Kansas City Ballet Opens 2023-2024 Season With JEKYLL & HYDE

Kansas City Ballet's 2023-2024 season opens with the highly anticipated North American premiere of Jekyll & Hyde, choreographed by Val Caniparoli, and accompanied by Kansas City Symphony performing the haunting original score conducted and arranged by Kansas City Ballet Music Director Ramona Pansegrau. Val Caniparoli's choreography had its world premiere at the Finnish National Ballet in 2020.

Choreographer Val Caniparoli shared: “I'm so excited that Kansas City Ballet will present the North American Premiere of Jekyll& Hyde. Bringing this ballet home to where it all began in workshops before the pandemic and after its premiere with Finnish National Ballet, has been a dream. To continue with my relationship with this world class establishment and these amazing artists in the studio has been a blast and I can't wait for you to see them bring the world of Jekyll & Hyde to life onstage."

This North American premiere of Val Caniparoli's newest ballet focuses on the eternal struggle of good versus evil as it plays out within one man. The ballet's narrative is framed as a feverish hallucination of Robert Louis Stevenson, as he imagines the tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. As the story progresses, the lines between reality and fiction become blurred with Stevenson realizing the dark side of human nature that he has unleashed into the world through his writing. Parental discretion is advised.

Kansas City Ballet Music Director and Jekyll & Hyde musical editor Ramona Pansegrau shared some of the aspects of the production. “The music of Jekyll and Hyde is built around Polish composers. Penderecki's 3rd symphony is a major component, with music by Gorecki used for smaller linking sections. The psychological aspect of both Hyde and Jekyll's minds are explored with the change of instrumentation in the works.” She continued, “The addition of music by Wieniawski and Kilar portray the more intimate, normal aspects of Jekyll's life, whereas the complex and fantastical music of Penderecki and Gorecki portray the cacophony and delusions buried in Hyde's twisted mind. Three centuries of Polish music capture the nature of both men. “

Devon Carney, Kansas City Ballet artistic director stated: “I'm honored that our company was chosen in 2019 by Val, this internationally renowned choreographer, to begin the process of bringing his vision to life prior to it ever being performed in Finland. He spent time with some of our Company artists years ago shaping his characters and choreography. To see the final product actually be the genesis of the character roles that came from his work with our dancers. We were the company that he trusted and wanted to work with in this way.

“We have a great team here in Kansas City that Val trusts. That trust has been built up over time and he knows we're going to do a great job of putting his work on stage and of making it look good. The fact that the production has in its DNA the choreography work done with our dancers but also the incredible work from Ramona on the score. She and Val collaborated on the music choices for years. What she has done is an incredible arrangement of music. It's exactly what it should be. This is a significant moment in her career. As an artistic director and as an organization, I'm really happy that this is happening for her, here.” 

Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a novella written by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, first published in 1886. The ballet's story follows Dr. Jekyll's pursuit of unleashing the hidden underbelly of the human experience and his descent into his evil alter ego, Mr. Hyde. The ballet features themes of duality, temptation, and the struggle between good and evil, and explores the consequences of Dr. Jekyll's experiments.

Jekyll & Hyde 

Oct. 13-22, 2023 | Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

1601 Broadway, Kansas City MO 64108

Choreography by Val Caniparoli 

Based on Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Music by Krzysztof Penderecki, Henryk Gorecki, Wozjciech Kilar, Henryk Wieniawski, and Frédéric Chopin performed by Kansas City Symphony

Music compiled, edited, and arranged by Ramona Pansegrau

Witness the psychological torment and self-destruction of Henry Jekyll, a morally upright and well-mannered doctor, as he struggles against the vile urges of his alter ego Edward Hyde in Victorian England. This North American premiere of Val Caniparoli's newest ballet focuses on the eternal struggle of good versus evil as it plays out within one man. 

Fri., Oct. 13 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 14 7:30 p.m.

Sun., Oct. 15 1:30 p.m.

Thurs., Oct. 19 7:30 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 20   7:30 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 21   1:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Sun., Oct. 22    1:30 p.m.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND EVENTS

Dance Speaks: Jekyll & Hyde
Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023 | Frost Studio Theater | Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity | 500 West Pershing Rd., KCMO 64108

5:15-6 p.m. | Jekyll & Hyde rehearsal

6-7 p.m. | Dance Speaks Panel

Kansas City Ballet Artistic Director Devon Carney invites Dance Speaks patrons to join him and guests Val Caniparoli, Maiqui Manosa, and Ramona Pansegrau in an engaging conversation inspired by the ballet Jekyll & Hyde. Get a sneak peek beforehand of a company rehearsal of Jekyll & Hyde and gain behind-the-scenes information about the production. The program includes an audience Q and A. Tickets only $12 at www.kcballet.org.

Dancer Chat: Jekyll & Hyde

Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, 6:30-7:15 p.m. | Virtual on Facebook LIVE

KC Ballet Dancer Chats, a FREE community engagement and education series, are designed to provide the broader public an opportunity to engage with and learn more about the professional dancers from Kansas City Ballet. This Dancer Chat features three KCB company dancers chatting about their roles in Jekyll & Hyde and sharing aspects of their life journey and dance experiences. These relaxed, informal conversations is moderated by a relevant KC community professional. This Dancer Chat will take place on Facebook LIVE. www.facebook.com/kcballet 

Belger Footnote Series

Artistic Director Devon Carney and guest artists offer audience members their views about the choreography, history, design elements and music of the evening's performance. These informal discussions are free for all ticketholders and are held at the theatre one hour prior to curtain for Kansas City Ballet shows except The Nutcracker. No reservations necessary.

Kansas City Ballet's website is mobile and ticket-purchase friendly. Receive daily updates by joining the KCB Fan Page, www.facebook.com/kcballet, and following @kcballet on Twitter. Follow our blog at www.kcballet.org/blog. Watch videos at www.youtube.com/kansascityballet or https://vimeo.com/kcballet, and view photos and video at www.instagram.com/kcballet/.

Purchase tickets:

• Online at www.kcballet.org with the Select Your Own Seat capability

• By telephone at 816.931.8993.

• At the Kauffman Center box office and website.

Ticket prices start at only $34, and subscribers receive a 20-percent discount. There is a $8.50 Kauffman Center facility fee per ticket and a $4 processing fee per order. Prices are subject to change.

Student Rush discount tickets are available, for $24 plus a $3.50 fee (with valid student ID, one ticket per ID). Purchase online here: https://kcballet.org/student-rush-tickets/ or 90-minutes prior to curtain at all performances based on availability. 

Seniors aged 62 or older and educators who present valid ID at the box office 90 minutes prior to all performances (except The Nutcracker) can purchase available rush tickets for as much as 40-percent off single ticket prices.

Find information and maps for Kauffman Center parking and construction updates at www.kcballet.org/planyourvisit. The Arts District parking garage, immediately south of and beneath the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, is the primary parking garage for Kansas City Ballet patrons. Advanced purchase of event parking is highly recommended as this lot has been known to sell out. Event parking is $10 per car for the garage or valet may be purchased in advance for $18 or for $20 upon arrival (if available). 

Kansas City Ballet is committed to providing assistance to those with disabilities. Direct questions and requests to Patron Services, 816.931.8993. Callers who are hearing impaired or hard of hearing can get help with telephone access by using the free relay service — 711.

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