The Sleeping Beauty

February 15 – 23, 2020 | The Keller Auditorium

222 SW Clay Street, Portland, OR 97201

Closed

Dreamy and Unforgettable

Choreographed by OBT’s former artistic director Christopher Stowell, after Marius Petipa’s original 1890 choreography, which debuted at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia. Last seen in Portland in 2010, this enchanting, full-length work is one of the world’s most popular storied ballets. Set to Tchaikovsky’s opulent score, it features a cast of fantastical characters, spectacular sets, and legendary music. Now a new generation of stars and stars-in-the-making bring you a brilliant “happily ever after” with the grandest of dancing.

“The most beloved of the 19th-century ballets. No other dance classic has a score so endlessly fragrant and varied. No other work has so rich an idea of what ballet theater can be.” – The New York Times

Choreography by Christopher Stowell (after Marius Petipa)
Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky


Videos




Photos

Celebrating 30 years, Oregon Ballet Theatre is looking forward to the return of Christopher Stowell’s The Sleeping Beauty.

Below is a sampling of archival images from Christopher Stowell’s The Sleeping Beauty World Premiere of this spectacular performance, as performed by the OBT dancers at Keller Auditorium in 2010.


Summary

PROLOGUE: THE CHRISTENING

King Florestan’s court gathers for the christening of his daughter, Princess Aurora. As fairy godmothers present gifts which foretell Aurora’s elegant attributes, the festivities are interrupted by the arrival of the even fairy Carabosse, irate that she was not invited. She bears no gift, she informs the Queen, but a curse. On Aurora’s 16th birthday, she will pierce her finger on a spindle and die. The benevolent Lilac Fairy intervenes with her gift — a reprieve from death. Aurora will not die, but will sleep for 100 years, to be awakened by a Prince’s kiss.

ACT I: THE SPELL

At Princess Aurora’s 16th birthday celebration, she accepts a rose from four princes who seek her hand in marriage. A mysterious guest arrives and gives Aurora a bouquet. The guest is Carabosse, who has hidden a spindle among the blossoms. The unsuspecting Aurora pierces her finger and seems to die. As the court is thrown into chaos, the Lilac Fairy fulfills her promise of reprieve. She weaves a spell of sleep over Aurora and everyone at court, and enfolds the pal-ace in a forest of lilacs and vines.

ACT II: THE VISION

A century later, Prince Florimund and his retinue are hunting, but the Prince is distracted, dreaming of ideal love. The Lilac Fairy appears and shows him a vision of Princess Aurora, the woman of his dreams. The Prince begs to find this beauty, and the Lilac Fairy takes him to the palace where Aurora lies sleeping. Florimund tries in vain to rouse her, until it occurs to him to awaken Aurora with a kiss. The spell is broken.

ACT III: AURORA’S WEDDING

Fairy tale characters join the court to celebrate the wedding of Princess Aurora and Prince Florimund with dancing. All rejoice that good has prevailed over evil. The marriage of Aurora and Florimund restore the kingdom to balance and hope for a bright future.


Casting

Casting Week 1 (February 15 – 16)

Saturday 2/15 at 2:00 PM

Princess Aurora: Eva Burton
Prince Florimund: Matthew Pawlicki-Sinclair
The Lilac Fairy: Jessica Lind
Carabosse: Lisa Kipp
Bluebird: Peter Franc
Princess Florine: Kelsie Nobriga

Saturday 2/15 at 7:30 PM

Princess Aurora: Xuan Cheng
Prince Florimund: Brian Simcoe
The Lilac Fairy: Eva Burton
Carabosse: Lisa Kipp
Bluebird: Matthew Pawlicki-Sinclair
Princess Florine: Ansa Capizzi

Sunday 2/16 at 2:00 PM

Princess Aurora: Ansa Capizzi
Prince Florimund: Peter Franc
The Lilac Fairy: Kimberly Fromm
Carabosse: Xuan Cheng
Bluebird: Thomas Baker
Princess Florine: Jessica Lind

Casting Week 2 (February 21 – 23)

Friday 2/21 at 7:30 PM

Princess Aurora: Xuan Cheng
Prince Florimund: Brian Simcoe
The Lilac Fairy: Eva Burton
Carabosse: Lisa Kipp
Bluebird: Peter Franc
Princess Florine: Kelsie Nobriga

Saturday 2/22 at 2:00 PM

Princess Aurora: Ansa Capizzi
Prince Florimund: Peter Franc
The Lilac Fairy: Jessica Lind
Carabosse: Lisa Kipp
Bluebird: Matthew Pawlicki-Sinclair
Princess Florine: Hannah Davis

Saturday 2/22 at 7:30 PM

Princess Aurora: Xuan Cheng
Prince Florimund: Brian Simcoe
The Lilac Fairy: Eva Burton
Carabosse: Lisa Kipp
Bluebird: Thomas Baker
Princess Florine: Jessica Lind

Sunday 2/23 at 12:00 PM

Princess Aurora: Eva Burton
Prince Florimund: Matthew Pawlicki-Sinclair
The Lilac Fairy: Kimberley Fromm
Carabosse: Xuan Cheng
Bluebird: Peter Franc
Princess Florine: Kelsie Nobriga


Run Time

Approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, including one 25 minute intermission.


Audio Described

OBT offers audio-described performances for patrons with blindness or low vision, or anyone interested in listening to a live narration of select performances.

Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) will be available for patron use during the February 22 – at both the 2PM and 7:30PM performances of The Sleeping Beauty. Patrons wanting to experience the performance through verbal description of the action on stage, including choreography, story line, scenery and costumes, will be able to pick up a hand-held device on a first-come, first-served basis from the coat check area before the performance. Neck loops for use with hearing aids and cochlear implants with a “T” switch (telecoil) are also available. Please bring ID when checking out a hearing device. Supplies are limited.


Header Image: Kelsie Nobriga | Photo by Christopher Peddecord