The Commercial Appeal - Go Memphis
Ballet Memphis revives fairy tale
The enduring fairy tale Cinderella has come in many forms, and as a ballet it’s been particularly popular for its romantic story and for Sergei Prokofiev’s remarkable score.
Ballet Memphis is staging the classic with choreography by artistic associate Steven Mcmahon as he did four years ago with the company. Starring as Cinderella and her Prince are Julie Marie Niekrasz and Jonathan David Dummar (Saturday and Sunday matinees) and Virginia Pilgrim Ramey and Brandon Ramey (Friday’s school matinee and Saturday evening).
Last week, Niekrasz and Dummar took a break from rehearsal to talk about “Cinderella” — and more.
Niekrasz, who performed Mcmahon’s version four years ago, says there are differences between then and now. “Steven is always trying to make it better, so he is always tweaking things,” she says. “And I’m not the same dancer I was four years ago — I can do things a little bit better now. Steven is getting stronger as a choreographer, and I’m getting stronger as a dancer.”
It’s the first time Dummar has done Mcmahon’s version, but he has performed other choreographies of the classic.
“So I know this ballet pretty well,” he says. “The score is fantastic — pretty macabre — and it has these beautiful themes.”
Dummar says Mcmahon’s direction gets to the essence of the story and what the dancers want to convey. “I find that very refreshing,” Dummar says.
He says Mcmahon and Ballet Memphis’ artistic director Dorothy Gunther Pugh share the same approach. “Sometimes ballet can get mired in aesthetics and technique,” Dummar says. “But Dorothy’s entry point is much deeper. She watched a runthrough, and all she had to say was notes about character development and nuance and subtlety and acting. I can’t tell you how contrary that is to any other person I’ve ever worked with.”
Niekrasz says Mcmahon was aiming for an equal partnership between Cinderella and the Prince. “He didn’t want it to be the man lifting the girl the whole time,” she says, “and that helped me a lot in approaching it this time around.”
She also enjoys partnering with Dummar. “He is my age, he is extremely experienced, he’s extremely strong” — she turns to her partner and says, “Thank you!” — “he lifts me without a grunt or a groan, and that is just really beautiful. He makes me feel completely effortless, and that’s something you always aspire to be as a ballerina because it’s supposed to look so free, and it’s nice that I finally get to do that.”
Ballet Memphis’ “Cinderella” plays at the Orpheum, 203 S. Main. Showtimes: 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $7, $22, $43, $72. Group rates available. Info: balletmemphis.org and 901-737-7322.
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Desperate Blanche is out of her oncecomfortable life and now living in the French Quarter with her sister Stella and Bartlett Repertory Company in “Snake in the Grass”: BPACC’S professional theatre troupe continues this season’s murdermystery theme with Alan Ayckbourn’s classic thriller. Annabel Chester returns home to her sister after the death of their abusive father only to be confronted by a blackmail plot, which quickly escalates out of hand with grim consequences. Show opens 7 p.m. Thursday. Other shows: 7 p.m. April 22-23 and 2:30 p.m. April 24. Tickets: $10. Bartlett Performing Arts and Conference Center, 3663 Appling, Bartlett. 901-3856440. bpacc.org “Beyond the Box”: A solo performance presented by Voices of the South. 8 p.m. Friday and Sunday at Theatresouth, 1000 S. Cooper. Admission is “pay what you can.” 901-726-0800. voicesofthesouth.org EGG: Three madcap birds grapple with growing up and giving in to their natural instincts to take flight. Story told through physical theater, illusion and music, creating a sophisticated, non-verbal exploration of the theme of “flying the nest.” 6:30 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday at Halloran Centre for Performing Arts & education, 225 n. Main. Tickets: $15-$30. Call 901-525-3000. “The Magnificence of the Disaster”: A solo performance presented by Voices of the South. 8 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday at Theatresouth, 1000 S. Cooper. $23 ($17 students, senior citizens). 901-726-0800. voicesofthesouth.org “Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet”: A coming-of-age story about a young gay man in the South. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-fridays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays through May 8 at Hattiloo Theatre, 37 S. Cooper. Tickets: $26 ($22 matinee). Call 901-525-0009. hattiloo.org “The Merry Wives of Windsor”: An opera in three acts by Otto nicolai; performed by University of Memphis Opera. 7:30 p.m. Thursday and also at 7:30 p.m. April 23. $20 general admission, $15 senior citizens, free to students, faculty and staff with ID. Harris Concert Hall, 3775 Central, University of Memphis campus. 901-678- brutish brother-in-law Stanley. Williams knew well how to make that mix work.
The lineup of these iconic characters is promising with Justin Asher directing a talented cast that includes Gregory Szatkowski taking on Stanley Kowalski. The Jonathan David Dummar and Julie Marie niekrasz are the Prince and Cinderella in the Ballet Memphis production of “Cinderella” this weekend, alternating performances with Virginia Pilgrim ramey and Brandon ramey. 2541. memphis.edu/music “The Offering”: It’s 1970s new York, and a fight for sexual and psychological dominance takes four people to heights unforeseen in this Bluff City Tri-art Theatre Company and J.E.T. entertainment Production. Shows at 8 p.m. FridaysSaturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays through May 1 at Theatreworks, 2085 Monroe. $2; $15 senior citizens (age 60-plus), students and military with ID. 901-9466140. bluffcitytriarttheatre. zohosites.com Pilobolus: 7:30 p.m. Saturday at GPAC Duncan-williams Performance Hall, 1801 exeter road, Germantown. Tickets: $25, $35, $45, $75. Call 901751-7500. Gpacweb.com “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”: 8 p.m. Friday-saturday and Thursday. Other shows: 8 p.m. April 22-23 and 2 p.m. April 24 in Mccoy Theatre at rhodes College, 2000 north Parkway. $10 general admission, $7 senior citizens (age 65-plus), $2 rhodes students, $5 all other students (college and high school). Call 901-8433839. rhodes.edu actor has stood out in productions ranging from “The Producers” to “Seminar” to “Richard III” to “Copenhagen.”
Blanche is performed by Natalie Jones,