Jason Tramm And Gabriel Chajnik Team Up In Axelrod Contemporary Ballet Theater's MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

The collaborative efforts of noted conductor Jason Tramm and choreographer Gabriel Chajnik take the stage in the inaugural production of the newly formed Axelrod Contemporary Ballet Theater in "Midsummer Night's Dream" August 29th and 30th at the Axelrod Performing Arts Center.

The work, based on the classic comedy by William Shakespeare and incorporating the brilliant orchestral music of the 17-year-old Felix Mendelssohn, is an original production directed and choreographed by Gabriel Chajnik with lighting design by Erik Herskowitz, costume design by José Solis, Joann DeLuca and Donna Silogy, set design by Fred Sorrentino and a new book devised by Sarah Joy Stone.

Dancing in the principal roles will be Narek Martirosyan as King Oberon, Anne Sandefur as Queen Titania, Gabriela Soto as Helena, Garrett McCann as Lysander, Michelle Joy as Hermia, Stefano Arrieta as Demetrius, Emmanuel Martirosyan as Puck, Olivia Miranda as Cowslip, Shoko Fujita as Mustard Seed, Audrey as Summer Fairy, Jen Roitas as Queen Hippolyta, and Ray Keller as King Theseus.

Igniting and inspiring the tale of love, magic and the power of art told through dance is Mendelssohn's enigmatic music played by a 20-piece orchestra under the baton of Jason Tramm. For his new production of "Midsummer Night's Dream" Chajnik's ballet combines Mendelssohn's Concert Overture, Opus 21 written in 1821 with his incidental music for Midsummer Night's Dream, Opus 61 written in 1842, months before the composer's death. The orchestral scoring used to evoke the other worldly realm of fairies and midsummer magic calls for two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, the ophicleide (now obsolete, often replaced by a tuba), timpani and strings - and rounded out by a third trumpet, three trombones, triangle and cymbals for the incidental music

"A 17-year-old Mendelssohn composed the overture to a Midsummer Night's Dream in 1826, originally written as a piano duet intended for a performance at home, with his sister Fanny,"said Tramm. "He and Fanny were captivated by Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, reading and rereading the comedy in both their native German and the original English. Fanny said Felix identified with all of the characters and recreated them musically. What resulted is universally thought to be single greatest composition by a young composer in the history of music. To give the teenage Mendelssohn's accomplishment some context, the comparison of Mendelssohn's Midsummer Night's Dream to Verdi's Act 3 music in Falstaff, depicting the magical midnight hoax in Herne's Oak in Windsor Park - was music written by Verdi in his late 70's - a master composer in possession of all his powers at the end of long and illustrious career" said Tramm.

"It's truly a joy working with Gabriel Chajnik. As a choreographer and director his inspiration begins with music. Audiences will be in for a treat, as ironically the most celebrated score to Shakespeare's comedy which we perform is infrequently united with stage action in any performance discipline" said Tramm.

The Axelrod Contemporary Ballet Theater was established in the fall of 2017 under the leadership of Board President Elise Feldman and Artistic Director and Choreographer Gabriel Chajnik. The mission of the Axelrod Contemporary Ballet Theater is to inspire an appreciation for dance-in both dancers and dance enthusiasts-through artistic excellence, innovative choreography, and exhilarating performances.

Through contemporary ballet, Gabriel Chajnik and his team of master instructors and professional performers will be able to inspire and teach young dancers to learn to express their talent, explore their creative spirits, and expand their artistic horizons. This training program is designed to underscore the joy of dance and prepare young dancers for the challenges of a career in dancing or a life of loving dance.

A Midsummer Night's Dream"

Axelrod Performing Arts Center (100 Grant Avenue, Deal, NJ)

August 29 at 8:00pm and Thursday, August 30 at 8:00pm.

Adult $35; Senior $32; Student $25 visit www.axelrodartscenter.com

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