Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie has announced the American Ballet Theatre 2022 Summer Season, a return to the Metropolitan Opera House for the first time in three years.
From June 13 – July 16, 2022, audiences will see America’s National Ballet Company perform beloved classics as well as witness New York premieres.
The Principal Dancers for the 2022 Metropolitan Opera House season include Joo Won Ahn, Aran Bell, Isabella Boylston, Skylar Brandt, Herman Cornejo, Thomas Forster, Gillian Murphy, Calvin Royal III, Hee Seo, Christine Shevchenko, Cory Stearns, Devon Teuscher, Cassandra Trenary, and James Whiteside.
American Ballet Theatre 2022 Summer Season Schedule
Don Quixote | June 13-18, 2022
- Don Quixote by Marius Petipa
The season will open on Monday evening, June 13 with a special Gala performance of Don Quixote featuring a different leading cast in each act. Dancing the roles of Kitri and Basilio will be Christine Shevchenko and Cory Stearns in Act I, Hee Seo and James Whiteside in Act II, and Catherine Hurlin and Aran Bell in Act III.
Don Quixote is staged by Kevin McKenzie and Susan Jones, with choreography after Marius Petipa and Alexander Gorsky. The ballet is set to music by Ludwig Minkus and features scenery and costumes by Santo Loquasto, and lighting by Natasha Katz. The McKenzie/Jones staging of the current production was first performed by ABT on June 12, 1995.
Of Love and Rage | June 20-25, 2022
- Of Love and Rage by Alexei Ratmansky
The New York Premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s Of Love and Rage is set for Monday evening, June 20, 2022 with Catherine Hurlin and Aran Bell in the leading roles. The World Premiere was on March 5, 2020 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California.
Based on the first century historical romance novel Callirhoe by Chariton, Of Love and Rage tells the story of star-crossed lovers Callirhoe and Chaereas in ancient Greece.
The two-act ballet is set to music by Aram Khachaturian, arranged by Philip Feeney, with sets and costumes by Jean-Marc Puissant and lighting by Duane Schuler.
Swan Lake | June 27 – July 6, 2022
- Swan Lake by Kevin McKenzie after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov
Swan Lake will begin Monday, June 27 with Devon Teuscher as Odette-Odile and Cory Stearns as Prince Siegfried.
Set to music by Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky, Swan Lake is choreographed by Kevin McKenzie after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov and features scenery and costumes by Zack Brown, and lighting by Duane Schuler.
This production of Swan Lake premiered on March 24, 2000 at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. with Julie Kent (Odette-Odile) and Angel Corella (Prince Siegfried).
Mixed Rep | July 7-9, 2022
- Theme and Variations by George Balanchine
- New York Premiere of New Work by Al0nso King
- ZigZag by Jessica Lang
The program opens with George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations. It is set to a score of the same name by Tchaikovsky from Suite No. 3 for Orchestra and was created for Ballet Theatre in 1947. A neo-classical masterpiece, Theme and Variations features scenery and costumes by Zack Brown, and lighting by Brad Fields. ABT’s 2022 performances of Theme and Variations will mark the 75th Anniversary of this seminal work’s premiere.
A new work by Alonzo King will have its New York Premiere on Thursday evening, July 7. Set to music by jazz pianist and composer Jason Moran, King’s new work features sets and costumes by Robert Rosenwasser and lighting by Jim French. The new work, King’s first for ABT, will receive its World Premiere on March 15, 2022 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California.
Closing the program is Jessica Lang’s ZigZag set to songs recorded by Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, which received its World Premiere on October 26, 2021 at the David H. Koch Theater in New York City. The ballet features scenery by Derek McLane, costumes by Wes Gordon, and lighting by Nicole Pearce. A work for 14 dancers, ZigZag is set to 11 American standard songs by Bennett including a duet with Lady Gaga.
Romeo and Juliet | July 11-16, 2022
- Romeo and Juliet by Sir Kenneth MacMillan
Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet begins on July 11 with Hee Seo and Cory Stearns in the title roles.
Set to the score by Sergei Prokofiev, Romeo and Juliet features scenery and costumes by Nicholas Georgiadis, and lighting by Thomas Skelton. Romeo and Juliet received its World Premiere by The Royal Ballet in London on February 9, 1965 and was given its ABT Company Premiere at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. on January 3, 1985 with Leslie Browne and Robert La Fosse in the leading roles.
Featured Photo for the American Ballet Theatre 2022 Summer Season of Devon Teuscher and Aran Bell in Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet. Photo from ABT.org.
