares his love for her. The King and Queen are overjoyed and call for a magnificent royal wedding. And, yes, everyone lives happily ever after.

Set to the music of Peter Tchaikovsky, SLEEPING BEAUTY was first performed by the Russian Imperial Ballet in January 1890.

Watch a preview below!