Miami City Ballet Brings New Life to A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Miami City Ballet’s landmark 30th Anniversary Season culminates with an unprecedented reimagining of George Balanchine’s magical full-evening ballet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Balanchine’s classic choreography is the vehicle for Shakespeare’s timeless tale of love, magic and illusion, with ravishing music by Felix Mendelssohn (including the famous “Wedding March”). This reimagining includes all-new sets and costumes by artist Michele Oka Doner, and dramatic direction by playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney.
With a fairytale cast that includes 24 children and six vocalists, magical new sets and costumes, the music of the Opus One Orchestra and the breathtaking Miami City Ballet dancers, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a dazzling spectacle for families and audiences of all ages.
“With the importance of the water to our region and lives, the ocean makes an inspired backdrop for Balanchine’s reimagined ballet. Miami City Ballet is the ideal company to bring it all together for South Florida’s audiences,” says Victoria Rogers, VP/Arts of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, a major underwriter of the new production.
This unique reimagining of George Balanchine’s 1962 full-evening ballet is visually different and irresistible. Michele Oka Doner’s original new sets and costumes are inspired by local marine life, her designs referring to its forms and palette as a metaphor for Shakespeare’s and Balanchine’s magical forest. MCB Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez also brought Tarell Alvin McCraney on board to bring his unique expertise on the work of William Shakespeare into the dance studio, inspiring MCB dancers as dramatic coach. The music, Balanchine’s choreography, and Shakespeare’s story of course remain unchanged.
With permission from The George Balanchine Trust, this new production and unique artistic collaboration is a dream project for Lopez, who says, “I am overjoyed to bring Mr. Balanchine’s 1962 magical masterpiece, A Midsummer Night’s Dream to dancers and audiences. It is perhaps the most brilliant narrative ballet of the 20th century. An additional gratification for us is that the central role of Oberon was created on our Founding Artistic Director, Edward Villella. Presenting a reframing of this magnificent work is in perfect keeping with the goals of Miami City Ballet, a company steeped in tradition with its eyes on the future.”
The production is made possible by the tremendous generosity of philanthropists and community leaders, including the Title Sponsors of A Midsummer Night’s Dream Claudia and Steven Perles, who made an extraordinary gift of $1 million for the new production. Lead Sponsors of the production are MCB supporters Margarita and Armando Codina, and Ophelia and Juan Js. Roca; underwriters include Deborah and Charles Adelman; Sarah Arison; Ana and Robert Barlick; Stuart H. Coleman and Meryl Rosofsky; Swanee and Paul DiMare; Michele and Larry Herbert; Kristi and Dean Jernigan; Susan D. Kronick and Edward Manno Shumsky; Lewis Rainieri; and Mary Spencer. A Knight Arts Challenge grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation supports the creation and presentation of this work. The original children’s costumes have been made possible by Kinga and Edward Lampert. Bank of America is Miami City Ballet’s 30th Anniversary South Florida Corporate Leader and partners with MCB on this historic production.
MCB’s 30th Anniversary Season is presented in loving memory of R. Kirk Landon, a remarkable philanthropist, leader and beloved friend to Miami City Ballet.
Tickets start at just $20 and are on sale now. To purchase tickets or to learn more, visit miamicityballet.orgor call the MCB Box Office at 305.929.7010 or toll free at 877.929.7010.
When & Where
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Ziff Ballet Opera House
Address: 1300 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, FL 33132
- Friday, March 18, 8:00pm
- Saturday, March 19, 8:00pm
- Sunday, March 20, 2:00pm
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall
Address: 701 Okeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 - Friday, April 1, 8:00pm
- Saturday, April 2, 2:00pm & 8:00pm
- Sunday, April 3, 1:00pm
Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Au-Rene Theater
Address: 201 S.W. Fifth Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 - Saturday, April 9, 8:00pm
- Sunday, April 10, 2:00pm
Photos by Gene Schiavone
