Full Original Cast Set for US Tour of MATTHEW BOURNE'S SLEEPING BEAUTY at New York City Center, 10/23-11/3

New York City Center has announced full casting for the New York premiere of Matthew Bourne's SLEEPING BEAUTY, which runs October 23 - November 3, 2013 at City Center (West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues).

Matthew Bourne said "I am delighted to announce that we will be bringing the entire original cast with us on this much anticipated tour of the USA. I am passionate about fresh, young dance talent and this company of New Adventures performers represents the finest actor/dancers working in the UK today. It has been my dream for many years to complete this Tchaikovsky trilogy of masterworks, and I couldn't be more proud to share this particular piece with American audiences, as part of my company's 25th Anniversary celebrations."

Matthew Bourne's SLEEPING BEAUTY sees the choreographer return to the music of Tchaikovsky to complete the trio of the composer's ballet masterworks that started in 1992 with Nutcracker! and, most famously, in 1995, with the international hit Swan Lake. Bourne's haunting new scenario is a gothic tale for all ages; the traditional tale of good vs. evil and rebirth is turned upside-down, creating a supernatural love story, set across the decades, that even the passage of time itself cannot hinder.

Perrault's timeless fairy tale, about a young girl cursed to sleep for one hundred years, was turned into a legendary ballet by Tchaikovsky and choreographer, Marius Petipa, in 1890. Bourne takes this date as his starting point, setting the Christening of Aurora, the story's heroine, in the year of the ballet's first performance; the height of the Fin-de-Siecle period when fairies, vampires and decadent opulence fed the gothic imagination. As Aurora grows into a young woman, we move forwards in time to the more rigid, uptight Edwardian era; a mythical golden age of long Summer afternoons, croquet on the lawn and new dance crazes. Years later, awakening from her century long slumber, Aurora finds herself in the modern day; a world more mysterious and wonderful than any fairy story.

Matthew Bourne's new scenario introduces several characters not seen in Petipa's famous ballet or Grimm's fairy tale. The Royal Family is headed byKing Benedict and Queen Eleanor. Princess Aurora's romantic interest is not a Prince, but the royal gamekeeper, Leo. Representing the central forces of good and evil are Count Lilac ("the King of the Fairies") and the Dark Fairy Carabosse. In another innovation, Bourne has created the character ofCaradoc, the sinister but charming son of Carabosse. Princess Aurora's Fairy Godparents are named Ardor, Hibernia, Autumnus, Feral and Tantrum.

Creating the central role of 'Aurora' in this new production are HANNAH VASSALLO and ASHLEY SHAW. Hannah co-created the role of 'Kim' in New Adventures' Edward Scissorhands, and has played leading roles in The Car Man, Nutcracker! and Play Without Words. She also played 'Baby' in the West End production of Dirty Dancing for over two years. Ashley made her debut with New Adventures in Swan Lake in 2009 and has since played the title role in Matthew Bourne's Cinderella and 'Sugar' in Nutcracker!

The leading role of 'Leo' was created by DOMINIC NORTH and CHRIS TRENFIELD. Dominic holds the distinction of appearing in more New Adventures productions than any other dancer (Sleeping Beauty will be his 9th production with Matthew Bourne) and was most recently seen in the 25thAnniversary Triple Bill, Early Adventures. He was also nominated as "Outstanding Male Dancer" at The National Dance Awards for his performance asEdward Scissorhands. Christopher was last year seen as 'Tony' in Play Without Words and in the title role in Nutcracker!. He has also played 'The Swan/Stranger' in Bourne's Swan Lake, a role to which he will return at Sadlers Wells Theatre, London, this Christmas.

'Count Lilac' will be portrayed by one of New Adventures' most accomplished performers CHRISTOPHER MARNEY, and in his debut in a leading role for New Adventures, LIAM MOWER. Christopher was most recently seen in the highly successful Triple Bill, Early Adventures. He created the role of 'Cyril Vane' in Dorian Gray, has played 'The Prince' in Swan Lake and 'The Angel' in Bourne's Cinderella in 2010. Liam is the Olivier Award-winning original star of the West End hit Billy Elliott. Joining New Adventures in 2011 upon graduation from The Rambert School to appear in Nutcracker!, he has also recently appeared in Play Without Words.

The twin roles of 'Carabosse' and 'Caradoc' will be shared between two versatile New Adventures performers; TOM JACKSON GREAVES (Cinderella, Nutcracker!, Early Adventures) and ADAM MASKELL (Dorian Gray, Nutcracker! (title role),' Tony' in Play Without Words and 'The Angel' in Cinderella). In a notable coup de theatre, the roles of the female villainess, Carabosse, and her evil son, Caradoc, are played by the same (male) dancer at each performance.

'King Benedict' will be played by EDWIN RAY (Swan Lake, 'The Pilot' in Cinderella and Nutcracker! (title role) and 'Queen Eleanor' by DAISY MAY KEMP(Swan Lake, Nutcracker! and Play Without Words) and NICOLE KABERA (Nurtcracker!, Swan Lake)

Completing the SLEEPING BEAUTY company are Daniel Collins, Pia Driver, Phil Jack Gardner, Mari Kamata, Dena Lague, Dominic Lamb, Katy Lowenhoff, Kate Lyons, Leon Moran, Luke Murphy, Danny Reubens and Joe Walkling.

Britain's most popular dance showman works again with three of his regular collaborators and New Adventures Associate Artists; The Tony and Olivier Award-winning designers Lez Brotherston (Set and Costumes), Paule Constable (Lighting) and Paul Groothuis (Sound Design).

New York City Center (Arlene Shuler, President & CEO), now in its 70th year, has played a defining role in the cultural life of the city since 1943. It was Manhattan's first performing arts center, dedicated by Mayor Fiorello La Guardia with a mission to make the best in music, theater and dance accessible to all audiences. Today, City Center is home to many distinguished companies, including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, City Center's Principal Dance Company, as well as Manhattan Theatre Club and New York City Opera; a roster of renowned national and international visiting artists; and its own critically acclaimed and popular programs. The Tony-honored Encores! musical theater series has been hailed as "one of the very best reasons to be alive in New York." This summer City Center launched Encores! Off-Center, a new series featuring seminal Off-Broadway musicals filtered through the lens of today's most innovative artists. Dance has been integral to the theater's mission from the start, and dance programs, including the annualFall for Dance Festival, remain central to City Center's identity. Vital partnerships with arts organizations including Jazz at Lincoln Center and London's Sadler's Wells Theatre enhance City Center's programmatic offerings. City Center is dedicated to providing educational opportunities to New York City students and teachers with programs such as Encores! In Schools and the Young People's Dance Series. Special workshops cater to families, seniors and other groups, while events such as the Fall for Dance DanceTalk series offer learning opportunities to the general public. In October 2011, City Center completed an extensive renovation project to revitalize and modernize its historic theater.

Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty will run for 14 performances on the following schedule: Wednesday, October 23 at 8 p.m.; Thursday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, October 25 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, October 26 at 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, October 27 at 1:30 and 7 p.m.; Tuesday, October 29 at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, October 30 at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, October 31 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, November 1 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, November 2 at 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, November 3 at 2 p.m.

Tickets range from $30 to $130 and can be purchased at the New York City Center Box Office (West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues), through CityTix at 212-581-1212, or online at www.NYCityCenter.org. City Center is located on 55th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues.

For more information on Matthew Bourne and Sleeping Beauty, visit http://www.new-adventures.net/productions/sleeping_beauty.