Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School Showcases Rising Talent

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CONTACT:  Meghan McNamara
412-454-9117                                                                                                                    mmcnamara@pittsburghballet.org    
           

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School Showcases Rising Dance Talent in Spring Performance 2013 & Pre-Professional Showcase 2013

PITTSBURGH, PA (April 2013) – As the capstone of the 2012-2013 school year, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School will spotlight the talent and diversity of nearly 200 students in the 2013 Spring Performance and Pre-Professional Showcases onstage this May in the Cultural District.

Spring Performance 2013 – August Wilson Center
Friday, May 10, 2013 and Saturday, May 11, 2013 at 7 p.m.

Under the direction of PBT Artistic Director Terrence S. Orr and School Directors Marjorie Grundvig and Dennis Marshall, nearly 200 students from the school’s Student and Pre-Professional divisions will perform a range of classical and contemporary works, including choreography by James Washington of the August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble.

The program will include two works staged by PBT Artistic Director Terrence S. Orr – Graduation Ball, choreographed by David Lichine, as well as Swan Lake Act II Divertissements in anticipation of PBT’s upcoming full-length production of Swan Lake in the 2013-2014 Season. Graduation Ball is a one-act ballet full of festivities, flirtations and exuberant divertissements that take place when a girl’s boarding school and a nearby military academy come together to celebrate their Graduation Ball. In a cameo appearance as the headmistress, PBT company soloist Robert Moore will reprise the en travesti talents he recently performed as a Stepsister in PBT’s 2012-2013 Season finale Cinderella. PBT School Faculty member and former San Francisco Ballet principal Andre Reyes also will join the students onstage to perform the character role of the General.

In an artistic offshoot of PBT’s partnership with the August Wilson Center, James Washington of the August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble choreographed Beauty, The Lack Of on a group of PBT graduate students in December 2012. Set to music by Olafur Arnalds, the contemporary ballet work is about discovering the joy in life. Pre-Professional students also will perform the elegant classical quartet Quattro a Verdi, choreographed by Michael Smuin and staged by PBT School’s Andre Reyes. Finally, the choreography of PBT School Principal Anastasia Wovchko explores the artistic journey of 120 students in Level I-B through VI in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Pre-Professional Showcase 2013 – Point Park University, George Rowland White Performance Studio
Friday, May 17, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, May 18, at 1 p.m. & 7 p.m.; Sunday, May 19, at 1 p.m.

PBT School’s Pre-Professional Showcase features the high school and graduate students, ages 14 to 22, who are training to be the next generation of professional ballet dancers. In addition to Swan Lake Act II Divertissements,Beauty, the Lack of; Graduation Ball and Quattro a Verdi, the program will include an all-male work created by PBT School’s newest faculty member, Andre Reyes, to spotlight the talents of the young men of the Pre-Professional program. Spanning a range of age groups and training levels, PBT School dancers include 15 international students representing Japan, Canada, Guam and Japan, as well as incoming 2013-2014 PBT company apprentice Diana Yohe.

Tickets          
Tickets for Spring Performance 2013 range in price from $16.75-28.75, and can be purchased online at www.pbt.orgor by calling 412-456-6666. Tickets for the 2013 Pre-Professional Showcase are available for $20 online atwww.pbt.org or by calling 412-281-0360.

About Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School is the official training institution of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and has an enrollment of over 900 students, including the Children’s, Student, Pre-Professional and Open Divisions. The Children’s Division gives young students an introduction to ballet and prepares them for advancement to the Student Division. Dancers in the Student Division work to refine their technique and dancers in the Pre-Professional Program prepare for professional careers in classical ballet. Many students perform in an annual School Spring Performance, and some students are chosen by Artistic Director Terrence S. Orr to perform with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre at the Benedum Center. Each year, PBT School students can audition for The Nutcracker, and in 2012 more than 150 were cast in a variety of roles.

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre to Premiere Autism-Friendly Performance of The Nutcracker

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Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Contact: Meghan McNamara
Marketing Coordinator
412-454-9117
mmcnamara@pittsburghballet.org

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre to Premiere First-Ever Autism Friendly Performance of The Nutcracker

(Pittsburgh, PA) –  Marking the final day of Autism Awareness Month, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre announces the 2013 premiere  of its first-ever autism-friendly production of The Nutcracker, the first of its kind in the country to make the magic of the holiday classic accessible to children on the autism spectrum and their families. The autism-friendly performance will take place at 2 p.m. Friday, December 27, 2013 at the Benedum Center.

