On Saturday August 15, summer audiences will have a chance to enjoy a special presentation of George Balanchine’s enchanting ballet A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM at Empire Theatres locations and other select theatres throughout Canada. Distributed worldwide by Montreal distributor DigiScreen, the highly acclaimed production appears on select Canadian screens as part of an ongoing cinema series from the world’s great stages presented by The Royal Opera House’s Opus Arte.
Choreographed by artistic genius George Balanchine, Shakespeare’s comedy of magic and love’s delusions is a guaranteed audience pleaser, set to the beautiful music of Felix Mendelssohn. The Pacific Northwest Ballet displays all the vitality, brilliance and versatility of its wonderful dancers in this award-winning production of Balanchine’s first original full-length ballet. The characters from Shakespeare’s much-loved comedy are as enchanting as ever: the haughty, unattainable Titania (Patricia Baker), mysterious Oberon (Paul Gibson), chaotic mischief-maker Puck (Seth Belliston), charming buffoon Bottom (Timothy Lynch). Balanchine brings the essence of the ‘Dream’ to life and creates his own pure dance magic as he and Shakespeare intertwine to bring the story to a whimsical climax. A highlight is a breathtaking pas de deux danced so beautifully by two dancers of whom most audiences may never have heard, Louise Nadeau and Olivier Wevers.
Based in Seattle, Pacific Northwest Ballet is one of the largest and most highly regarded ballet companies in the United States and known for its fascination with George Balanchine. A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM is a milestone for the company winning the highest award from IMZ Dance Screen.
“Lavish! Full of colour and brilliant images! Such productions surely guarantee the survival of classical ballet well into the next millennium.” - Morning Star
“Enchanting!” - Guardian
The performance will be presented across Canada on August 15 at Empire Theatres and select locations. For details screenings, please go to www.digiscreen.ca and locate the participating theatre in your area.
Montreal distributor DigiScreen in association with Royal Opera House’s Opus Arte, releases 10-16 HD productions throughout the year. The award-winning A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM was captured in High Definition and Surround Sound on the stage of London’s storied (and newly restored) Sadler Wells in April 1999.
Tickets will be available at $19.95 + tax per adult, $16.95 + tax per senior and $9.95 + tax per child. For cinema locations and to purchase advance tickets throughout Canada visit www.empiretheatres.com/opusarte. For Landmark Cinemas in Alberta and BC, go to www.landmarkcinemas.com. For independent theatres in Vancouver, Waterloo and Montreal please visit www.festivalcinemas.ca, www.princesscinemas.com.





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