The performances are set for April 17 at 2 p.m. and 8…
When the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company comes to Queens Theatre in the Park, it will present the world premieres of “Staged Fright” by Brian Reeder and “Milk Pool” by Laura Gorenstein Miller.
The performances are set for April 17 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and April 18 at 3 p.m.
Reeder, a former dancer with American Ballet Theatre, has set “Staged Fright” to an arrangement of music by Bernard Herrmann, who composed many of the scores for the films of Alfred Hitchcock.
A work for 10 dancers, “Staged Fright,” Reeder’s third work for ABT Studio Company, features costumes by Dennis Ballard.
“Milk Pool,” by Miller, who serves as artistic director of the Los Angeles-based Helios Dance Theater, marks the choreographer’s first work for ABT Studio Company. The world premiere work is set to Pergolesi’s “Stabat Mater,” Caetano Veloso’s “Cucurrucucu Paloma” and an original composition by Rob Cairns.
“Milk Pool” is a modern piece for six women and one man with costumes by Salvatore Salamone.
In addition, the Queens Theatre in the Park show will present the elegant neo-classic “Monotones” by Sir Frederick Ashton and the virtuosic pas de deux “Tarantella” by George Balanchine.
John Meehan, the Artistic Director of ABT Studio Company, worked for 20 years as a professional dancer. He was principal dancer with the Australian Ballet from 1974 to 1977 before joining American Ballet Theatre, first as a guest artist in 1977 and then as a principal dancer in the fall of that same year. He has appeared in many classical ballets, including “The Sleeping Beauty,” “Giselle,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Swan Lake,” “Don Quixote,” “Firebird,” “Etudes,” “Les Sylphides” and “Theme and Variations.”
Meehan has performed as a guest artist with companies around the world including New York City Ballet and the National Ballet of Canada and has appeared in Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “Song and Dance” in London, on Broadway, and in the Australian production. As the artistic director of Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Meehan staged his original production of “The Sleeping Beauty.” He also choreographed the Metropolitan Opera’s productions “The Queen of Spades” and “Hansel and Gretel.”
In its eighth season, ABT Studio Company prepares young dancers to enter American Ballet Theatre and provides opportunities for the emergence of new and established choreographers and composers.
Through in-school performances and academic residencies, ABT Studio Company brings the excitement of close contact with a professional company into communities around the country.
For information, to order tickets, or to be placed on the theater’s mailing list, call 718-760-0064, Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m.
