35 Local Kids Cast in New York City Ballet Production
35 local children (24 cast, with understudies) will take the stage at Saratoga Performing Arts Center this summer in New York City Ballet’s production of Balanchine’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” from July 8 to 11. Photo provided by SPAC.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Sunday, March 15 at 10 a.m., New York City Ballet Children’s Repertory Director Dena Abergel auditioned approximately 125 Capital Region children to dance with the New York City Ballet during its Saratoga season from July 8 to 11.
Auditions were for 24 children’s roles in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” George Balanchine’s full-length adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s most cherished comedies.
“Presenting four performances of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ — the very ballet that opened the SPAC stage in July 1966 — is a remarkable moment for our community and our young dancers,” said Elizabeth Sobol, CEO of SPAC. “Here in Saratoga, these talented children bring the story to life with joy and wonder, creating a magical experience that is uniquely ours.”
Casting for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” included roles for 24 girls who were 9-13 years old at the time of the audition. At least three years of ballet training was encouraged for all of the roles. Understudies were also cast.
Returning in celebration of SPAC’s 60th anniversary and its historic partnership with New York City Ballet, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was the first performance presented on the SPAC stage at the venue’s grand opening in July 1966. Inspired by the music of Mendelssohn, Balanchine captures the play’s infinite colors: the bumbling comedy of the Rude Mechanicals, the feisty feuding between Titania and Oberon, the romantic confusion of the young lovers chasing each other through the Athenian forest, and of course the mischief-making Puck.
Featuring a large cast of children from the Capital Region, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was the first wholly original full-length ballet Balanchine created in America and is one of the most popular ballets in the New York City Ballet’s repertoire.
The full-length production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will be performed at SPAC on July 8, 9, and 10 at 7:30 p.m. and on July 11 at 2 p.m.
Local children selected for the performance included: Arden Gravley (Glens Falls), Edie Kurera (Ballston Lake), Emma Corlew (Queensbury), Leah Smith (Gansevoort), Madeline Del Prete (Gansevoort), Olivia Conklin (Saratoga Springs), Samantha Fowler (Saratoga Springs), Alex Lambie (Ballston Spa), Maeve Tacy (Ballston Spa), and Uma Bharti (Watervliet).