On pointe: Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre offers fairy tale package
Rosalie O’Connor
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre artists Diana Yohe and Joseph Parr rehearse for “The Nutcracker.”
Rieder Photography
Soloists Marisa Grywalski and Colin McCaslin in a promotional photo for “Beauty and the Beast.”
Rieder Photography
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre soloist Jessica McCann performed in the company’s October show, “Light in the Dark.”
The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT), which has been entertaining audiences since 1969, will offer a family fairy tale package this season to introduce younger audience members the the beauty of ballet.
PBT Artistic Director Adam McKinney said the package includes tickets to “The Nutcracker,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Cinderella,” which will be performed at the Benedum Center in December, February and May, respectively.
Principal dancer Tommie Lin O’Hanlon said that “Cinderella” is a role she relishes playing.
“It’s a role I haven’t done yet,” she said, adding that she’s really looking forward to all the little girls and boys who will be in the audience.
O’Hanlon said that she is also excited to perform in “The Nutcracker, “where she plays several roles.
“All the boys get so excited for the Christmas tradition,” the 23-year-old Pittsburgh native said.
PBT has also scheduled a sensory-friendly performance of “The Nutcracker” later this month for children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other sensory sensitivities, different abilities, or special needs. Adaptations will be slight, but will include lower sound levels, elimination of potentially startling effects and lighting and relaxed house rules: the audience can get up and move around and use electronics for therapeutic purposes. According to McKinney, staff receives training from partner organizations to ensure that the performance is a welcoming, inclusive and memorable for all attendees.
As for efforts behind the scenes, O’Hanlon said that every performance requires a lot of preparation.
“We typically rehearse for around six weeks, attending classes from 9:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., then from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. before taking an hour for lunch, then it’s back to rehearsing from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. five days a week,” she said.
McKinney said that lots of talent emerges from their “robust” PBT school where 750 students are served.
“One thing that is new this year is a PBT Master Class Series where Pittsburghers can take dances with world-renowned professionals in the field — an extraordinary opportunity to experience and learn from these well-known and well-resourced individuals,” said McKinney, adding that classes usually run an hour-and-a-half and cost $50 each.
McKinney said that the PBT will also have another mixed repertoire program situated between “Beauty and the Beast” and “Cinderella.”
“I’ve selected four works for the company — two of which are world premieres and never have been performed before,” he said, adding that details are soon to come, but he can offer a sneak peek of what audiences can anticipate.
“One of the performances is a commissioned world premiere by Pittsburgh-based choreographer and Princess Grace Award Recipient Jae Man Joo,” said McKinney, adding that the audience will also experience the “vibrant colors and high energy” of Helen Pickett’s sparkling Petal, along with George Balanchine’s joyous Allegro Brilliante.
And, on Nov. 11, PBT company dancers and school students will host the Bippity Boppity Ball To Be Held at the Westin, Pittsburgh at 6 p.m. The black-tie affair includes a multi-course meal, a silent and live auction, a pointe shoe raffle, live music and dancing.
PBT opened its 2023-24 season in late October with “Light in the Dark,” a mixed reparatory program of works, starting with “Sounds of the Sun,” celebrating the life of Florence Waren, a Jewish dancer who worked with the French Resistance during World War II.
“It opened on the fifth anniversary of the Tree of Life Massacre and a PBT musician played a violin from the Violins of Hope exhibit,” McKinney said.
Continuing with the theme of using art for healing and connection, “Sounds of the Sun” was followed by “Monger and Loss,” tackling such subjects as inequality and grief.
O’Hanlon, who joined PBT in 2018 from its School Graduate Program, said that the work for the “Light in the Dark” program was challenging.
“The subject matter was very heavy, especially with everything going on in the world right now. We touched upon antisemitism, the Holocaust and other challenging topics, but I think it gave people hope about the future,” she said.
Upcoming performance dates are: “The Nutcracker,” Dec. 8-28, with a special sensory friendly performance on Nov. 17; “Beauty and the Beast,” Feb. 16-25; “Spring Mix with the PBT Orchestra,” April 5-7; and “Cinderella with the PBT Orchestra,” May 17-19.
For tickets, to the Bippity Boppity Ball, or any of the upcoming performances, visit pbt.org.