Turning a world famous opera into a world-premiere ballet is a challenge only master storyteller Michael Pink could take on. This season also marks Mr. Pink’s 10th anniversary with Milwaukee Ballet, making him the longest serving Artistic Director, at the helm for a quarter of the organization’s existence.

What was once conveyed through voice and words is now told solely with movement. Puccini’s epic score is played live by the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra. The storyline follows the romance of Rodolfo and Mimi falling in and out of love amid poverty in a tale as aching and rapturous as ever, all without the use of words.

Pink’s production of La Bohème is unique in that this is one of the only times the story will be told as a full-length ballet. He sees it as a long-overdue adaptation of a beautiful love story. Pink has also added a fifth scene at the end of the second act that better describes an often omitted part of the story. The production is staged in 1950s bohemian Paris and comes to life through elaborate scenery and costumes, all being created in-house by Milwaukee Ballet. After the world-premiere in Milwaukee, La Bohème will be available to travel to other companies across the country.

CLICK HERE to see a video for dress rehearsal from ThirdCoast Digest!
(Rehearsal image Alexandre Ferreira and Nicole Teague with Timothy O'Donnell and Annia Hidalgo with the background.)