The Pacific Northwest Ballet Presents DIRECTOR'S CHOICE Featuring TAKE FIVE...MORE OR LESS, and More, 3/14-23

For DIRECTOR'S CHOICE, the fourth program of Pacific Northwest Ballet's 2013-2014 season, Artistic Director Peter Boal selects from his roster of acquisitions and increases them by one: The captivating mixed-bill program will feature a much-anticipated world premiere by Alejandro Cerrudo, resident choreographer of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. The program also reprises audience favorites TAKE FIVE...More or Less, Broadway-darling Susan Stroman's sunny slice of jazz-infused Dave Brubeck fun; and Susan Marshall's distinctive aerial duet, Kiss. Rounding out the lineup is Molissa Fenley's State of Darkness, a tour-de-force solo performance set to Stravinsky's riot-inducing The Rite of Spring. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE runs for seven performances only, March 14-23, 2014 at Seattle Center's Marion Oliver McCaw Hall. Tickets start at just $28 and may be purchased by calling the PNB Box Office at206.441.2424, online at PNB.org, or in person at the PNB Box Office, 301 Mercer Street.

The line-up for DIRECTOR'S CHOICE will include:

TAKE FIVE...More or Less
Music: Dave Brubeck (Blue Rondo a la Turk and Strange Meadow Lark, 1959)
and Paul Desmond (Take Five, 1959), orchestrated by Doug Besterman
Choreography: Susan Stroman
Peter Boal invited Tony Award-winning director-choreographer Susan Stroman to create a new work for PNB's 2008 Laugh Out Loud! Festival. The happy result was TAKE FIVE...More or Less, a joyous ensemble piece for eleven dancers set to the famous jazz scores of Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond.

Kiss
Music: Arvo Pärt (Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten, 1977)
Choreography: Susan Marshall
Set to the profound, minimal music of Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, Kiss is a brief yet mesmerizing aerial pas de deux that explores the balance of human love and emotion. Susan Marshall's choreography sets two dancers suspended in harnesses above the stage floor. Dressed casually in street clothes, they move together, separate, and return to one another in a series of gentle, sweeping movements that embody both the pleasure and torment of being in love.

State of Darkness
Music: Igor Stravinsky (Le Sacre du Printemps [The Rite of Spring], 1911-1913)
Choreography: Molissa Fenley
Molissa Fenley's intensely dynamic solo, State of Darkness, is set to Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring. Commissioned by the American Dance Festival, State of Darkness was first performed by Fenley herself, who received a New York Dance & Performance "Bessie" Award in Choreography for the work in 1988. For his 1999 revival performance of State of Darkness, Peter Boal received a Bessie Performance award.

World Premiere
Music: TBA
Choreography: Alejandro Cerrudo
Born in Madrid, Spain, Alejandro Cerrudo was named Choreographic Fellow at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago in 2008 and became the company's first Resident Choreographer in 2009. "His works enthrall audiences all over the world, [and] are performed by the best companies...One of his essential gifts is the intricate and profound way that he sees music." (Huffington Post)

BOX OFFICE & TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets ($28 - $179) may be purchased through the PNB Box Office:
• Phone: 206.441.2424 (Mon.-Fri. 9am-6pm; Sat. 10am-5pm)
• In Person: 301 Mercer Street at Seattle Center (Mon.-Fri. 10am-6pm; Sat. 10am-5pm)
• Online: PNB.org (24/7/365)
Tickets are also available 90 minutes prior to each performance at McCaw Hall, located at 321 Mercer Street. Discounted rush tickets for students and senior citizens (with ID) may be purchased day-of-show, subject to availability.

25 & UNDER OFFER
March 14, 20 & 21 at 7:30 pm
One ticket for $15 and two for $25 for patrons 25 years and younger! To purchase tickets, contact the PNB Box Office at 206.441.2424 or visit 301 Mercer Street. (25-and-Under tickets not available online.) This offer is good for the March 14, 20 and 21 performances only.Offer is subject to availability and not valid on previously purchased tickets. Each attendee must present valid I.D. upon ticket retrieval.

TEEN TIX
PNB is a proud participant of Teen Tix! As active members of Teen Tix, young people 13 to 19 years old can purchase tickets to PNB performances and other music, dance, theater and arts events for only $5. To join Teen Tix or view a list of participating organizations, visit TeenTix.org

GROUP SALES
Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. For group tickets, please call 206.441.2416, email juliej@pnb.org, or use PNB's online contact form at PNB.org/Season/GroupTickets

SPECIAL EVENTS

SPECIAL SEMINAR: All About Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring"
Saturday, March 1, 3:00 pm
The Phelps Center, 301 Mercer Street, Seattle
Fresh off its hundredth birthday, Stravinsky's notorious Rite of Spring continues to fascinate audiences around the world. During this two-hour presentation, attendees will learn about the riotous Paris premiere of this great work and how it has inspired dozens of subsequent productions; watch excerpts from the 1988 reconstruction of the original for the Joffrey Ballet; and chat with PNB dancers who will perform Molissa Fenley's solo interpretation, State of Darkness, on PNB's DIRECTOR'S CHOICE program. Tickets for this special event ($25) are available through the PNB Box Office.

FRIDAY PREVIEWS
Friday, March 7, 6:00 pm
The Phelps Center, 301 Mercer Street, Seattle
Join us for an hour-long dance preview led by Artistic Director Peter Boal and featuring PNB dancers rehearsing excerpts fromDIRECTOR'S CHOICE. PNB Friday Previews offer an upbeat and up-close view of the Company preparing to put dance on stage. Tickets are $12 and may be purchased through the PNB Box Office. Note: This event will sell out in advance.

BALLET PREVIEW - FREE
Tuesday, March 11, 12:00 noon
Central Seattle Public Library, 1000 Fourth Avenue, Seattle
Join PNB for a free lunch-hour preview lecture at the Central Seattle Public Library. Education Programs Manager Doug Fullington will offer insights about DIRECTOR'S CHOICE, complete with video excerpts. FREE of charge.

PNB LECTURE SERIES & DRESS REHEARSAL
Thursday, March 13, 2014
6:00 pm Lecture, Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at McCaw Hall
7:00 pm Dress Rehearsal, Brotman Auditorium at McCaw Hall
Join Artistic Director Peter Boal in conversation with choreographer Alejandro Cerrudo during the hour preceding the dress rehearsal, discussing the creative process involved in the development of a new ballet. Attend the lecture only or stay for the dress rehearsal. Tickets are $12 for the lecture, or $30 for the lecture and dress rehearsal. Tickets may be purchased through the PNB Box Office.

PRE-PERFORMANCE LECTURES
Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at McCaw Hall
Join Education Programs Manager Doug Fullington for a 30-minute introduction to each performance, including discussions of choreography, music, history, design and the process of bringing ballet to the stage. One hour before performances. FREE for ticketholders.

POST-PERFORMANCE Q&A
Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at McCaw Hall
Skip the post-show traffic and enjoy a Q&A with Artistic Director Peter Boal and PNB dancers, immediately following each performance. FREE for ticketholders.