Vampires to Take the Stage in Halloween Performance of Matthew Bourne's SLEEPING BEAUTY

Blood-sucking Vampires take to the stage of New York City Center on Halloween, October 31, in Matthew Bourne's SLEEPING BEAUTY. As a special Halloween treat (or trick), the audience is invited to a free pre-show Halloween party at The Dream New York, completewith Vampire-inspired Blood-tini cocktails and complimentary Bloody Good Bubbly champagne cocktails for anyone in costume."

The party (for Sleeping Beauty ticket holders only) will be held at The Bar at The Dream New York, 210 W. 55th Street (between Broadway and 7thAvenue, down the block from City Center), from 5:30 - 7:15 pm.

Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty is like no other, lacking a prince, but gaining vampires, evil Counts and a handsome gamekeeper. The story begins in 1890, at the height of the fin-de-siecle period, when fairies, vampires and decadent opulence fed the gothic imagination. Years later, when the princess awakens from her century-long slumber, she finds herself in the modern day, a world more mysterious and wonderful than any fairy tale.

Matthew Bourne, who won two Tony Awards for his all-male Swan Lake, is bringing his newest work to New York­, where it opens at City Center onOctober 23 for a two-week run, prior to a national tour Bourne is widely hailed as the UK's most popular and successful choreographer/ director. He is the creator of the world's longest running ballet production (Swan Lake), a five-time Olivier Award winner, and the only British director to have won Tony Awards for both Best Choreographer and Best Director of a Musical.

Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty will run for 14 performances on the following schedule: Wednesday, October 23 at 8 p.m.; Thursday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, October 25 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, October 26 at 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, October 27 at 1:30 and 7 p.m.; Tuesday, October 29 at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, October 30 at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, October 31 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, November 1 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, November 2 at 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, November 3 at 2 p.m.

Tickets range from $30 to $130 and can be purchased at the New York City Center Box Office (West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues), through CityTix at 212-581-1212, or online at www.NYCityCenter.org. City Center is located on 55th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues.

Photo by Mikah Smillie.