Original Star Ashley Shaw to Lead Matthew Bourne's THE RED SHOES at the Ahmanson

The cast is set for the acclaimed Matthew Bourne / New Adventures production of "The Red Shoes." Presented by Center Theatre Group and Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center, the American premiere of "The Red Shoes" runs September 15 through October 1, 2017, with the opening set for September 19.

The role of Victoria Page, the girl who dreams of being a great dancer, was created by New Adventures leading lady Ashley Shaw in a career defining performance. She will perform the role at the Ahmanson Theatre, as will New Adventures rising star Cordelia Braithwaite who has also received great praise for her interpretation.

Sam Archer, who created the title role in "Edward Scissorhands" in 2005 and performed the role at the Ahmanson, has starred in "Cinderella," "The Car Man" and "Play Without Words." Archer returned to New Adventures to create the iconic role of Svengali-like impresario Boris Lermontov, which he will perform at the Ahmanson. Jack Jones, who recently made his debut in the role, will also play Lermontov at some performances.

Dominic North, one of New Adventures' most popular dancers, created the role of Julian Craster. Joining him in the role for the U.S. tour is American Ballet Theatre star Marcelo Gomes, who was last seen with New Adventures in "The Car Man" at Sadler's Wells in 2015 and previously danced The Swan in "Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake" in Tokyo in 2014.

Completing the principal cast are the leading dancers of the Lermontov Company. Prima Ballerina Irina Boronskaja is played by Michela Meazza, who returns to New Adventures where she has danced and created many leading roles. She is joined by Company favorites Anjali Mehra, most recently seen as both The Queen and The Girlfriend in "Swan Lake," and Nicole Kabera, who most recently played "Queen Eleanor" in "Sleeping Beauty."

The role of Ivan Boleslawsky has been created by one of New Adventures finest young dancers Liam Mower (the original West End Billy Elliot now taking on his seventh principal role with New Adventures). Also playing Ivan is popular company dancer, Danny Reubens, who scored a great personal success recently as Jack in "Lord Of The Flies" and rising star, Will Bozier.

The role of Lermontov Company choreographer and character dancer Grischa Ljubov, was created and will continue to be played by veteran company dancer, Glenn Graham, who played The Swan in "Swan Lake" and has recently been seen as King Benedict in "Sleeping Beauty." Also playing the role of Grischa will be Leon Moran recently seen in "Sleeping Beauty," "The Car Man" and as Jim in "Edward Scissorhands."

Completing the New Adventures cast as the leading dancers and creative team behind the Ballet Lermontov are Steph Billers (cover Irina Boronskaia), Jackson Fisch, Joshua Harriette, Daisy May Kemp, Philip King (cover Julian Craster), Dominic Lamb (cover Grischa Ljubov), Katrina Lyndon (who also plays Victoria Page) Kate Lyons, Andrew Monaghan (who also plays Julian Craster) Joe Walkling, Katie Webb (cover Victoria Page) and Seren Williams.

A beloved fairy tale and Academy Award-winning movie, "The Red Shoes" has seduced audiences and inspired generations of dancers with its tale of obsession, possession and one girl's dream to be the greatest dancer in the world. Victoria Page lives to dance but her ambitions become a battleground between the two men who inspire her passion.

Bourne's magical new adaptation of the legendary Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger film reunites him with his regular collaborators and New Adventures Associate Artists who created "Sleeping Beauty," Lez Brotherston (set and costumes), Paule Constable (lighting) and Paul Groothuis (sound).

"The Red Shoes" is set to a new score arranged by New Adventures Associate Artist Terry Davies using the mesmerizing music of golden-age Hollywood composer Bernard Herrmann (most famous for his collaborations with Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Welles and Martin Scorsese). Herrmann's work ranges from the witty and playfully robust to the achingly romantic and bittersweet.

Bourne has enjoyed a special relationship with Los Angeles audiences, and Center Theatre Group, in particular. In addition to "Swan Lake," which had its American premiere at the Ahmanson in 1997, a total of eight other Bourne productions have been presented: "Sleeping Beauty," "Cinderella," "The Car Man," "Play Without Words," "Nutcracker!," "Edward Scissorhands," "My Fair Lady" and "Mary Poppins."

"It's a feast for the eye, with every scene animated by sharp detail and witty characterization," said Luke Jennings of The Observer in his review of the London engagement. "Bourne choreographs with the lightest of touches, threading in references to Hollywood movies and Diaghilev-era ballets as he goes. 'The Red Shoes,' I'm certain, will be dancing for years to come."

"Bourne's production provides something that Powell and Pressburger by definition couldn't: the immediacy of flesh-and-blood dancers, right before your eyes," said Mark Monahan of The Daily Telegraph. "It's a complex story, one that ricochets between London and France, art and real life. And, brilliantly aided and abetted by his long-standing designer Lez Brotherston, Bourne lets it unfold clearly and urgently, with no prior knowledge of the film necessary."

Matthew Bourne is a five-time Olivier Award winner, and the only British director to have won the Tony Award for both Best Choreographer and Best Director of a Musical. He has been recognized by over 40 international awards and was awarded the OBE for Services to Dance in 2001.

Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center is one of the leading presenters of dance on the West Coast. The celebrated series offers significant works by prestigious ballet and contemporary dance artists from around the world. Entering its second decade, Dance at The Music Center continues to be a powerful commissioning force through the support of new works and artists-in-residence projects by today's most influential companies and choreographers. Performances take place throughout The Music Center, including the historic Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the distinctive Ahmanson Theatre and the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall, providing the ideal setting for inspiring dance experiences.

Center Theatre Group, one of the nation's preeminent arts and cultural organizations, is Los Angeles' leading nonprofit theatre company, programming seasons at the 736-seat Mark Taper Forum and 1600 to 2000-seat Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles, and the 317-seat Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. In addition to presenting and producing the broadest range of theatrical entertainment in the country, Center Theatre Group is one of the nation's leading producers of ambitious new works through commissions and world premiere productions and a leader in interactive community engagement and education programs that reach across generations, demographics and circumstance to serve Los Angeles.

Tickets for "The Red Shoes" are available by calling (213) 972-4400, online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org or by visiting the Center Theatre Group Box Office located at the Ahmanson Theatre. Tickets range from $30 - $130 (ticket prices are subject to change). The Ahmanson Theatre is located at The Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles, 90012.

Photo Credit: Johan Persson

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