Texas Ballet Theater Presents Ben Stevenson’s Coppélia
Texas Ballet Theater opens its 2007-08 Season with a magical tale for audiences of all ages
North Texas – Texas Ballet Theater presents the first production of the 2007-08 Season, Ben Stevenson’s Coppélia, at Fort Worth’s Bass Performance Hall on Friday, September 21 at 8 p.m., Saturday, September 22 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday, September 23 at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $18 and can be purchased by calling toll-free 1-877-828-9200 or by visiting www.texasballettheater.org.
Stevenson’s Coppélia is a charming full-length story ballet that transports audience members to a sunny fairytale village with sumptuous sets and opulent costumes by Tony Award winning designer Desmond Heeley. The ballet’s lead characters are two young lovers, Swanilda and Franz, who find themselves quarreling over Franz’s interest in an unusual young lady sitting in the window of the town’s eccentric toymaker, Dr. Coppelius. As Swanilda’s jealously grows, she and her friends sneak into Dr. Coppelius’ workshop and the magic begins as the dolls are set in motion.
Texas Ballet Theater last performed the production during the 2003-04 Season. Stevenson originally choreographed this family-friendly ballet for Houston Ballet in 1992. Stevenson stated, “Coppélia is one of the great comedic classical ballets. I am delighted to reprise the production with this talented Company of dancers. It is a great ballet for the entire family – a love story with comedy, magic and wonderful performing opportunities.”
During the September performances, the principal role of “Swanilda” will be performed by Texas Ballet Theater artists Leticia Oliveira, Carolyn Judson, Jayme Autrey Griffith and Lisa Kaczmarek opposite André Silva, Carl Coomer, Lucas Priolo and Peter Zweifel as “Franz”. Oliveira, Kaczmarek and Coomer are all new to Texas Ballet Theater this season. They each previously performed with Houston Ballet for several years. The score, composed by Léo Delibes, will be performed by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Jack Buckhannan.
Audience members interested in gaining “behind the scenes” knowledge of this classic production are invited to attend Texas Ballet Theater’s Pre-Performance Lectures held on the mezzanine level of Bass Performance Hall forty-five minutes prior to curtain for the Saturday evening and Sunday matinee performances.
Margo McCann, Texas Ballet Theater company manager and former artist, offers insight into the world of professional ballet in this informative lecture series.
Coppélia
Bass Performance Hall
Friday, September 21, 2007 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, September 22, 2007 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Sunday, September 23, 2007 at 2 p.m.
Pre-Performance Lectures open to all audience members are held on the Mezzanine 45 minutes prior to curtain for the September 22 evening performance and September 23 matinee.
Performance Information
Music by Léo Delibes (1836 - 1891)
Choreography by Ben Stevenson, O.B.E. after Arthur Saint Léon
Costume and Set Design by Desmond Heeley
Original Lighting Design by Duane Schuler
Lighting Design Recreation by Christina R. Giannelli
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jack Buckhannan
Performance Tickets
Single tickets start at $18
Toll-free 1-877-828-9200 or www.texasballettheater.org
ACT I, THE VILLAGE SQUARE
Swanilda and her fiancé, Franz, live in a small village among whose inhabitants is the mysterious Dr. Coppélius, a magician and toymaker. In the window of the doctor’s house sits his lovely daughter Coppélia, reading a book. Coppélia ignores Swanilda’s and Franz’s attempts to get her attention, and Swanilda becomes jealous when she realizes that Franz has been smitten by Coppélia’s haughty beauty.
The village priest arrives and gives Swanilda a sheaf of wheat. According to an old custom, if the wheat makes a sound, it means the love of Swanilda and Franz is true. But Swanilda hears nothing and declares that she and Franz are no longer engaged. The village square empties, and Dr. Coppélius leaves his house, carefully locking the front door. As he makes his way across the square to the inn, he is teased by the young boys of the village. He chases them off and the key to his house drops from his pocket. Swanilda and her friends find the key and enter the doctor’s house. Soon after, Franz arrives with a ladder determined to climb up to the window in search of the lovely Coppélia.
-INTERMISSION-
ACT II, DR. COPPÉLIUS’ WORKSHOP
Swanilda and her friends cautiously enter the gloomy workshop of Dr. Coppélius. To her joy, Swanilda discovers that Coppélia is only a life-sized doll. Suddenly, the old doctor returns and chases the girls out of his house, except for Swanilda who hides. Franz then enters through the window and declares his love for Coppélia. After feigning friendship, Dr. Coppélius drugs Franz. He hopes to realize a life-long ambition by bringing Coppélia – his greatest creation – to life by transferring Franz’s life forces into the doll. Meanwhile, Swanilda has dressed herself as Coppélia and tricks the doctor into believing his plan has succeeded. But Dr. Coppélius soon discovers that his creation is just as willful as a real girl when Swanilda wreaks havoc in the workshop. She revives Franz, and after showing him that Coppélia is only a doll, the two flee. Dr. Coppélius is left heartbroken with Coppélia’s lifeless form.
-INTERMISSION-
ACT III, THE VILLAGE SQUARE
It is the day of the village festival, and Franz and Swanilda, who have been reconciled, are among the happy couples to be married. The burgomeister gives dowries to the young brides, but the festivities are interrupted by Dr. Coppélius who, on recognizing Swanilda, recounts how she destroyed his dolls. The burgomeister gives him a purse full of gold, and the day ends happily with the wedding celebrations.
Texas Ballet Theater Artistic Staff
Ben Stevenson, O.B.E., Artistic Director
Tim O’Keefe, Associate Artistic Director
Li Anlin, Assistant Artistic Director
Anna Donovan, Principal Ballet Master
Jack Buckhannan, Music Director and Conductor
ABOUT TEXAS BALLET THEATER
Founded in 1961, Texas Ballet Theater is the premier resident professional Ballet Company of North Texas. Under the direction of artistic director Ben Stevenson, O.B.E., the ballet brings unprecedented talent, beauty and artistic expression to the stages of Fort Worth's Bass Performance Hall, Dallas' Music Hall at Fair Park and the historic Majestic Theatre in downtown Dallas. Texas Ballet Theater will become the resident ballet company for the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts when it opens in 2009. Season sponsors include Star-Telegram, American Airlines, Steinway Hall of Fort Worth, The Dallas Morning News, Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County, TACA and Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs. For more information, go to www.texasballettheater.org.
Photo Credit
Artist: Carolyn Judson. Photo: Ellen Appel.