A Streetcar Named Desire Makes Canadian Premiere a Ballet by John Neumeier

A Streetcar Named Desire Makes Canadian Premiere A Ballet by John Neumeier

May 9, 2017… Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the principal casting for the opening night of A Streetcar Named Desire, choreographed by John Neumeier. A Streetcar Named Desire makes its Canadian premiere June 3 – 10, 2017 at Toronto’s Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

The opening night cast will feature Principal Dancers Sonia Rodriguez as Blanche DuBois, Guillaume Côté as Stanley, Jillian Vanstone as Stella and Evan McKie as Mitch.

Based on Tennessee Williams’ literary masterpiece, Mr. Neumeier created the dance drama in 1983 for Stuttgart Ballet. The ballet begins where the play ends, journeying within Blanche DuBois’ psyche. “It’s dark. It’s violent. It’s erotic. But A Streetcar Named Desire becomes even more shocking when told as a ballet by John Neumeier,” (The Wall Street Journal). Set to music by Prokofiev and Alfred Schnittke, the ballet is a unique and compelling interpretation of one of the seminal works of 20th century drama.

Additional casting to be announced.

A Streetcar Named Desire contains mature content.

More information on A Streetcar Named Desire >

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The National Ballet of Canada dedicates the 2016/17 season to Sandra and Jim Pitblado in gratitude for their ongoing leadership, extraordinary generosity and enduring friendship.

BMO Financial Group Presents A Streetcar Named Desire.

A Streetcar Named Desire is made possible by the generous support of The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation and The Producers’ Circle.

Levenstein, Joan & Jerry Lozinski, The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, C.C., Julie Medland, Sandra Pitblado & Jim Pitblado, C.M., Lynda & Jonas Prince, Susan Scace & Arthur Scace, C.M., Q.C., Gerald Sheff & Shanitha Kachan, Sandra Simpson and Noreen Taylor, C.M. & David Staines, C.M., O.Ont.

Guillaume Côté is sponsored through Dancers First by Emmanuelle Gattuso and Allan Slaight.

Evan McKie is sponsored through Dancers First by Simona Shnaider.

Jillian Vanstone is sponsored through Dancers First by George & Kathy Dembroski.

The National Ballet of Canada gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of the Canada Council for the Arts; the Ontario Arts Council; the City of Toronto through the Economic Development & Culture Department; the Government of Canada – Department of Canadian Heritage, through the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages; and the Government of Ontario through the Honourable Eleanor McMahon, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

For more information, please contact:

Catherine Chang Victoria Schwarzl Senior Communications Manager Publicity Manager 416 345 9686 x302 416 345 9686 x312 [email protected] [email protected]

A Streetcar Named Desire Principal Casting Announced Canadian Premiere June 3

May 15, 2017… Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the principal casting for the Canadian premiere of A Streetcar Named Desire, choreographed by John Neumeier. A Streetcar Named Desire will open the National Ballet’s Summer Season June 3 – 10, 2017 at Toronto’s Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. #AStreetcarNamedDesireNBC

Dancing the role of Blanche DuBois will be Principal Dancers Jurgita Dronina, Svetlana Lunkina and Sonia Rodriguez. The role of Stella will be danced by Principal Dancer Jillian Vanstone, First Soloist Chelsy Meiss and Second Soloist Emma Hawes. Stanley will be performed by Principal Dancers Guillaume Côté, Harrison James and Piotr Stanczyk. Dancing the role of Mitch will be Principal Dancer Evan McKie and Second Soloists Jack Bertinshaw and Donald Thom.

Based on Tennessee Williams’ literary masterpiece, Mr. Neumeier created the dance drama for Stuttgart Ballet in 1983. The ballet begins where the play ends, journeying within Blanche DuBois’ psyche. Set to music by Prokofiev and Alfred Schnittke, the ballet is a unique and compelling interpretation of one of the seminal works of 20th century drama.

Principal Casting

Blanche DuBois Sonia Rodriguez (June 3, 7, 8, 10 at 7:30 pm) Svetlana Lunkina (June 4, 10 at 2:00 pm) Jurgita Dronina (June 8 at 2:00 pm/June 9 at 7:30 pm)

Stella Jillian Vanstone (June 3, 7, 8, 10 at 7:30 pm) Chelsy Meiss (June 4, 10 at 2:00 pm) Emma Hawes (June 8 at 2:00 pm/June 9 at 7:30 pm)

Stanley Guillaume Côté (June 3, 7, 8, 10 at 7:30 pm) Piotr Stanczyk (June 4, 10 at 2:00 pm) Harrison James (June 8 at 2:00 pm/June 9 at 7:30 pm)

Mitch Evan McKie (June 3, 7, 8,10 at 7:30 pm) Donald Thom (June 4,10 at 2:00 pm) Jack Bertinshaw (June 8 at 2:00 pm/June 9 at 7:30 pm)

All casting is subject to change.

A Streetcar Named Desire contains mature content.

More information on A Streetcar Named Desire >

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The National Ballet of Canada dedicates the 2016/17 season to Sandra and Jim Pitblado in gratitude for their ongoing leadership, extraordinary generosity and enduring friendship.