“The Nutcracker is a holiday staple in ballet companies across the country and an annual tradition for many families here in Pittsburgh, so we are particularly excited to pilot this program with a timeless story that reaches so many people year after year,” said PBT Artistic Director Terrence S. Orr. “With this special performance, we want families to know that we are performing with them in mind and welcome them to experience this production in a comfortable and inclusive atmosphere.”

To be autism-friendly, the entire theater will be reserved for families with individuals on the autism spectrum to create a fully supportive audience environment. Autism-friendly accommodations will include designated quiet areas and activity stations in the lobby, adjustments to potentially startling light, sound and special effects and opportunities for families and children to familiarize themselves with the production in advance. Throughout the performance, the house lights will remain dimly lit and audience members will be free to come and go from their seats as needed. In advance of the performance, PBT will distribute online an illustrated guide, or social story, to walk audience members through the theater experience from the layout  of the Benedum Center to the characters, scenery and music of  The Nutcracker production.

“This is a performance where families can come as they are and be who they are. Whether they are looking for a new artistic experience, bonding time with their family, or simply an escape into a magical world, we can offer all of that through this performance, “said PBT Education Director Alyssa Herzog Melby, who heads Accessibility Initiatives at PBT. “We hope that we can become a model for other ballet companies across the country to open their doors to people on the autism spectrum, sharing the beauty of what we do with all people in our community.”

Autism Spectrum Disorders affect 1 in 88 children in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The effects of autism are unique to every individual, though ASD characterizations usually include difficulties with social interaction and communication.  Many children with autism  have sensory sensitivities in response to sounds or sights, which is one of the focused areas of adaptation for autism-friendly productions.

Although autism-friendly productions have begun to establish a foothold in the theater world, autism-friendly performances are relatively new to ballet. This year, for example, New Jersey Ballet presented an autism-friendly version of Pinocchio; but, to date, no other U.S. ballet company has presented an autism-friendly version of The Nutcracker, according to PBT research.

“Very few times in our careers as dancers will we get the chance to do something this important. The autism-friendly performance will join Light/The Holocaust and Humanity Project as one of those defining moments for me,” said PBT Dancer Stephen Hadala, who has performed in all 11 seasons of Terrence S. Orr’s The Nutcracker. “This performance gives us an opportunity to use our art form to do something for the community, and it’s exciting to be able to share ballet with children who might not ordinarily experience a production.”

In order to adapt the ballet, PBT worked with a focus group represented  by local autism advocacy groups – including Autism Speaks  of Greater Pittsburgh and ABOARD’s Autism Connection of Pennsylvania – parents of children with autism and individuals on the autism spectrum. After watching the production and learning about characters, music and scenery, the group submitted recommendations to adapt the production to viewers on the autism spectrum or with other sensory sensitivities.

 PBT also looked to other organizations as models, including the Theatre Development Fund’s Autism Theatre Initiative, which presented the first autism-friendly performance of a Broadway show in October 2011 with Disney's musical The Lion King. PBT thanks TDF’s Autism Theatre Initiative for serving as an advisor during the planning process. Locally, PBT acknowledges The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust for its leadership in establishing best practices and providing Benedum Center staff training for autism-friendly performances. Lead funding support for PBT’s autism-friendly production of The Nutcrackercomes from the Edith L. Trees Foundation.

PBT will kick off the  first fundraising event for the initiative on May 20, with a special edition of “No Menu Monday” at Bar Marco in the Strip District. PBT dancers will be serving signature dishes prepared by a featured guest chef. All proceeds will benefit PBT’s autism-friendly performance of The Nutcracker.

TICKETS
Tickets for the autism-friendly performance will be available at a  discounted rate to families with members on the autism spectrum, and will go on sale September 3, 2013 with  regular single ticket sales. Information to purchase the tickets will be distributed through PBT’s partners within the autism community. For more information about tickets, please call 412-454-9107.

ABOUT PBT ACCESSIBILITY INITIATIVES
The autism-friendly performance fits into PBT’s overarching Accessibility Initiative, which made several significant strides during the 2012-2013 Season. 2012-2013 accessibility accomplishments included the introduction of PBT’s Audio Description for Dance program, large-print and braille programs and other accommodations for people with visual impairments and special needs. For more information about Accessibility at PBT, please visit www.pbt.org/plan-your-visit/accessibility.

