Here’s the press release from The Auditorium Theatre:
THE AUDITORIUM THEATRE OF ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCES 2009-2010 DANCE SERIES AND CELEBRATES THE THEATRE’S 120TH ANNIVERSARY
World-Class Lineup Includes Performances by Miami City Ballet, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
CHICAGO — Brett Batterson, executive director of the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University (ATRU), today announced the Auditorium Theatre’s 2009-2010 Dance Series. ATRU’s season opens with the thrilling Miami City Ballet performing a program of masterworks by George Balanchine and Twyla Tharp. Additional highlights include the daring and athletic Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet under the artistic direction of Benoit-Swan Pouffer; and the elaborate and vividly colorful Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández. The series also includes the return of Chicago favorite Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, celebrating Judith Jamison’s 20th Anniversary as the company’s artistic director. Rounding out the season is The Tchaikovsky Ballet’s “The Sleeping Beauty.”
“We are tremendously proud of the vibrant and diverse range of distinguished dance companies coming to Chicago for the Auditorium Theatre’s 2009-2010 season,” said Batterson. “As ATRU celebrates our 120th anniversary, our audience will have numerous opportunities to experience the type of exhilarating, dramatic and spectacular performances that have become the hallmark of this beautiful theater.”
Subscriber renewals and group tickets are currently available, and new subscription orders will be available beginning May 18. ATRU is offering a three show “Flex Package” at a 20% discount to subscribers who purchase tickets before July 1; ticket buyers may choose any three shows, and this special package price begins at just $72 per person. This September, ATRU begins a year-long celebration of its 120th anniversary, and a number of special events will be announced in the coming months.
THE AUDITORIUM THEATRE OF ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY’S 2009-2010 DANCE SERIES
MIAMI CITY BALLET Friday, Oct. 2, 2009 and Saturday, Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. Tickets: $30 – $89
According to Alastair Macaulay at The New York Times, “to watch [Miami City Ballet] dance Balanchine is to see aspects of his choreography more clearly than with any other company today.” The company is under the artistic direction of Edward Villella, a Balanchine protégé who danced in The New York City Ballet’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Auditorium Theatre in 1967, upon the occasion of the Theatre’s grand re-opening. Miami City Ballet captivates audiences around the world with its thrilling company of dancers and broad repertoire that includes George Balanchine’s masterworks and works by contemporary choreographers such as Paul Taylor and Twyla Tharp. For Miami City Ballet’s Chicago engagement, the company will perform Balanchine’s “Symphony in Three Movements” and “Valse Fantasie,” Marius Ivanovich Petipa’s “Black Swan Pas de Deux” from “Swan Lake,” and Tharp’s “In the Upper Room.”
CEDAR LAKE CONTEMPORARY BALLET Saturday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. Tickets: $30 – $65
Founded in 2003 and currently under the artistic direction of former Alvin Ailey dancer Benoit-Swan Pouffer, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet boasts an exceptionally talented ensemble of 16 dancers from around the world. The company focuses on acquiring and commissioning new works by the world’s most cutting edge emerging choreographers. Known for their daring, athletic movement and integration of ballet into contemporary and popular forms, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet dancers take audiences on a journey that explores the infinite possibilities of movement and multimedia. In Chicago, the company will perform Crystal Pite’s “Ten Duets on a Theme of Rescue,” Didy Veldman’s “Frame of View” and Jo Stromgren’s “Sunday, Again.” New York Post Critic Clive Barnes raved that Cedar Lake’s “dancers are, without exception, extraordinarily gifted.” BALLET FOLKLÓRICO DE MÉXICO DE AMALIA HERNÁNDEZ Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 14 at 3 p.m. Tickets: $30 – $65
In 1952, dancer and choreographer Amalia Hernández created Ballet Folklórico de México to “share the beauty of the universe in motion” through Mexican dances from the Pre-Colombian era through the Hispanic Viceroy period and the Revolutionary years. The New York Times declared that the company offers “a fast-paced, entertaining show that can make viewers want to rush right off to Mexico.” Ballet Folklórico de México is currently under the artistic direction of Hernández’s daughter Norma Lopez, and has been distinguished with more than 200 awards recognizing its artistic merits. Audiences around the world enjoy the company’s elaborate dances supported by live traditional music and ornate costumes. This engagement is a co-presentation with Ravinia Festival.
ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER Wednesday, March 24, Thursday, March 25 and Friday, March 26 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 27 at 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday, March 28 at 3 p.m. Tickets: $30 – $85
Recognized by U.S. Congressional resolution as a vital “American Cultural Ambassador to the World,” Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) is proud to bring African American artistic expression and the American modern dance tradition to the world’s stages. The legacy of founder Alvin Ailey lives on today through the extraordinary talents and artistry of the world-renowned Ailey dancers and the remarkable vision of Judith Jamison, who celebrates her 20th anniversary as the company’s artistic director in this season of dance.
