Dynamic season including beloved favorites and captivating world premieres kicks off

October 23-26, 2008

MILWAUKEE – March 14, 2008 – The Milwaukee Ballet announced today their 2008-09 season that includes five world premieres, three Milwaukee premieres, three renowned international visiting choreographers and the return of two audience favorites – the holiday tradition The Nutcracker and the innovative ballet set to the voice of William Shatner, Common People.  The Ballet is also offering a new family ticket package this year that will include tickets to The Nutcracker and any other two shows from the season.

“We are thrilled have such an exciting, dynamic season ahead of us.  We have something for everyone next year, whether you enjoy traditional ballets or something more contemporary,” said the Milwaukee Ballet’s Artistic Director Michael Pink.

The season beings October 23-26, 2008 with the enchanting fairytale and classical ballet The Sleeping Beauty.  Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score played by the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra will take audiences to a magical kingdom complete with fairies, an evil witch and magic spells.  The Sleeping Beauty blends beautiful divertissements with sumptuous costumes and dramatic scenery to tell the familiar tale of the beautiful princess cursed to succumb to eternal sleep, awaiting only the kiss of a handsome prince.

The magic of the holiday season returns December 12 – 28, 2008 with Milwaukee’s favorite tradition, Michael Pink’s The Nutcracker.  Tchaikovsky’s familiar, captivating score played by the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra brings Clara’s dream world to life on the stage with marching soldiers, flying angels, dancing dolls and pirouetting snow fairies.  The Milwaukee Children’s Choir and the Milwaukee Ballet School dancers add to the charm of this production.

Audiences will dance right into the New Year with the youthful and spirited Fancy Free and two world premieres February 19-22, 2009.  Inspiration for the movie musical “On the Town” with Gene Kelly, Fancy Free pairs Leonard Bernstein’s bouncy score with Jerome Robbins’ exuberant choreography.  A world premiere by the nationally acclaimed choreographer Adam Hougland and a world premiere of a classical divertissement by the Ballet’s Artistic Director Michael Pink round out the dynamic series.

Genesis: Choreography for the Next Generation marks the Ballet’s third international choreographic competition and arrives at the historic Pabst Theater March 26-29, 2009.  Three talented choreographers from around the world, handpicked by Artistic Director Michael Pink, will showcase their chosen pieces for the chance to win the opportunity to create an original work for the Milwaukee Ballet’s 2009-10 season.

The season wraps up with the multifaceted Live and Kicking: International Choreographers Series May 14-17, 2009 featuring three familiar and inspiring pieces with three drastically different landscapes.  The nationally acclaimed Common People, choreographed by Margo Sappington and set to the voice of William Shatner and music by Ben Folds, returns to Milwaukee for a repeat performance.  The second piece of the series, Christopher Bruce’s Sergeant Early’s Dream, is set to Irish folk music by the Chieftains and tells the story of a group of Irish immigrants as they leave their homeland for new shores.  Gustav’s Rooster, an abstract work from the versatile choreographer Val Caniparoli, concludes the series.

All performances of The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Fancy Free and Live and Kicking: International Choreographers Series will take place at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts located at 929 N. Water Street, Milwaukee.  Genesis: Choreography for the Next Generation will be performed at the Pabst Theater, 144 E. Wells Street, Milwaukee.

The Ballet offers four different ticket packages for subscribers and introduces a new Family Package this year for those that love The Nutcracker and want to expand their Ballet experience to include two more shows of their choice.  For more information about becoming a Ballet subscriber or to purchase single tickets, please contact the Milwaukee Ballet at (414) 902-2103 or visit www.milwaukeeballet.org.

The Milwaukee Ballet has two shows remaining in the current 2007-08 season, Milwaukee Ballet at the Pabst April 3 – 6 at the Pabst Theater and Season Finale May 15 – 18 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.  Single tickets for both shows are still available and can be purchased by phone or online at the website above.

Milwaukee Ballet
Founded in 1970, the Milwaukee Ballet Company strives to inspire its audiences to think within and beyond traditional ballet through the presentation of quality performances and the implementation of education opportunities.  The Milwaukee Ballet Company presents more than 40 performances to 70,000 people each year.