Ballet Arizona weaves 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

staff report

His dancers may be out of the studio for the summer, but Ballet Arziona's artistic director Ib Andersen is choreographing in his imagination.

Anderson is at work creating the new, full-length work that will raise the curtain on the 23rd season of Ballet Arizona this October: "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

Valley ballet aficionados will experience the latest manifestation of Andersen's artistry, which promises to be the most inventive ballet he has put on stage since he created his version of "The Nutcracker" two seasons ago.

Some of the same creative minds who brought "The Nutcracker" to life will open the door to Shakespeare's magical, comical world.

Lighting designer Michael Korsch has collaborated with Andersen many times, including for "The Nutcracker." As a lighting and scenic designer, Korsch has worked on five continents, with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Dance Theater of Harlem, Pennsylvania Ballet, and Disney Creative Entertainment.

Costumes for the primary characters were designed by Edward Baker, head of wardrobe for Boston Ballet for 20 years, and Baker's creations for "Midsummer" are considered some of his most memorable and spectacular designs. Andersen is dreaming up the additional costumes needed to accommodate a large cast.

Andersen's ideas will be brought to life by costume director Carolyn Mitchell. Mitchell and her crew handled the final assembly and fitting of the hundreds of "Nutcracker" costumes.

Some of those additional costumes will be fitted for students of The School of Ballet Arizona. The official training academy of Ballet Arizona, under the direction of Nancy Crowley, is often called upon by Andersen to provide young cast members for his works. Andersen has the students in mind as some of the "smaller" and magical characters that sprang from Shakespeare's imagination.

Music for "A Midsummer Night's Dream" will consist primarily of Felix Mendelssohn's 1843 score for the play, with additional music selected by Andersen, to make the finished work a full-length, two-hour ballet with one intermission.

Timothy Russell returns to conduct The Phoenix Symphony's live performance of the score, which will also include a chorus of women's voices, courtesy of the music department at Arizona State University.

Several choreographers have staged versions of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Marius Petipa ("Swan Lake," "The Sleeping Beauty") was probably the first, in 1876. In 1962, George Balanchine offered his version at New York City Ballet, the company that would later introduce Andersen to American audiences. But rather than following one of those models, Andersen is creating his own libretto, or story, for the production, because he wants to follow Shakespeare's original tale as closely as possible. The artistic director, who rarely discusses his works in progress, is promising a story all ages will enjoy.

Ballet Arizona will present the world premiere of Andersen's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" the weekend of Oct. 31.

Tickets are on sale through the Ballet Arizona box office at 602-381-1096 or through www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are $15-$117, and there are discounts for groups, students, seniors and children. Show times are 8 p.m. Oct. 31, 2 and 8 p.m. Nov. 1 and 2 p.m. Nov. 2 at Symphony Hall, 75 N. Second St.