SPECIAL NOTE ON ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER’S RECORD BREAKING 2009 BOX OFFICE
Since 1969, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has performed a total of 134 times on the Auditorium Theatre’s stage. The company’s April 1 – 5, 2009 exclusive engagement at the Auditorium Theatre broke ticket revenue and attendance records for all prior AAADT engagements in Chicago. AAADT’s 2009 performance attendance increased by 22% over 2008. 14,416 patrons attended the six public performances in 2009, versus 11,833 in 2008. AAADT ticket revenue increased by 29.6% in 2009, to $680,582 from $525,124 in 2008. Additionally, the AAADT 2009 student matinee performance sold out months in advance, with a waiting list of several hundred students.
ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCES AVAILABLE IN THE AUDITORIUM THEATRE OF ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY’S 2009-2010 SEASON
The following two shows are available as add-ons to ATRU’s 2009-2010 Dance Series subscription:
TOO HOT TO HANDEL: THE JAZZ GOSPEL MESSIAH Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17 at 3 p.m. Tickets: $30 – $65
Returning for a fifth year, ATRU celebrates Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday with a joyful, exuberant, all-American version of George Frideric Handel’s beloved oratorio. With almost 200 performers on stage, this soulful jazz-gospel interpretation features two members of the dynamic tenor trio Cook, Dixon & Young: tenor Rodrick Dixon and countertenor Victor Trent Cook; plus soprano Alfreda Burke and 150 voices of the city-wide Too Hot Choir (under the direction of Old St. Pat’s Music Director Bill Fraher); a 50-piece symphony orchestra and a jazz ensemble conducted by Suzanne Mallare Acton. THE TCHAIKOVSKY BALLET PRESENTS “SLEEPING BEAUTY” Saturday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 21 at 2 p.m. Tickets: $32 – $87
Founded in 1870, The Tchaikovsky Ballet, located in Perm, Russia, is one of Russia’s most distinguished artistic companies, and specializes in performing Tchaikovsky’s work including Petipa’s original 1890 production of “Sleeping Beauty.” Chicago audiences won’t want to miss this classic ballet that brings to life the magic and mystery of Princess Aurora’s sixteenth birthday, an enchanted spell and a beautiful wedding, complete with a perfect storybook ending. FAMILY MATINEE SERIES
ATRU’s Family Matinee Series is designed specifically to awaken children’s interest in live performance and plant the seed for developing an appreciation of the arts. This unique opportunity allows patrons to receive a free children’s subscription with the purchase of any full-price adult subscription package. This special offer expires on Jan. 15, 2010. This year’s Family Matinee Series encompasses an eclectic mix of dance and music offerings, including Miami City Ballet (Sunday, Oct. 4), Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah (Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010), Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández (Sunday, March 14) and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (Saturday, Mar. 27). Patrons may choose any three of the aforementioned shows. Each family matinee performance is followed by a question and answer session with members of the shows’ artistic teams. This interactive experience can dramatically change the impact of the performing arts on its viewers, and with the involvement of families it can also empower youth to express themselves.
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
Subscriber renewals and group tickets are currently available for the Auditorium Theatre’s 2009-2010 Dance Series. Subscription sales for new subscribers begin May 18. Patrons who purchase subscriptions by July 1 receive a 20% discount off full ticket prices; a 10% discount after July 2. For more information or to purchase a subscription renewal, call 312.431.2357 or visit www.auditoriumtheatre.org. Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more are also available at 312.431.2357.
2009-2010 season packages available include:
2009-2010 Dance Series – All four shows: Miami City Ballet, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Optional add-ons: The Tchaikovsky Ballet’s “Sleeping Beauty” and/or Too Hot To Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah
Family Matinee Series – Patrons choose from three of the following: Miami City Ballet (Sunday, Oct. 4 only), Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah (Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010 only), Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández (Sunday, March 14 only) and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (Saturday, Mar. 27 only)
Flex Package: Choose at least three shows from all offerings. Flex Package price starts as low as $72 if purchased by July 1, 2009. SINGLE TICKET INFORMATION
Single tickets for Miami City Ballet and Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet go on sale June 22. Single tickets for Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández, Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah, The Tchaikovsky Ballet and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will go on sale at a later date to be announced.
ABOUT THE AUDITORIUM THEATRE OF ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY
The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, located at 50 E. Congress Parkway, is an independent, not-for-profit organization committed to presenting the finest in international, cultural and community programming to Chicago, and to the continued restoration and preservation of the National Historic Landmark Auditorium Theatre.
For more information about programming, volunteer and donor opportunities or theater tours, call (312) 922-2110 or visit auditoriumtheatre.org, now featuring Chicago’s Landmark Stage, a comprehensive online history of the Auditorium from 1889 through today, made possible by the generous support of the American Express Performing Arts Fund.