Media Note: For interviews and photos, please contact Meghan McNamara at 412-454-9117 or mmcnamara@pittsburghballet.org.
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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Celebrate Holiday Traditions with The Nutcracker

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                             Nov. 9, 2012

Contact: Meghan McNamara
Marketing Coordinator
412-454-9117
mmcnamara@pittsburghballet.org

IT’S TRADITION: PITTSBURGH BALLET THEATRE CELEBRATES THE SEASON WITH THE HOLIDAY CLASSIC THE NUTCRACKER


PBT Kicks Off Nutcracker Season with A Free Family Open House on Nov. 18

PITTSBURGH, PA –  Onstage Dec. 7-30, at the Benedum Center, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre brings the  magic of The Nutcrackerhome for the holidays with a Pittsburgh-inspired production featuring more than 210 costumes, 190 performers and turn-of-the-century Pittsburgh set design.

Recognized as one of the most popular ballets of all time, The Nutcracker is a timeless holiday classic
based on the German tale written by E.T.A. Hoffmann. PBT has performed The Nutcracker since the company’s founding in 1969. Beginning in 2002, PBT Artistic Director Terrence S. Orr created an entirely new production with an enhanced storyline, new choreography and a unique Pittsburgh theme.

“It’s a joy to bring this timeless story to Pittsburgh year after year: a story of a young girl’s coming of age, a story that’s full of enchantment, romance, adventure and the comforts of home,” Orr said. “Each year, we honor the tradition of The Nutcrackerwhile constantly advancing its sense of adventure with new surprises.”

Throughout The Nutcracker’s 20-performance run, Orr encourages creativity by challenging company members to dance and develop a range of character roles. Casting is unique for every performance; one dancer can perform as many as eight roles during one season of The Nutcracker. More than 150 students, ages 7 and up, also will join PBT company dancers on the Benedum Center stage performing a  variety of whimsical roles ranging from bumblebees and mice to flowers and toy soldiers.

Set to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, PBT’s The Nutcracker  stays true to many of the original elements of Hoffmann’s tale while lacing the production with the rich traditions and culture of early 20th century Pittsburgh.

With the help of theatrical designer Zack Brown, the set design pays tribute to relics from Pittsburgh’s past. Act I is set in Shadyside at the Stahlbaum house, rendered after F.W. McKee’s mansion on Fifth Avenue. Although the Stahlbaum family of the Hoffmann tale hosts the party, a number of historic Pittsburgh families are on the guest list, including Mr. and Mrs. Kaufmann, Mr. and Mrs. Heinz, and Mr. and Mrs. Grandview. Other Act I Pittsburgh imagery includes a Heinz delivery truck; a proscenium clock inspired by the famous Kaufmann’s Department Store clock; Kaufmann’s Christmas Stories for Boys and Girls; and an artistic rendering of the stunning Mount Washington View as the backdrop to the famous Snow Scene. The Pittsburgh theme continues into Act II by way of the Land of Enchantment Carousel, representing the elaborate carousels at several famous amusement parks in the Pittsburgh region.

Act II also features unique alterations to the original second act of The Nutcracker, as Terrence S. Orr
has added a variety of energetic characters to make the Land of Enchantment evoke the wonders of childhood. The second act is full of virtuoso performances including the exuberant Russian trepak, the exotic Arabian dance and culminating in the beautiful and elegant Grand Pas de Deux danced by the Sugarplum Fairy and her Cavalier.

Tickets
Tickets start at $25.75, and are available online at www.pbt.org, by calling 412-456-6666 or visiting The Box Office at Theater Square.

A NUTCRACKER HOLIDAY PARTY — FREE FAMILY OPEN HOUSE
Sunday, November 18, 2012 from 12-3 p.m.
PBT Studios 2900 Liberty Ave.

Unleash the magic of the holidays with a festive, family-friendly open house at the PBT Studios. Dance The Nutcracker with PBT School instructors, view performances from the production, enjoy Nutcracker sweets and bring along your camera for a photo with characters from this beloved holiday tradition. Bring to life your own visions of Sugarplum Fairies, Nutcracker Princes, and other colorful characters with crafts courtesy of the Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse. Special guest Radio Disney will kick off the event with holiday hits, prizes and games. In the spirit of the holidays, PBT encourages attendees to bring a food item to donate to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. All who donate will be entered into a drawing for a Nutcracker gift basket. This event is free and open to the public.
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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh