NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—The Rutgers Symphony Orchestra and the American Repertory Ballet will be collaborating once again to present a new full-length ballet based on Shakespeare’s comedy, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
The partnership comes on the heels of their 2013 collaboration of “Romeo and Juliet,” another of Shakespeare’s works.
The ballet is designed by the American Repertory Ballet artistic director, Douglas Martin, and the music will be provided by the Rutgers Symphony Orchestra as well as select students from the Rutgers Kirpatrick Choir.
The ballet will feature all new costumes, choreography, sets and a beautiful score by Felix Mendelssohn that “brilliantly evokes the fantastical world of Shakespeare’s play,” said Kynan Johns of North Brunswick, conductor and director of orchestras at Rutgers University.
“The State Theatre collaboration is a wonderful way to build bridges with American Repertory Ballet,” said George B. Stauffer, Dean of the Mason Gross School of the Arts. “We are deeply committed to dance at the Mason Gross School, and this partnership underscores our commitment to the future of dance in New Brunswick.”
The performances give Rutgers’ Mason Gross student artists the chance to be featured in a highly professional setting.
New Jersey residents performing in the orchestra include Matt Walley and Cyril Bodnar, both from East Brunswick, Daniel Jang of Piscataway, Daniel Choi of North Brunswick, Emily Gaab of Sparta, James Keene of Medford Lakes, Natasha Loomis of Millburn, and Wyatt Beekman of Washington Township (Bergen County).
A Midsummer Night’s Dream performances will take place on Thursday, February 26, at 8 p.m. and Friday, February 27, at 8 p.m. at the city’s historic State Theatre, located 15 Livingston Avenue.
Tickets are $27 to $57, but Rutgers students, faculty and staff can use promo code “LoveRU” for special discounts. To purchase tickets, visit www.statetheatrenj.org or call 732-246-7469.
