Popcorn & Ballet. Tutu Good to Miss.

12.27.17 Issue. Ballet in Cinema | Stage on Screen article by Mina Rios – page 12.

Ballet in Cinema | Stage on Screen by Mina Rios is now available on Marin County newspaper stands through Jan. 2, 2018.

The article discusses both the ballet in cinema phenomenon as well as the 2017/2018 Bolshoi Ballet and Royal Ballet seasons scheduled live via satellite – in cinemas across the world.  (Link to article)

Due to space limitations in the printed article, certain quotes, facts, and photography did not appear in the 12.27.17 published piece. As such, the supplemental content can be viewed here. Read on….

Provided courtesy of the Bolshoi Ballet. “Romeo and Juliet” photo by Damir Yusupov.

Provided courtesy of the Bolshoi Ballet. “Romeo and Juliet” photo by Damir Yusupov.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bolshoi Ballet

Executive Director of the Lark Theater in Larkspur, Ellie Mednick confirms that Bolshoi Ballet in cinema attendance averages about 50 people. Though a fairly modest number for a 236 capacity theater – particularly when most operas sell out and live theater generates a three quarters full audience, comparatively – over the last three Bolshoi seasons, ballet attendance has increased. On an even brighter note, local ballet-students benefit with free tickets to help fill seats.

Provided courtesy of the Bolshoi Ballet. “Lady of the Camellias” photo by Elena Fetisova.

Provided courtesy of the Bolshoi Ballet. “Lady of the Camellias” photo by Damir Yusupov.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018 Bolshoi Ballet performances at the Lark Theater

January 21 & 23: Romeo & Juliet

February 4: The Lady of the Camellias

March 4 & 6: The Flames of Paris

April 8 & 10: Giselle

June 10 & 12: Coppelia

Lark Theater, 549 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur; 415/924-5111; larktheater.net.

 

The Royal Ballet

THE WINTER’S TALE by Wheeldon, , choreography – Christopher Wheeldon, music – Joby Talbot, designs – Bob Crowley, The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera House, 2014, Credit: Johan Persson/www.perssonphotography.com

Credit: Johan Persson / Royal Opera House / ArenaPAL

Lauren Cuthbertson as Hermione and Edward Watson as Leontesin Act III of The Royal Ballet production of The Winter’s Tale, choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, to music by Joby Talbot. Designs by Bob Crowley and lighting design by Natasha Katz. Performed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden on 9 April 2014. ARPDATA ; THE WINTER’S TALE ; Music by Joby Talbot ; Choreography by Christopher Wheeldon ; Lauren Cuthbertson (Hermione), Edward Watson (Leontesin) ; Designs by Bob Crowley ; Lighting Design by Natasha Katz ; The Royal Ballet ; At the Royal Opera House, London, UK ; 9 April 2014 ; Credit: Johan Persson / Royal Opera House / ArenaPAL

Lauren Cuthbertson as Hermione in Act I of The Royal Ballet production of The Winter’s Tale, choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, to music by Joby Talbot. Designs by Bob Crowley and lighting design by Natasha Katz. Performed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden on 9 April 2014. ARPDATA ; THE WINTER’S TALE ; Music by Joby Talbot ; Choreography by Christopher Wheeldon ; Lauren Cuthbertson (Hermione) ; Designs by Bob Crowley ; Lighting Design by Natasha Katz ; The Royal Ballet ; At the Royal Opera House, London, UK ; 9 April 2014 ; Credit: Johan Persson / Royal Opera House / ArenaPAL

CEO of Trafalgar Releasing, Marc Allenby shares, “We regularly screen in over 60 countries. There is a dedicated core audience who buy into seeing the full season, in part motivated by the breadth of work and the curatorial balance provided by the Royal Ballet. In this current season the forthcoming Swan Lake will appeal to a wider audience and will perform on a par with the more commercial opera and theater shows in cinema. We have great respect for all organisations working in the ‘event cinema’ space and collectively are really pushing the boundaries in a virgin industry. Trafalgar Releasing are ambitious and committed to this space and expect to see more growth in 2018, we have just started setting up our US team to help develop the good work we have done here over the last 5 or so years and are exploring similar plans in other markets. As a distributor, Trafalgar Releasing is set up so we can be involved in a multitude of ways on a release… from financing, producing, marketing, physical distribution, cinema sales and box office reconciliation. We work very much in partnership with the team in Covent Garden to pool our expertise to achieve the best results.”

Head of Marketing and Enterprises at the Royal Ballet, Jeff Coventry shares, “We are currently in our second season working with Trafalgar Releasing and are very happy with how things are progressing. Generally speaking, opera and ballet are equally popular, but this does fluctuate depending on the production. Revenue is an important but secondary objective, bringing a new revenue stream to the organisation over the past five years. Cinema sales are growing both nationally and internationally.”

2018 Royal Ballet performances at the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center

February 28: The Winter’s Tale

March 27: Bernstein program from Wayne McGregor, Liam Scarlett and Christopher Wheeldon

May 3: Manon

June 12: Swan Lake

Rafael Film Center, 1118 Fourth St., San Rafael; 415/454-1222; rafaelfilm.cafilm.org.