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Pacific Northwest Ballet Artistic Director Peter Boal has announced the line-up for PNB’s 51st anniversary season, running from September 2023 through June 2024. Highlights include the return of Kent Stowell’s iconic Swan Lake, the comedic Coppélia, and Crystal Pite’s stunning The Seasons’ Canon.
Also in the line-up are previous PNB crowd-pleasers from Donald Byrd, Alexander Ekman, Jiri Kylian, Jessica Lang, Matthew Neenan, Alexei Ratmansky, and Twyla Tharp; a world premiere from Danielle Rowe; and the PNB premiere, at long last, of Alejandro Cerrudo’s large-scale One Thousand Pieces. (Plus a new family-matinee offering, Harold and the Purple Crayon, featuring the students of the PNB School; and, of course, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker.)
The PNB box office is now open for subscription renewals and new subscriptions; tickets for individual programs go on sale July 18. PNB plans to continue offering its digital subscription as well so audiences across the country and around the world can attend the show. For further information, contact the PNB Box Office by phone at 206.441.2424, or online at PNB.org. As always, everything is subject to change.
THE LINEUP
Rep 1 – PETITE MORT
Sept. 22-Oct. 1
Digital streaming dates: October 5 – 9
PNB’s season-opener is jam-packed with whimsy, artistry, and drama. Built on a foundation of music from Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, and Schubert, this triple-bill looks at the world of dance through the unique perspectives of Jiri Kylian and Alexander Ekman.
Petite Mort
Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Choreography: Jiri Kylian
Staging: Roslyn Anderson
Scenic Design: Jiri Kylian
Costume Design: JokeVisser
Lighting Design: Joop Caboort
Sechs Tänze (Six Dances)
Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Choreography: Jiri Kylian
Staging: Roslyn Anderson
Scenic and Costume Design: Jiri Kylian
Lighting Design: Joop Caboort
Cacti
Music: Franz Josef Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Franz Schubert
Text: Spenser Theberge
Choreography: Alexander Ekman
Staging: Ana Lucaciu
Scenic and Costume Design: Alexander Ekman
Lighting Design: Tom Visser
Rep 2 – LOVE & LOSS
Nov. 3-12
Digital streaming dates: November 16 – 20
This trio of works shines a light on some of the world premieres that PNB’s New Works Initiative has created in recent years. Donald Byrd’s haunting Love and Loss premiered in 2019, Alexei Ratmansky’s stunning tribute to his homeland of Ukraine, Wartime Elegy, followed in 2022, and inventive Australian choreographer Danielle Rowe will create something brand new for PNB dancers this November.
WORLD PREMIERE
Music: Shannon Rugani
Choreography: Danielle Rowe
Costume Design: Emma Kingsbury
Lighting Design: Reed Nakayama
Wartime Elegy
Music: Valentin Silvestrov, and Ukrainian Village Music
Choreography: Alexei Ratmansky
Scenic Design: Wendall K. Harrington
Art: Matvi Vaisberg & Maria Prymachenko
Costume Design: Moritz Junge
Lighting Design: Reed Nakayama
Love and Loss
Music: Emmanuel Witzthum
Choreography: Donald Byrd
Scenic and Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli
Costume Design: Doris Black
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker
Nov.-Dec. 27 (Not part of the 2023-24 subscription season.)
Digital streaming dates: December 18 – 27
Whether a long-standing family tradition or a first trip to the theater, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® is ready to delight one and all. From the liveliest lobby in town to the dazzling sets and costumes and unforgettable performances, The Nutcracker is an integral part of the holidays for ballet fans of all ages!
Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Choreography: George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust
Staging: Judith Fugate with Peter Boal and Garielle Whittle
Costume & Scenic Design: Ian Falconer
Lighting Design: James F. Ingalls
Swan Lake
February 2 – 11, 2024
Digital streaming dates: February 15 – 19
By the light of Ming Cho Lee’s luminous moon, a flock of ethereal swans transports the audience to the wondrous world of Kent Stowell’s Swan Lake. This classic tale features epic dancing, stunning scenery and costumes, and the iconic score performed live by the PNB Orchestra.
Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Choreography: Kent Stowell
Staging: Francia Russell (after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov)
Scenic Design: Ming Cho Lee
Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli
Rep 4 – ONE THOUSAND PIECES
March 15-24, 2024
Digital streaming dates: March 28 – April 1
Four years after its originally-scheduled PNB premiere, Alejandro Cerrudo’s complete One Thousand Pieces will finally take to the McCaw Hall stage. Cerrudo’s large-scale ensemble work is inspired by the work of artist Marc Chagall and features music from Philip Glass. Paired with the revelry and joy of Matthew Neenan’s made-for-PNB Bacchus.
Bacchus
Music: Oliver Davis
Choreography: Matthew Neenan
Costume Design: Mark Zappone
Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli
One Thousand Pieces
Music: Philip Glass
Choreography: Alejandro Cerrudo
Staging: Pablo Piantino/Ana Lopez
Scenic and Costume Design: Thomas Mika
Lighting Design: Michael Korsch
Harold and the Purple Crayon [PNB Premiere]
March 2023 dates TBA (NOTE: Not part of the 2023-24 Subscription season.)
Featuring students of Pacific Northwest Ballet School.
Based on the beloved book by Crockett Johnson, this hour-long, narrated tale of Harold and his trusty crayon features performances by PNB School students and is the perfect introduction to ballet for young audiences.
Music: Andrew Bird
Choreography: Robyn Mineko Williams/Terence Marling
Scenic Design: Ryan Wineinger-Schattl
Costume Design: Rebecca Shouse
Lighting Design: Matt Miller
REP 5 – THE SEASONS’ CANON
April 12-21, 2024
Digital streaming dates: April 25 – 29
Back by popular demand, Crystal Pite’s mesmerizing The Seasons’ Canon features 54 dancers moving as one organism to Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, recomposed by Max Richter. Pite’s opus is complemented by Twyla Tharp’s Shaker-inspired Sweet Fields and Jessica Lang’s stunning solo work, The Calling.
Sweet Fields
Music: 18th- and 19th-century American hymns and Shaker songs
Choreography: Twyla Tharp
Staging: Matt Rivera with Shelley Washington
Original Costume Design: Norma Kamali
Original Lighting Design: Jennifer Tipton
The Calling
Music: Anonymous 12th-13th century
Choreography: Jessica Lang
Staging: Kanji Segawa
Costume Design: Elena Comendador
Costume Concept: Jessica Lang
Lighting Design: Nicole Pearce
The Seasons’ Canon
Music: Max Richter (Antonio Vivaldi)
Choreography: Crystal Pite
Staging: Eric Beauchesne & Anna Herrmann
Scenic Design: Jay Gower Taylor
Costume Design: Nancy Bryant
Lighting Design: Tom Visser
Coppélia
May 31 – June 9, 2023
Digital streaming dates: June 13 – 17
When a silent beauty appears on the balcony of toymaker Doctor Coppelius’ workshop, it spells trouble for sweethearts Swanilda and Franz: He’s smitten, and she’s determined to confront her rival and win back her beau. With spirited mime, bravura dancing, and Delibes’ famously melodic score, Coppélia is one of ballet’s greatest comedies.
Music: Léo Delibes
Book: Charles Nuitter, after E.T.A. Hoffman
Choreography: Alexandra Danilova and George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust (after Petipa)
Staging: Judith Fugate
Scenic and Costume Design: Roberta Guidi di Bagno
Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli
SUBSCRIPTIONS AND TICKETS
The Pacific Northwest Ballet Box Office is now taking orders for subscription renewals, new subscriptions, and digital-season subscriptions to PNB’s 2023-24 season. Full-season [seated] subscriptions start at $201 for seats to all six programs. Four-show partial-season subscriptions start at $138. The digital-only subscription is available for $300.
Beginning July 18, tickets to all PNB performances (starting at $38) and George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® (starting at $29) may be purchased through the PNB Box Office:
Phone: 206-441-2424
In Person: 301 Mercer Street at Seattle Center
Online 24/7: PNB.org
(Tickets are also available – subject to availability – 90 minutes prior to each performance at McCaw Hall. In-person ticket sales at the McCaw Hall Box Office are subject to day-of-show increases. Advance tickets through the PNB Box Office are strongly suggested for best prices and greatest availability.)
For information about special ticket offers including group discounts, The Pointe, Pay-What-You-Can, and student and senior rush tickets, visit PNB.org/offers.