Pacific Northwest Ballet Announces 2015-2016 Season, Which Features EMERGENCE, ROMEO ET JULIETTE

Artistic Director Peter Boal has announced to subscribers the line-up for Pacific Northwest Ballet's 2015-2016 season. Highlights include a program devoted to the work of American master choreographers George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, and Twyla Tharp; the return of popular works by Balanchine (The Prodigal Son), Robbins (The Concert), Christopher Wheeldon (Tide Harmonic), and Crystal Pite (Emergence); two story ballets (Roméo et Juliette and Coppélia), PNB premieres by Justin Peck, Jessica Lang, and Alejandro Cerrudo; a newly reconstructed Le Corsaire: A Pirate's Tale for matinee fanily audiences; and the unveiling of Balanchine's The Nutcrackerwith brand-new sets and costumes by Ian Falconer.

PNB is now accepting season subscription renewals and new subscription orders; New and renewing subscribers may also purchase tickets to the PNB premiere of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker, which goes on sale to the public onMay 18. The Box Office opens for 2015-2016 season single ticket sales on Monday, July 20. For further information, contact the PNB Box Office by phone at 206.441.2424, online at PNB.org, or in person at 301 Mercer Street. Discounted subscription rates are available for senior citizens and students with ID. All programming and dates are subject to change. For more information, visit PNB.org.

2015-2016 SEASON LINE-UP (programming subject to change):

First Look Gala

Friday, September 25, 2015

(Not part of PNB's subscription season. Call the PNB Box Office for details.)

Celebrate the opening of PNB's 43rd season with a glamorous cocktail party, an elegant backstage dinner, and a dance party onstage after the performance! Author/illustrator/designer Ian Falconer is scheduled to be PNB's honored guest at our season kick-off gala, which will include a first-look costume parade of his costume creations for George Balanchine'sThe Nutcracker. For information, visit PNB.org. (Performance tickets sold separately.)

Rep 1 - SEE THE MUSIC

September 25 - October 4, 2015

Tide Harmonic

Music: Joby Talbot

Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon

Costume Design: Holly Hynes

Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli

The Prodigal Son

Music: Sergei Prokofiev

Choreography: George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust

Staging: Peter Boal

Scenic and Costume Design: Georges Rouault

Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli

The Concert (or, The Perils of Everybody)

Music: Frederic Chopin

Choreography: Jerome Robbins

Staging: Jean-Pierre Frohlich with Judith Fugate

Scenic Design: Edward Gorey

Costume Design: Irene Sharaff

Lighting Design: Jennifer Tipton

Lighting Re-creation: Nicole Pearce

PNB's season opener welcomes the return of Balanchine's Prodigal Son, choreographed by the ballet master at the age of 25 for Diaghilev's Ballet Russes. Another relative youngster, Christopher Wheeldon, shares the program with Mr. B, represented by his dramatic Tide Harmonic (created for PNB in 2013). Jerome Robbins' sidesplitting comedy The Concert closes this perfect triple bill.

Rep 2 - EMERGENCE

November 6 - 15, 2015

Sum Stravinsky

Music: Igor Stravinsky

Choreography: Kiyon Gaines

Costume Design: Pauline Smith

Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli

The Calling (PNB Premiere)

Music: Anonymous (12th-13th century)

Choreography: Jessica Lang

Staging: Jessica Lang and Kanji Segawa

Costume Design: Elena Comendador

Costume Concept: Jessica Lang

Lighting Design: Al Crawford

World Premiere

Music: Barret Anspach

Choreography: Price Suddarth

Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli

Emergence

Music: Owen Belton

Choreography: Crystal Pite

Staging: Hope Muir

Scenic Design: Jay Gower Taylor

Costume Design: Linda Chow

Lighting Design: Alan Brodie

How many audience members have been counting the days until they could see Crystal Pite's Emergence again? PNB's dancers feel the same way. Kiyon Gaines' electric Sum Stravinsky was another audience favorite when it debuted in PNB's 2012 ALL PREMIERE program. A haunting work by choreographer Jessica Lang, artistic director of Jessica Lang Dance, receives its Company premiere, alongside a world premiere by our own Price Suddarth. This program provides a crystal ball-look at the next generation of dance makers.

