The Kennedy Center presents Matthew Bourne’s production of "The Red Shoes"
Company:
Matthew Bourne
THE JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
presents
MATTHEW BOURNE’S
Production of THE RED SHOES
October 10–15, 2017
KENNEDY CENTER OPERA HOUSE
D.C. Premiere
AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE STAR MARCELO GOMES TO
ALTERNATE IN ROLE OF JULIAN CRASTER
Based on the film by MICHAEL POWELL and
EMERIC PRESSBURGER
and the HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN fairytale
Music by BERNARD HERRMANN
(WASHINGTON)—The Kennedy Center presents the New Adventures North American tour of Matthew Bourne’s critically acclaimed production of The Red Shoes, October 10 to 15, 2017. The tour will continue to Blumenthal Performing Arts, Charlotte and City Center, New York; having already played at Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles.
The Red Shoes is Matthew Bourne’s first new production in four years and had its world premiere at Sadler’s Wells, London, in December 2016, where it opened to rave reviews and sold out performances. The Red Shoes is currently selling out at venues around the United Kingdom and has just announced an unprecedented return to select venues due to popular demand.
The North American tour dates will feature the entire UK company: “Victoria Page,” the girl who dreams of being a great dancer, immortalized on screen by Moira Shearer, has been created by New Adventures star, Ashley Shaw, most recently seen across the UK and internationally as “Aurora” in Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty. Rising star and fellow “Aurora,” Cordelia Braithwaite, will also play the role, along with Sleeping Beauty favorite Katrina Lyndon in her principal role debut.
Sam Archer who created the title role of Edward Scissorhands in 2005 and who starred in Cinderella, The Car Man, and Play Without Words has returned to the company to play the iconic role of Svengali-like Impresario “Boris Lermontov.” One of New Adventures’ finest leading men, Chris Trenfield, will also play Lermentov, as well as musical genius “Julian Craster” the man with whom Victoria Page falls in love. Sharing the role of Julian will be one of New Adventures’ most popular dancers, Dominic North, who was this year nominated for his second National Dance Award, along with American Ballet Theatre star Marcelo Gomes, who will be making his debut as Julian. Gomes was last seen with New Adventures in The Car Man at Sadler’s Wells in 2015, having previously danced “The Swan” in Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake in Tokyo in 2014. Gomes appears regularly at the Kennedy Center with American Ballet Theatre, most recently in the role of Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake. His choreography was also featured in the Kennedy Center-commissioned film “Now More Than Ever,” directed by Ezra Hurwitz for the Center’s Ballet Across America festival, where he also appeared as a guest artist for the festival’s opening night program.
Completing the principal cast are the leading dancers of the Lermentov Company. Prima Ballerina, “Irina Boronskaja” is played by Michela Meazza, having returned to New Adventures where she has danced and created many leading roles (including “Lady H” in Dorian Gray, “Joyce” in Edward Scissorhands and “The Stepmother” in Cinderella. She is joined by Company favorites Anjali Mehra, most recently seen as both “The Queen” and “The Girlfriend” in Swan Lake and Nicole Kabera, who recently played “Queen Eleanor” in Sleeping Beauty.
“Ivan Boleslawsky” the role made famous by Robert Helpmann, has been created by one of New Adventures’ finest young dancers, Liam Mower (the original West End Billy Elliot, now taking on his seventh principal role with New Adventures). Also playing “Ivan” is popular company dancer, Danny Reubens, who triumphed recently as “Jack” in Lord Of The Flies.
Company choreographer and character dancer “Grischa Ljubov” has been created by veteran company dancer, Glenn Graham, who as well as playing “The Swan” in Swan Lake has recently been seen as “King Benedict” in Sleeping Beauty. Also playing the role of “Grischa” is Leon Moran, recently seen in Sleeping Beauty, The Car Man and as “Jim” in Edward Scissorhands.
Completing the New Adventures cast as the leading dancers and creative team behind the Ballet Lermentov are Steph Billers, Will Bozier, Jack Jones, Daisy May Kemp, Phil King, Dominic Lamb, Kate Lyons, Joe Walkling, and Katie Webb. Joshua Harriette (Ballet Black, Michael Clark Company), and Seren Williams (Ballet Central graduate) will make their debuts with New Adventures in this production.
A beloved fairytale and Academy Award®-winning movie, The Red Shoes has seduced audiences and inspired generations of dancers with its tale of obsession, possession and one girl’s dream to be the greatest dancer in the world. Victoria Page lives to dance but her ambitions become a battleground between the two men who inspire her passion.
Matthew Bourne’s magical new adaptation of the legendary Powell and Pressburger film reunites him with his regular collaborators and New Adventures Associate Artists and the team that brought you the world-wide hit, Sleeping Beauty: Lez Brotherston (set and costumes), Paule Constable (lighting) and Paul Groothuis (sound).
This production is set to a new score arranged by New Adventures Associate Artist, Terry Davies using the mesmerizing music of golden-age Hollywood composer, Bernard Herrmann (most famous for his collaborations with Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Welles, and Martin Scorsese), whose work ranges from the witty and playfully robust to the achingly romantic and bittersweet.
An intoxicating drama where life imitates art with fateful consequences, The Red Shoes will dazzle your senses and break your heart.
The North American tour dates will be supported across the continent with a program of workshops, curtain raisers, and masterclasses for young people and emerging artists led by Re:Bourne, the charitable arm of New Adventures.
Funding Credits
International Programming at the Kennedy Center is made possible through the generosity of the Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts.
Ticket Information
Tickets start at $29. Tickets can be purchased at the Kennedy Center Box Office, online, or by calling Instant-Charge at (202) 467-4600. Patrons living outside the Washington metropolitan area may dial toll-free at (800) 444-1324. For all other ticket-related customer service inquiries, call the Advance Sales Box Office at (202) 416-8540.
Performance Schedule
Matthew Bourne’s Production of The Red Shoes
Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 12, 2017 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 13, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 14, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 15, 2017 at 1:30 p.m.
For more information about the Kennedy Center visit www.kennedy-center.org.
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