Catherine Zehr to Chat BALLETS WITH A TWIST at The Museum at FIT Tonight

Tonight, February 26, 2015, at 6:00 pm, costume designer Catherine Zehr will discuss her career with New York City's Ballets with a Twist at The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology's Katie Murphy Amphitheatre as part of the museum's Fashion Culture series.

Featuring performances of excerpts from artistic director and choreographer Marilyn Klaus' Cocktail Hour: The Show, the event will shed light on the process of designing for dance. Klaus will provide additional insight on Zehr's contribution to the production and join her in answering audience questions.

For tickets, visit http://bit.ly/BTwistFIT.

The Show

Cocktail Hour reinvents the glamour and excitement of classic American entertainment with a fresh mix of charismatic choreography, intoxicating music and exquisite costume design. This cinematic, pop-infused performing arts experience launches the Mai Tai, Shirley Temple, Martini and more off the menu and onto the stage in a series of sparklingly spirited vignettes. Selections performed at FIT will include the elegant "Eau de Vie," spectral "Absinthe," and ruthless royal "Bloody Mary," among others.

The Company

Klaus, whose choreography has been seen internationally, formed Ballets with a Twist in association with composer Stephen Gaboury and costume designer Catherine Zehr. The company has performed its signature floorshow-to-stage production, Cocktail Hour, in a wide range of venues, from Lincoln Center and Ohio's PlayhouseSquare to SoHo House and Manhattan nightclub Stage 48. Zehr is the artistic force behind Cocktail Hour's costume design. Her creations evoke the origins and essence of each spirit with vivid colors and embellishments. Zehr honed her skills while working at major American fashion houses, then by designing and manufacturing attire for her own label. She studied art and design at Washington University and FIT. Gaboury's compositions for Cocktail Hour have been performed by celebrated musicians nationwide. He has toured the globe with pop/rock icon Cyndi Lauper for more than a decade, also contributing as co-writer on selections in her hit Broadway musical, Kinky Boots. Gaboury's music has been heard in film, on television and in concert, and he has performed with many A-listers, including Patti Labelle, Suzanne Vega and Ute Lemper. Craving more cocktail culture? Visit balletswithatwist.com.

The Museum at FIT The Museum at FIT, which is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is the only museum in New York City dedicated solely to the art of fashion. Best known for its innovative and award-winning exhibitions, the museum has a collection of more than 50,000 garments and accessories dating from the 18th century to the present. Like other fashion museums, such as the Musée de la Mode, the Mode Museum, and the Museo de la Moda, The Museum at FIT collects, conserves, documents, exhibits, and interprets fashion. The museum's mission is to advance knowledge of fashion through exhibitions, publications, and public programs. The museum is part of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), a State University of New York (SUNY) college of art, design, business, and technology that has been at the crossroads of commerce and creativity for 70 years. With programs that blend hands-on practice, a strong grounding in theory, and a broad-based liberal arts foundation, FIT offers career education in nearly 50 areas, and grants associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees. FIT provides students with a complete college experience at an affordable cost, a vibrant campus life in New York City, and industry-relevant preparation for rewarding careers. For more information, visit http://fitnyc.edu.