George Balanchine/s THE NUTCRACKER™ (PNB Premiere)

November 27 - December 28, 2015

(Not part of PNB's subscription season. Call the PNB Box Office for details.)

Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Choreography: George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust

Staging: Peter Boal, Judith Fugate and Garielle Whittle

Scenic & Costume Design: Ian Falconer

Lighting Design: James F. Ingalls

This November, the curtain will rise on Pacific Northwest Ballet's magical new production of The Nutcracker. Featuring choreography by George Balanchine, Tchaikovsky's timeless score performed by the PNB Orchestra, amazing new sets and costumes by children's author/illustrator Ian Falconer (Olivia), and more than 150 roles, The Nutcracker is the new must-see event of the holiday season. PNB subscribers get first choice of seats to George Balanchine's The Nutcracker: Tickets go on sale to the general public on May 18.

Rep 3 - ROMÉO ET JULIETTE

February 5 - 14, 2016

Music: Sergei Prokofiev

Choreography: Jean-Christophe Maillot

Staging: Gaby Baars, Bernice Coppieters, Giovanna Lorenzoni

Scenic Design: Ernest Pignon-Ernest

Costume Design: Jérôme Kaplan

Lighting Design: Dominique Drillot

Jean-Christophe Maillot's brilliant take on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet garnered classic status when PNB became the first American company to present it in 2008. Though Maillot is the mastermind behind this intoxicating creation, credit also goes to his collaborators, lighting designer Dominique Drillot, set designer Ernest Pignon-Ernest, and PNB favorite, costume designer Jérôme Kaplan (Don Quixote, Giselle).

Rep 4 - DIRECTOR'S CHOICE

March 18 - 27, 2016

Rush

Music: Bohuslav Martinu

Choreography: Paul Gibson

Costume Design: Mark Zappone

Little mortal jump (PNB Premiere)

Music: Various

Choreography: Alejandro Cerrudo

Scenic Design: Alejandro Cerrudo

Costume Design: Branimira Ivanova

Lighting Design: Michael Korsch

Year of the Rabbit (PNB Premiere)

Music: Sufjan Stevens

Choreography: Justin Peck

Staging: Craig Hall and Janie Taylor

Costume Design: Justin Peck

Lighting Design: Brandon Stirling Baker

PNB's Paul Gibson wears several hats: an essential ballet master, scheduler, and teacher. And in his spare time, he's an impressive choreographer, too. Rush premiered in the Mercer Arts Arena in 2003, and although we don't want to revisit the venue, the ballet deserves another look. Reworked for this program, Rush kicks off a trio of works featuring PNB premieres by two talented young choreographers, Alejandro Cerrudo's Little mortal jump, and Justin Peck's Year of the Rabbit. Cerrudo is Resident Choreographer for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Peck is New York City Ballet's Resident Choreographer. This trio of contemporary works offers an energetic mix of speed, sculpture, and fresh musical offerings.

LE CORSAIRE: A Pirate's Tale (PNB Premiere)

March 20 - 26, 2016

(Part of PNB's "Family Matinees" series. Call the PNB Box Office for details.)

