Royal Ballet's THE METAMORPHOSIS to Open 9/17 at The Joyce Theater

The opening night reception of the highly anticipated U.S. premiere of the Royal Ballet's production of The Metamorphosis at The Joyce Theater, starring acclaimed Royal Ballet principal dancer Edward Watson, directed/choreographed by Arthur Pita, is set for Tuesday, September 17 at 9:15pm at the Chelsea restaurant (address given upon RSVP).

In attendance will be: The Metamorphosis director/choreographer Arthur Pita and star Edward Watson. Dancers: Bettina Carpi, Corey Claire Annand, Amir Giles, Sam Archer, Nina Goldman, Anton Skrzypiciel and Valentina Golfieri. Linda Shelton (Executive Director of The Joyce Theater);Martin Wechsler (Director of Programming, The Joyce Theater); Poppy Ben-David (Producer);Guy Hoare (Lighting Designer); Emma Southworth (Senior Producer RB Studio Programme); Frank Moon (Composer); Kevin O'Hare, Director, The Royal Ballet. Guests include Christopher Wheeldon (Choreographer); Austin Pendleton (actor/playwright); Michael Nunn and Billy Trevitt(Ballet Boyz co-founders); Christopher Pennington, Ellen Sorrin and Allen Greenberg (Jerome Robbins Foundation); Bob Crowley (Set Designer); Kim Brandstrup (Choreographer); Ella Baff(Executive Director, Jacobs Pillow); Fred Seegal and Robin Seegal; Timothy Millhiser andVirginia Millhiser; Robin Zendell.

The Joyce's 2013/2014 season opens with the Royal Ballet's production of choreographer / director Arthur Pita's brilliant, highly theatrical dance reinterpretation of The Metamorphosis, based on Kafka's seminal novella, for which he won the 2012 UK National Dance Award for Best Modern Choreography.

The production has a cast specially brought together by Mr. Pita, including Royal Ballet Principal Edward Watson (in his 2012 Olivier Award-winning role as "Gregor Samsa"), who, with remarkable technical and emotional skill, captures his character's transformation into a gigantic insect with notable humanity, making The Metamorphosis the must-see, tour de force performance of the fall season. Watson's long legs and strong arms twitch and snap, and his fingers flick like an insect's exploring antennae while his body smoothly and successfully finds unnatural and odd positions.

With an atmospheric score created and performed live by Frank Moon and stark, white designs by Simon Daw that create a claustrophobic feeling, the horror of Gregor's physical alteration is graphically evoked by Watson's searing performance. The Metamorphosis was originally produced by London's Royal Ballet for the Linbury Studio Theatre at the Royal Opera House.

The Joyce is pleased to bring this contemporary masterpiece to New York in association with The Royal Ballet.

Photo Credit: Amitava Sarkar