ATTRACT Productions to Present Martha Graham Co at Skirball

Paul Szilard Productions, Inc. in association with ATTRACT Productions is presenting the Martha Graham Dance Company in a special engagement at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at NYU, 566 LaGuardia Place at Washington Square South, Tuesday, May 12th – Saturday, May 16th, 2009. The acclaimed company will be performing two programs and on Wednesday, May 13th will be a special Gala honoring Paul Szilard (guests & program tba).  

Program A (5/12; 15; 16 eve):  "Clytemnestra"(Music: Halim El-Dabh; Set by Isamu Noguchi; Costumes Martha Graham; Lighting by Jean Rosenthal; Premiere: 04/1/58).  This classic tale of love, betrayal and murder at the time of the Trojan War is reimagined by America's greatest choreographer through the eyes of Agamemnon's queen, the all-powerful Clytemnestra. Martha Graham's full-length Clytemnestra, is a landmark work not seen in its entirety in decades. Recently reconstructed for the company's 50th anniversary, it's believed by many to be Graham's finest dance-drama built on Greek mythology and the great Greek tragedies. The New York Times called the work "nothing short of epic drama,"

Program B (5/14; 16 mat):  "Lamentation Variations" (Choreography by Aszure Barton, Larry Keigwin and Richard Move; Lighting: Beverly Emmons; Conceived by Janet Eilber; World Premiere 09/11/2007 Joyce Theatre);  Sketches from "Chronicle" (Music: Wallingford Riegger; Costumes: Martha Graham; Original Lighting: Jean Rosenthal, lighting for reconstruction – 'Steps in the Streets' David Finley, 'Prelude to Action' Steven L. Shelleu; Premiere 12/20/36);  "Errand Into The Maze" (Music: Gian Carlo Menotti; Set: Isamu Noguchi; Costumes: Martha Graham; Original lighting: Jean Rosenthal Adapted by Beverly Emmons; Premiere 02/28/47) and "Maple Leaf Rag"   (Music: Scott Joplin, Orchestrated by Aaron Sherber; Costumes: Calvin Klein; Lighting: David Finley; Premiere 10/2/90).  A program of diverse repertory ranging from Graham's compelling rejection of war in Sketches from "Chronicle" to her lighthearted spoof, "Maple Leaf Rag" as well as three contemporary choreographers offering their take on Graham's iconic solo "Lamentation".      All programming subject to change

Founded in 1926 by dancer and choreographer Martha Graham, the Martha Graham Dance Company (Janet Eilber, Artistic Director; LaRue Allen, Executive Director) is the oldest and most celebrated contemporary dance company in America.  Since its inception, the Company has received international acclaim from audiences in over 50 countries throughout the world. Martha Graham choreographed 181 works in her lifetime. Though Martha Graham herself is the best-known alumna of her company, having danced from the Company's inception until the late 1960's, the Company has provided a training ground for some of modern dance's most illustrious performers and choreographers including: Merce Cunningham, ERick Hawkins, Pearl Lang, Elisa Monte, Paul Taylor, Glen Tetley, and Pascal Rioult. Among celebrities who have joined the Company in performance are Mikhail Baryshnikov, Claire Bloom, Margot Fonteyn, Liza Minnelli, Rudolf Nureyev, Maya Plisetskaya, and Kathleen Turner. The Martha Graham Dance Company has commissioned works from Twyla Tharp, Robert Wilson, Susan Stroman, Lucinda Childs, and Maurice Béjart.  http://marthagraham.org/company/

A former leading dancer, Paul Szilard has performed throughout the worlds.  As a world-renowned impresario, he has presented such prestigious dance companies as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (the exclusive international representative for over 37 years), New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theater to name a few.  He produced / presented the Bavarian National Ballet of the Munich State Opera; American Ballet Theater; the Alvin Ailey company.  Some of  the internationally acclaimed artists presented by Mr. Szilard include  Mikhail Baryshnikov, Eric Bruhn, Patrick Dupond, Judith Jamison, John Taras, Violette Verdy, Donna Wood and many others.  Mr. Szilard produced the first Japanese tour of "West Side Story" with an American cast rehearsed by Jerome Robbins.  It was the first English language Broadway show from New York to appear there. His acclaimed autobiography, Under My Wings: My Life as an Impresario, was published in 2002.

Performances: Tuesday 7:30pm; Thursday-Saturday 8:00pm; Saturday 2:00pm matinee and the Gala on Wednesday (5/13) at 7:00pm honoring Paul Szilard. Regular tickets are $35 - $65 and will be on sale soon through the Skirball Box Office (212) 992-8484 (Tues.–Sat. 1pm – 6pm) and online at www.skirballcenter.nyu.edu.

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