John Cranko News

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Boston, Chicago, Ireland and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include WAITRESS at A.R.T., RING OF FIRE in Chicago, and THE FIX in Washington, DC, just to name a few.

Harper will contribute her high-kicking talents to the acclaimed National Touring production

Boston, MA—Boston Ballet Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen has announced the 2015-2016 season roster, featuring 11 new dancers and six promotions from within the Company. The Company will be comprised of 68 dancers—including 10 dancers in Boston Ballet II (BBII)—representing 20 nationalities. The full company has returned to its 19 Clarendon Street studios in preparation for the 2015-2016 season.

Stella Abrera and Misty Copeland have been promoted to the rank of Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre and Skylar Brandt, Thomas Forster, Arron Scott and Cassandra Trenary have been promoted to Soloist effective August 1, 2015.   In addition, Maria Kochetkova, a principal dancer with San Francisco Ballet and Alban Lendorf, a principal dancer with Royal Danish Ballet will join the Company as Principal Dancers and Jeffrey Cirio, a principal dancer with Boston Ballet, will join ABT as a Soloist, it was announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie.

HOUSTON, TEXAS – Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch promoted Jared Matthews to the rank of principal dancer after a well-received performance as Lucentio in John Cranko's production of The Taming of the Shrew on Saturday, June 20. 

Melody Mennite, who portrays Katherina in Houston Ballet's THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, was given the responsibility of bringing emotional content to senseless violence and etching butt kicking into your memory. As you'll see in our discussion, she worked very hard before she delivered.

William Shakespeare's THE TAMING OF THE SHREW is a comedic, character-driven piece about the courtship of volatile Katherina and obnoxious Petruchio. Character pieces require great characters, naturally, and great performers. In his ballet adaptation, John Cranko delivers. In the Houston Ballet production, so do the dancers.

From tonight, June 11, through June 21, 2015, Houston Ballet will present John Cranko's staging of The Taming of the Shrew, a masterful choreographic depiction of Shakespeare's perpetually battling lovers, Petruchio and Katherina, and of Petruchio's determination to bend the feisty, independent-spirited and tempestuous Katherina to his will. Incorporating a stunning array of dramatic moods, virtuoso dancing and vivid characterization, The Taming of the Shrew conveys like no other ballet Shakespeare's wit, brilliant comic invention and sharp understanding of human character. Houston Ballet will give seven performances of The Taming of the Shrew at Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston.

Summer is coming and luckily for you, here in Houston there is no shortage of nice, air-conditioned theaters for you to choose from. With so many choices it can be a daunting task, so let the BWW Houston editors give you their picks for the upcoming summer season.

HOUSTON, TEXAS - From June 11-21, 2015, Houston Ballet will present John Cranko's staging of The Taming of the Shrew, a masterful choreographic depiction of Shakespeare's perpetually battling lovers, Petruchio and Katherina, and of Petruchio's determination to bend the feisty, independent-spirited and tempestuous Katherina to his will. Incorporating a stunning array of dramatic moods, virtuoso dancing and vivid characterization, The Taming of the Shrewconveys like no other ballet Shakespeare's wit, brilliant comic invention and sharp understanding of human character.  Houston Ballet will give seven performances of The Taming of the Shrewat Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston. Tickets may be purchased by calling 713 227 2787 or by visiting www.houstonballet.org.

From June 11-21, 2015, Houston Ballet will present John Cranko's staging of The Taming of the Shrew, a masterful choreographic depiction of Shakespeare's perpetually battling lovers, Petruchio and Katherina, and of Petruchio's determination to bend the feisty, independent-spirited and tempestuous Katherina to his will.

From tonight, May 28 - June 7, 2015 Houston Ballet offers up a mixed repertory program titled Morris, Welch & Kylian featuring three of today's most dynamic and musical choreographers.

The Joyce Theater Foundation, Inc. is thrilled to present the New York debut of the Polish National Ballet, Poland's leading ballet company based in Warsaw, from June 16-21. The company, under the artistic direction of Krzysztof Pastor, will present a program of three works: two by Pastor (Adagio & Scherzo, a US Premiere and Moving Rooms, a New York Premiere) and Emanuel Gat's acclaimed Rite of Spring.  Tickets range in price from $10-$49 ($26-$37 for Joyce Theater members), and can be purchased through JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800 or via the internet at www.joyce.org.  The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street.

From May 28 - June 7, 2015 Houston Ballet offers up a mixed repertory program titled Morris, Welch & Kylian featuring three of today's most dynamic and musical choreographers. A world premiere of The Letter V by acclaimed American choreographer Mark Morris, the world premiere of Stanton Welch's Zodiac and the revival of Ji?i Kylian's iconic Svadebka make this program a must-see for all ballet lovers. Zodiac is made possible through the generosity of Leticia Loya. Houston Ballet will give six performances of Morris, Welch & Kylian at Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston.  Tickets start at $20, and may be purchased at www.houstonballet.org, or by calling 713 227 2787. 

KAREN SCALZITTI-KENNEDY, former principal dancer of the Boston Ballet and Ballet West, will teach master classes for the Allen Civic Ballet's Summer Intensive on June 8, 9 and 10, 2015 at the Allen Civic Ballet's School in Allen, Texas.

In addition to being an incredible highlight of YAGP's work, what other night can one see the best of the best and the best to be on one stage? From quivering port de bras of an eager eleven year old to the stoic grace of Paloma Herrera, YAGP proudly endorsed its place in supporting generations of premier artists.

FRANCES CHUNG and TIIT HELIMETS, principal dancers of the San Francisco Ballet, will appear as guest artists in the Allen Civic Ballet/Allen Philharmonic's joint production of Swan Lake Act III on May 16, 2015 at the Performing Arts Center at Allen High School in Allen, Texas. Ms. Chung and Mr. Helimets will be dancing the Black Swan Pas de Deux as part of this production. Ms. Chung and Mr. Helimets will also teach master classes prior to this performance.

Miami City Ballet has been in a period of transition, a transformation if you will, that has been unsurprisingly effective in reinventing the company and catapulting it to the world-class ballet company that it has always been on the verge of becoming. Lourdes Lopez' arrival in 2012 has infused the company with balance: balance of repertoire, style, choreography, and a complete re-imagining of how to stay true to the fundamental nature of the company without becoming conventional.

ZHONG-JING FANG, a member of American Ballet Theatre, and TERRY EDLEFSEN, a former principal dancer of the Stuttgart Ballet and the Australian Ballet, will be on the faculty for the Brandywine Ballet's Summer Intensive.