BMO Financial Group Presents A Streetcar Named Desire.

A Streetcar Named Desire is made possible by the generous support of The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation and The Producers’ Circle.

The Producers’ Circle: Gail & Mark Appel, John & Claudine Bailey, Inger Bartlett & Marshal Stearns, David W. Binet, Susanne Boyce & Brendan Mullen, Gail Drummond & Bob Dorrance, The Thor E. and Nicole Eaton Family Charitable Foundation, Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan, Kevin & Roger Garland, Emmanuelle Gattuso and Allan Slaight, The William & Nona Heaslip Foundation, Rosamond Ivey, Hal Jackman Foundation, Anna McCowan-Johnson & Donald K. Johnson, O.C., Judy Korthals & Peter Irwin, Judith & Robert Lawrie, Mona & Harvey Levenstein, Joan & Jerry Lozinski, The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, C.C., Julie Medland, Sandra Pitblado & Jim Pitblado, C.M., Lynda & Jonas Prince, Susan Scace & Arthur Scace, C.M., Q.C., Gerald Sheff & Shanitha Kachan, Sandra Simpson and Noreen Taylor, C.M. & David Staines, C.M., O.Ont.

Guillaume Côté is sponsored through Dancers First by Emmanuelle Gattuso and Allan Slaight.

Harrison James is sponsored through Dancers First by Lucy White*.

Svetlana Lunkina is sponsored through Dancers First by Anna McCowan-Johnson & Donald K. Johnson, O.C.

Evan McKie is sponsored through Dancers First by Simona Shnaider.

Jillian Vanstone is sponsored through Dancers First by George & Kathy Dembroski.

Chelsy Meiss is sponsored through Dancers First by Diana St. B. Weatherall.

Emma Hawes is sponsored through Dancers First by JJ Dayot & Rick Schiralli.

For more information, please contact:

Catherine Chang Victoria Schwarzl Senior Communications Manager Publicity Manager 416 345 9686 x302 416 345 9686 x312 [email protected] [email protected]

Company Premiere

A Streetcar Named Desire A Ballet by John Neumeier

Choreography, Costume, Set & Lighting Design: John Neumeier Staged by: John Neumeier, Tamas Detrich and Laura Cazzaniga Music: Act I: Sergei Prokofiev, Visions Fugitives Op. 22 Act II: Alfred Schnittke, Symphony No. 1

Premiere: Stuttgart Ballet, Stuttgart, Germany, December 3, 1983 The National Ballet of Canada Premiere: Toronto, June 3, 2017

BMO Financial Group Presents A Streetcar Named Desire.

A Streetcar Named Desire is made possible by the generous support of The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation and The Producers’ Circle.

Performance Dates: June 3 – 10, 2017 Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts

Tennessee Williams’ literary masterpiece A Streetcar Named Desire is adapted for dance by choreographer John Neumeier. Created for Stuttgart Ballet in 1983, Mr. Neumeier’s version is less concerned with simply retelling the narrative of the original than with using the famous story of Blanche DuBois as a way of exploring themes of memory, madness and desire. The ballet begins where the play ends and is experienced through the consciousness of Blanche.

Set to music by Sergei Prokofiev and Alfred Schnittke, Mr. Neumeier’s A Streetcar Named Desire is a unique and compelling interpretation of one of the seminal works of 20th century drama.

Quotes

“It’s dark. It’s violent. It’s erotic. A Streetcar Named Desire becomes even more shocking when told as a ballet by John Neumeier.” The Wall Street Journal

“An artistically ambitious work that is fascinating, challenging and hauntingly powerful.” Pittsburgh Tribune Review

John Neumeier Choreographer, Set, Costume and Lighting Designer, A Streetcar Named Desire

John Neumeier was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he received his first dance training. He continued his dance studies in Chicago as well as at Marquette University in Milwaukee where he created his first choreographic works. After further ballet study both in Copenhagen and at The Royal Ballet School in London, John Cranko invited him in 1963 to join Stuttgart Ballet, where he progressed to Soloist and continued his choreographic development.

In 1969, Ulrich Erfurth appointed Mr. Neumeier Director of Ballett Frankfurt, where he soon caused a sensation due to his new interpretations of such well-known ballets as The Nutcracker and Romeo and Juliet. In 1973, he joined The Hamburg Ballet as Director and Chief Choreographer and, under his direction, The Hamburg Ballet became one of the leading ballet companies on the German dance scene and soon received international recognition. In 1972, he set his first work for The National Ballet of Canada, Don Juan with Rudolf Nureyev in the title role and in 1993, he created Now and Then for Karen Kain. As a choreographer, Mr. Neumeier has continually focused on the preservation of ballet tradition, while giving his works a modern dramatic framework. His ballets range from new versions of evening-length story ballets to musicals and to his symphonic ballets, especially those based on Gustav Mahler’s compositions, as well as his choreographies to sacred music. His latest creations for The Hamburg Ballet: Duse in 2015, and Turangalîla in 2016.

