A Midsummer Night's Dream

GWINNETT BALLET THEATRE PRESENTS

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

MARCH 5, 2011

Gwinnett Ballet Theatre will offer audiences a taste of Shakespeare as well as contemporary dance fare when they present their annual Spring Concert on March 5, 2011 at the Gwinnett Performing Arts Center. Shows are at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. with a special Scout Show on Friday evening, March 4 at 7:30 p.m.

GBT’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a ballet based on Shakespeare’s well-loved play involving the world of fairies as well as humans. Felix Mendelssohn’s beautiful music is a background for the choreography of Thom Clower and takes the audience on a comic journey.

Our story takes place in a moonlit forest, where we find the fairy kingdom bristling with excitement.  The bickering King and Queen of the Fairies, Oberon and Titania, are quarreling over the possession of a changeling boy. In a fit of vengefulness, Oberon sends his sprite, Puck through the night to fetch a magic flower that will make Titania fall in love with the first person she sees.

            Meanwhile, a happy pair of lovers, Lysander and Hermia, and their two unhappy friends, Helena and Demetrius, stray into the woods. Helena loves Demetrius, but he, alas, is in love with Hermia. Oberon observes these mortals, and when Puck returns with the magic flower, orders him to sprinkle some of its drops into Demetrius' eyes so that he will fall in love with Helena.

            Oberon himself anoints the eyes of Titania with the drops from the special flower. She is awakened by a peddler called Bottom, whom Puck has transformed into a donkey. It is love at first sight for the Queen, and Puck, for all his cleverness, complicates the affairs of the mortal lovers by charming the wrong man, Lysander, into love with Helena. Chaos reigns until Oberon takes pity on the confused lovers and orders Puck restore harmony to the situation.  The mortals are properly paired, Bottom is restored to human form, and Titania is reconciled to her King. The final wedding celebration is a testament to undying love. 

Also on the program are selections from the GBT Repertory. Six original and more contemporary pieces will get the audience’s collective heart pumping. One new piece, Vim, has been choreographed by GBT alumnus Robert Dekkers, a native of Gwinnett County. Dekkers was named one of “25 Dancers to Watch in 2011” by Dance Magazine, a very prestigious honor. He joins GBT alumna Jessica Collado of Houston Ballet who received this Dance Magazine honor in 2009. Vim is performed to the music of Yann Tiersen.

The other new works include Adeimus choreographed by Thom Clower to music by Karl Jenkins and Futility choreographed by Norbert Nirewicz to music by Peter Gabriel. GBT instructor Paul Appleman created Tannins to music by Vivaldi, and two senior GBT Company members also created pieces. Tori Thomas, a student at Faith Academy created 1,4,3 to music by Pricilla Ann. Lauren Clark, a student at Greater Atlanta Christian School choreographed Break of Reality to music by The Farewell.

Tickets are $17 for adults, $15 for students and seniors, and $12 for groups of ten or more. Tickets can be purchased at any Ticketmaster location, at www.ticketmaster.com, by calling 404-249-6400, or by visiting the Gwinnett Center Box Office. The Friday evening Scout Show tickets are being sold through the GBT studio and are not available through Ticketmaster. They are $6. Call 770-978-0188 for more information and to purchase Scout tickets.

Gwinnett Ballet Theatre performs in the beautiful Gwinnett Performing Arts Center located in Gwinnett Center at 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth. Classes are held in GBT’s studios located at 2204 Fountain Square in Snellville. For more information about Gwinnett Ballet Theatre, please visit the web site at www.gwinnettballet.org or call 770-978-0188.