Premiere of Vasterling's MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM Caps Nashville Ballet Season, 4/23

Nashville Ballet promises to unveil "magical surprises" in one of Shakespeare's favorite comedies with the world premiere of Paul Vasterling's original adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream, April 23-25, in Andrew Jackson Hall at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.

Bringing the written word to life through Mendelssohn's music and the narrative of dance, audiences will watch as Puck plays tricks on the ill-fated lovers in the enchanted forest and as the antics of the midsummer's night become resolved by the light of the day. 

Costumes and sets are being designed by Campbell Baird, the talented designer who created costumes for Nashville Ballet's critically- and audience-acclaimed Nashville Nutcracker. Performances will be accompanied by the Nashville Symphony conducted by Nashville Ballet music director Paul Gambill, vocalists Julie Cox and Amy Jarman and the 68-voice Nashville Children's Choir, directed by Dr. Madeline Bridges.

"One of our goals is to create and present works of art that affect, transform and lift the human spirit. We are so fortunate to have strong community support that wants us to create new works and bring the highest level of ballet to Tennessee," said Andrea Dillenburg, executive director of Nashville Ballet.

"Building a new production also assists in the growth of Nashville Ballet; by owning full productions, the institution builds tradition and strength within the community as a whole. This glorious story ballet is one of the most important works in a ballet company's repertoire and we are proud to have this new production as part of our offering for audiences today and in the future."

Events preceding the performance include story times at the Nashville Public Libraries with costumed dancers reading a children's version of the tale and the opportunity to create an arts and crafts project. There will also be a lunch-and-learn experience through TPAC's Inside Out of the Lunchbox series during which people can enjoy a box lunch in Jackson Hall while listening to Vasterling speak about the upcoming performance. This will be augmented with excerpts of the new production by Nashville Ballet company dancers and short scenes presented by actors from Nashville Shakespeare Festival.

Tickets for all performances can be purchased in person at the TPAC box office downtown or at Davis-Kidd Bookseller in The Mall at Green Hills, or by phone at (615) 782-4040. Single tickets can also be purchased online at www.nashvilleballet.com. Tickets are priced at $23-$77; groups of ten or more receive a discount. For information on group sales or to purchase group tickets, please call Meredith Benning at (615) 297-2966, ext. 10 or email subscriptions@nashvilleballet.com.

Curtain is at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 23 and Saturday, April 24, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, April 25.

Christopher Stuart as Puck in Nashville Ballet's A Midsummer Night's Dream, photo by Marianne Leech