Mr. Neumeier holds the Dance Magazine Award (1983), Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and French Order of Arts and Letters and the Legion of Honour. In 2006, he was awarded the prestigious Nijinsky Award for Lifetime Achievement. He received the Herbert von Karajan Musikpreis in 2007 and the Deutscher Jubiläums Tanzpreis in 2008. In 2007, he was made an honorary citizen of the city of Hamburg. In 2015, the Inamori Foundation presented Mr. Neumeier with the Kyoto Prize for his contributions to the Arts and Philosophy; in 2016 he received the renowned Prix Benois de la Danse for Lifetime Achievement.

Tamas Detrich Staging, A Streetcar Named Desire

Born in New York, Tamas Detrich is a graduate of the John Cranko Schule in Stuttgart. In 1977, he joined Stuttgart Ballet where he was promoted to Soloist in 1980 and to Principal Dancer in 1981. During his 25 years with the company he danced leading roles in all the major works of John Cranko as well as in works by John Neumeier, Kenneth MacMillan, Glen Tetley, George Balanchine, Maurice Béjart, Hans van Manen, William Forsythe and Uwe Scholz. Mr. Detrich has had roles created for him by choreographers such as Jiří Kylián, Uwe Scholz, Maurice Béjart, David Bintley and Marcia Haydée.

In 2001, Mr. Detrich became a Ballet Master of Stuttgart Ballet and in 2009, he was appointed Associate Artistic Director. He will assume the position of Artistic Director of Stuttgart Ballet as of September 2018.

Mr. Detrich has taught, staged and revived John Cranko’s ballets for Stuttgart Ballet, Paris Opéra Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, the Vienna State Ballet as well as in Budapest and Stockholm. He has also staged the works of Mr. Neumeier, Ms. Haydée and Mr. MacMillan for Stuttgart Ballet, Royal Ballet of Flanders, The Hamburg Ballet, The Norwegian National Ballet, Ballet de Santiago de Chile and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.

Laura Cazzaniga Staging, A Streetcar Named Desire

Laura Cazzaniga was born in Cassano D’Adda, Italy. She trained at Princess Grace Academy in Monte Carlo and Ballettzentrum Hamburg. She joined The Hamburg Ballet in 1988 and was promoted to Soloist in 1993 and to Principal Dancer in 1998. She became Ballet Mistress in 2008 and has staged John Neumeier’s ballets for companies around the world including Third Symphony of Gustav Mahler for Paris Opéra Ballet, A Streetcar Named Desire for The Norwegian National Ballet and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and Sylvia for Het Nationale Ballet.

June, 2012

Sergei Prokofiev Composer, A Streetcar Named Desire

Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev was born the Ukraine in 1891. He started composing at the early age of 10 and like his contemporary, Igor Stravinsky, Prokofiev proved a key figure in the legitimization of ballet music in the 20th century. Prokofiev found a creative environment in the Ballets Russes where he composed multiple ballet scores.

Upon the death of Sergei Diaghilev in 1929, Prokofiev returned to the Soviet Union. There, he composed many works including Romeo and Juliet for the Kirov Ballet and Cinderella for the Bolshoi Ballet. Mr. Prokofiev never saw his last ballet composition, The Stone Flower, performed. He died on March 5, 1953, while making revisions to the score. The Bolshoi Ballet premiered The Stone Flower in February of 1954.

Alfred Schnittke Composer, A Streetcar Named Desire

Alfred Schnittke was born in Russia in 1934. He was noted, above all, for his hallmark “polystylistic” idiom, Mr. Schnittke has written in a wide range of genres and styles. His Concerto Grosso No. 1 (1977) was one of the first works to bring his name to prominence. Mr. Schnittke first travelled to the U.S. in 1988 for the Making Music Together festival in Boston and the U.S. premiere of his Symphony No. 1 by the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He returned to the U.S. in 1991 when Carnegie Hall commissioned Concerto Grosso No. 5 for the Cleveland Orchestra as part of its Centennial Festival and again in 1994 for the world premiere of his Symphony No. 7 by the New York Philharmonic and the American premiere of his Symphony No. 6 by the National Symphony.

Mr. Schnittke died from a stroke on 3 August, 1998 in Hamburg.

A Streetcar Named Desire A Ballet by John Neumeier Ballet Note

A Streetcar Named Desire is a play written by American playwright Tennessee Williams in 1947. Williams received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the work in 1948. The story deals with a culture clash between two characters, Blanche DuBois, a fading relic of the Old South, and Stanley Kowalski, a rising member of the industrial, urban working class.

In the play, Blanche is presented as a fading but still attractive Southern belle who tries to shield others from her reality and at the same time make herself still attractive to new male suitors. She has lost her job as an English teacher because of an affair with a 17-year-old student. Her discovery of her husband Allan Grey having a homosexual affair and his subsequent suicide has led her to withdraw into a world of illusions.

When she visits her sister Stella Kowalski in New Orleans, the urban landscape is a shock to her nerves. The transportation Blanche takes to get to New Orleans includes a streetcar route named “Desire”. Blanche’s visit upsets the life of Stella and her husband Stanley. Stanley later finds out Blanche’s past and confronts her with things she wants to forget about. In their final confrontation, Stanley rapes Blanche, resulting in her nervous breakdown. She is finally committed to a mental institution.