Music: Adolphe Adam, with additional music by Cesare Pugni and Léo Delibes

Choreography: Marius Petipa

Reconstruction and Staging: Doug Fullington

Scenic Design: Charlene Hall with additional scenery courtesy of PNB Scenic Department

Costume Design: Pacific Northwest Ballet Costume Shop

Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli

Ahoy, mateys! Join us for Pacific Northwest Ballet's new production of Le Corsaire: A Pirate's Tale. This one-hour swashbuckler features a band of pirates, a pompous Pasha, and a magical garden that comes to life in an adventure that's fun for the entire family. Featuring students of PNB School and the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Rep 5 - COPPÉLIA

April 15 - 24, 2016

Music: Léo Delibes

Choreography: Alexandra Danilova and George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust

Staging: Judith Fugate and Garielle Whittle

Scenic and Costume Design: Roberta Guidi di Bagno

Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli

Audiences and critics were captivated when the curtain rose on PNB's 2010 premiere of its exquisite, wisteria-hued production of Coppélia. Beautifully detailed by designer Roberta Guidi di Bagno's lavish sets and costumes, this production is a complete delight for all ages. The story is a lighthearted comedy of mistaken identity featuring vivacious Swanilda, her impetuous suitor Franz, the eccentric toymaker Dr. Coppelius, and a life-sized doll. All ends well in the final act's splendid wedding festivities, enhanced by 24 enchanting "baby" ballerinas.

REP 6 - AMERICAN STORIES

June 3 - 12, 2016

Fancy Free

Music: Leonard Bernstein

Choreography: Jerome Robbins

Staging: Judith Fugate

Scenic Design: Oliver Smith

Costume Design: Kermit Love

Original Lighting Design: Ronald Bates

Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli

Square Dance

Music: Antonio Vivaldi

Choreography: George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust

Staging: Peter Boal

Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli

Waiting at the Station

Music: Allen Toussaint

Choreography: Twyla Tharp

Scenic and Costume Design: Santo Loquasto

Lighting Design: James F. Ingalls

PNB closes the season with a look at three of the greatest choreographers of our time and their take on the American landscape. George Balanchine's Square Dance, originally performed with a caller seated atop bales of hay, equates the formal patterns of square dancing with the architecture of Vivaldi, Corelli, and classical ballet. Jerome Robbins' first work, Fancy Free, not only put himself, set designer Oliver Smith, and composer Leonard Bernstein on the map, it charted a whole new course for American theater and dance. The evening and the season close with Waiting at the Station, Twyla Tharp's epic creation for PNB, set to the foot-stomping rhythms of Allen Toussaint.

SEASON ENCORE PERFORMANCE

Sunday, June 12, 2016

(Not part of PNB's subscription season. Tickets to this event go on sale in 2016.)

NEXT STEP choreographers' showcase

Friday, June 17, 2016

(Not part of PNB's subscription season. Tickets to this event go on sale in 2016.)

35th Annual PNB School Performances

Saturday, June 18, 2016

(Not part of PNB's subscription season. Tickets to this event go on sale in 2016.)

Featuring Scènes de Ballet, choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon

Scènes de Ballet

Music: Igor Stravinsky

Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon

Scenic Design: Ian Falconer

Costume Design: Holly Hynes

TICKET INFORMATION:

Money-saving full-season (six-show) subscriptions, starting at $150, are on sale now. Subscriber benefits include free and easy ticket exchanges (excluding The Nutcracker), discounts off additional single ticket purchases, pre-sale privileges for special performances, the opportunity to purchase pre-paid parking, 20% off PNB School Open dance classes for adults, a subscriber discount card, and more. (Single tickets to the 2015-2016 season go on sale to the general public onMonday, July 20; Tickets to George Balanchine's The Nutcracker go on sale Monday, May 18.)

Subscriptions may be purchase through the PNB Box Office:

• Phone: 206.441.2424
• In Person: 301 Mercer Street at Seattle Center
• Online: PNB.org

For information on discount offers including 25 & Under tickets, Teen Tix, and Group Sales, visit PNB.org. While there, sign up on PNB's email list, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Be among the first to learn about PNB news, casting and performance updates, ticket offers, and more.

PNB offers a variety of free or affordably-priced special events for most of its productions, including previews, conversations, lectures, and Q&As. For more information, visit PNB.org and click on the "Events & Offers" tab under each specific production's listing.

Photo © Angela Sterling