Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Will Perform A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM with Live Orchestra
Ben Stevenson's ballet premieres in Pittsburgh at the Benedum Center with the Mendelssohn Choir
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's (PBT) Pittsburgh premiere of Ben Stevenson, OBE's A Midsummer Night's Dream will open on Friday, May 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the Benedum Center. Stevenson's ethereal ballet retelling of this Shakespearean comedic romp is presented with live music from the PBT Orchestra and the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh. PBT will present four performances of this whimsical, family-friendly ballet from May 15-17 as the closing production of its 2025-26 Dream Season.
A Midsummer Night's Dream ballet, based on William Shakespeare's iconic comedy, weaves a tale of quarrels and reconciliations between Oberon and Titania, the fairy king and queen and the romantic misadventures of two mortal couples—all under the spell of the mischievous fairy Puck. The dreamy forest escapade will captivate audiences with its comedy, romance and playfulness. The ballet incorporates stunning costumes, lush scenery, exceptional choreography and a recognizable, vibrant Felix Mendelssohn score, brought to life by the PBT Orchestra and the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh.
The production's four performances have several different PBT artists portraying the lead characters. The artists will dance in the lead roles for the following performances:
Titania and Oberon, the Fairy Queen & King:
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PBT Principal Artists Hannah Carter and Lucius Kirst (5/15, 7:30 pm and 5/17, 2:00 pm)
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PBT Principal Artists Grace Rookstool and Colin McCaslin (5/16, 2:00 pm)
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PBT Principal Artist Tommie Lin Kesten and Soloist David O'Matz (5/16, 7:30 pm)
Hermia & Lysander, a mortal couple in love whose lives are thrown off track by Puck's magic spell
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PBT Principal Artist Tommie Lin Kesten and Soloist David O'Matz (5/15, 7:30 pm & 5/17, 2:00 pm)
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PBT Corps de Ballet Artists Abigail Huang and Henrique Barbosa (5/16, 2:00 and 7:30 pm)
Helena and Demetrius, two humans drawn together by Puck's magic spell who fall in true love as a result of it.
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PBT Principal Artists Grace Rookstool and Colin McCaslin (5/15, 7:30 pm and 5/17, 2:00 pm)
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PBT Corps de Ballet Artists Ariana Chernyshev and Ethan Clarisey (5/16, 2:00 and 7:30 pm)
“I am thrilled to have Pittsburgh audiences experience Ben Stevenson's enchanting production of A Midsummer Night's Dream,” said Adam W. McKinney, artistic director at PBT. “This beautiful, family-friendly story ballet, filled with magic and whimsy, is perfect for audiences of all ages.”
Ben Stevenson OBE was a decorated and acclaimed ballet dancer, teacher, ballet director and choreographer. Stevenson's profound impact on dance spanned decades and continents, shaping countless careers and elevating ballet companies to global prominence. Regarded as the Artistic Director of Houston Ballet, Texas Ballet Theater and Co-Director of the now defunct National Ballet, he choreographed more than 30 ballets, including Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, Dracula and the beloved parody The Nutty Nutcracker. For his lifetime of achievement, Stevenson was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 1999. He also received three gold medals at the International Ballet Competition (1972, 1982, 1986), the Dance Magazine Award in 2000 and the Texas Medal of Arts in 2005.
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