"Giselle" Highlights NJ Ballet Performance
at Centenary Stage Company

Corps de ballet/wilis                                                                                  All photos: Joseph Schembri

Giselle rising from her grave, Duke Albrecht kneeling to place flowers.

The ancients believed that once a year the border between this world and the next became thin, allowing spirits of lost souls to pass through. Spirits, souls and saints will surely pass through 'the veil' in Hackettstown on October 30 when the "Ghosts of the Ballet" is performed by the state's premiere dance company, the New Jersey Ballet, as part of the Centenary Stage Company's inaugural season in the David and Carol Lackland Center.

With an 8 PM performance, "Ghosts of Ballet" will include Act II of Giselle, one of the great classics of all time, as well as the New Jersey premiere of The Raven, a dramatic re-telling of Edgar Allan Poe's poem about love and loss, by New York-based choreographer David Fernandez. "We're looking forward to performing in the new theatre," said NJ Ballet Founder and Director Carolyn Clark, "which will now make it possible to mount a major production the size of Giselle on their stage."

One of the most popular ballets in the classical repertory, Giselle has attracted the best dancers in the world to fill its leading roles since 1841. "This is my favorite ballet," stated Clay, "with drama, romance, and spectacular music, it has all the ingredients for a wonderful classical ballet." In the first act, Giselle discovers her would-be fiancé, Duke Albrecht, is already betrothed to a lady of his own class, and she dies of a broken heart. Act II takes place at night, beside Giselle's grave in the woods near a lake. The woods are ruled by wilis, ghosts of brides who were jilted before their wedding days, and their vengeful Queen, Myrtha. The wilis are sworn to destroy any man who ventures into their realm by making him dance himself to death. When Giselle's repentant lover arrives and is about to face his fate, the spirit of Giselle emerges from her grave and pleads for mercy. Sustained by her love, Albrecht dances through the night until the first light of dawn sends the wilis back to their graves and releasing him back to the world of the living.

Giselle protecting Albrecht from the Wilis.

"Nevermore" quoth the raven, in Edgar Allen Poe's famous poem about a young man's decent into madness over his lost love, Lenore. The Raven is often noted for its musicality, but also its supernatural atmosphere. Telling the story of a strange bird's midnight visit to a young man, the man hears a "rapping at [his] chamber door", which reveals nothing, but excites his soul to "burning". When he hears rapping again, now at his window, he goes to investigate, and a raven steps into his chamber. When the heartbroken narrator remarks to himself that his "friend" the raven will soon fly out of his life, just as "other friends have flown before, " the raven responds again and again with "Nevermore".

Mexican-born contemporary choreographer for The Raven, David Fernandez has created dances for numerous dance companies, competitions and festivals, including a spectacular solo for New York City Ballet principal Joaquin de Luz for this season's international Kings of Dance Tour. A former dancer and actor, Fernandez appeared alongside Mikhail Baryshnikov in the play, The Doctor and the Patient, at the 2004 Lincoln Center Festival.

"I can't think of a more mysterious, moving or beautiful to spend the Halloween weekend," said CSC General Manager, Catherine Rust. "The NJ Ballet has been delighting audiences at the Centenary Stage Company for more than 20 years, but this year's performance will surely be the 'Piece d resistance'."

For more information about the NJ Ballet, visit www.njballet.org.

Wilis

About the David and Carol Lackland Center

Sitnik Theater of the    Lackland Performing Arts Center

The Centenary Stage Company has found its new home with construction the Carol and David Lackland Center (located at 715 Grand Ave, Hackettstown), completed in August, 2010. With a 22,000-square-foot performance space, the facility is the most sophisticated performing arts venues in northwest New Jersey. The center includes a new state-of-the-art 500-seat theatre (Sitnik Theater), a black box theater (The Edith Bolte Kutz ’42 Theater), a dance studio, scene shop, a costume shop, green room and dressing rooms. In addition to housing the theatre, the 68K square foot Lackland Center is home to a variety of cultural activity, and including WNTI, the College's listener-supported public radio station, CCTV, Centenary's Comcast-licensed television studio, and gallery space for visual artists.

Named in honor of Carol Burgess Lackland, A Centenary graduate (Class of 1954), and her husband, David A. Lackland, a Centenary College Trustee, The David and Carol Lackland Center, has been designed to enrich student life and bring new cultural opportunities to northwest New Jersey.             ...more (including photos, progress reports, and 'Tour Lackland with Carl')

Lackland Center Seating
	Sitnik Lower Level Seating Seats assigned on a best available basis. [closer view]
	Sitnik Balcony Seating Seats assigned on a best available basis. [closer view]
The Edith Bolte Kutz ’42 Theater (Blackbox) Seating Open Seating as the theatre configuration will change depending on the event.   Parking [Large Map Link]  [Print Map Link]

Tickets
Tickets for the "Ghosts of the Ballet" are $25 in advance and $30 on the day of the performance. Discounted tickets for seniors and students are $22.50 in advance, and $25 the day of the performance. Children under 12 will be admitted for $15 in advance, $20 day of performance. Tickets may be purchased directly at the Centenary Stage Company box office in the new David and Carol Lackland Center at 715 Grand Ave, Hackettstown, or by phone at 908-979-0900, and our Secure Online Ticketing system.

Subscription Value Still Available      
(Review the Full Schedule ) - Subscription Events)
Centenary Stage Company is often referred to as "the best deal in the state." Though our season has already started, this event can still be purchased as a part of a discounted season subscription purchase. Centenary Stage Company offers several subscription plans for its season with the mission of making arts affordable for all. The still available subscription is:

Series B Subscription, priced at $100, allows patrons to purchase a season subscription for any SIX of the remaining subscription events in the CSC season.

Individual Tickets
Individual Tickets are:

www.centenarystageco.org           boxoffice@centenarystageco.org
Mailing Address: 400 Jefferson St., Hackettstown, NJ 07840       908-979-0900
Lackland Center Physical Address: 715 Grand Avenue
Copyright © 1999-2010 Centenary Performing Arts Guild. All rights reserved.
Revised: November 17, 2010
SR Web Resources