Maine State Ballet presents DON QUIXOTE, Opening 8/10

Maine State Ballet brings some Spanish spice to summer with a two-week run of Don Quixote, the classic comedic ballet based on the novel by Miguel de Cervantes, August 10 through August 19, at Maine State Ballet's Lopez Theater.

The most famous version of Don Quixote, created by choreographer Marius Petipa and composer Ludwig Minkus, premiered in 1869 at Moscow's Imperial Bolshoi Ballet. Maine State Ballet's version incorporates much of the Petipa choreography, along with original choreography and staging by Artistic Director Linda MacArthur Miele. Costume and set design by Gail Csoboth and lighting design by Fred Bernier give the production a vibrant Spanish flavor.

In this light-hearted tale of romance and chivalry, the eccentric knight-errant Don Quixote and his bumbling squire Sancho Panza go on a quest in search of his dream woman, Dulcinea. Meanwhile, young lovers Kitri and her handsome beau, Basilio, must outsmart her greedy father and a wealthy suitor so they can be together.

From beginning to end, the stage is afire with one show-stopping performance after another. From the fiery toreador Espada and his dancers, to the mysterious caravan of gypsies, to the ethereal grace and beauty of the Dryads, this ballet is a feast for the soul.

Maine State Ballet's Principal Dancer Rhiannon Pelletier and Principal Soloist Veronica Druchniak split the role of the feisty Kitri, and Principal Dancer Nathaniel Dombek plays Basilio. The show features Glenn Davis as the bullfighter Espada, Julia Lopez as Mercedes, Roberto Forleo as the Gypsy King, and Jonathan Miele as Sancho Panza. The production also features several well-known actors from the bustling Portland theatre scene, including James Herrera, Corey Gagne, Christine Louise Marshall, and David Jon Timm as Don Quixote.

Marshall, a Maine State Ballet Company and Board member as well as the Artistic Director of Mad Horse Theatre Company, has been instrumental in recruiting local actors to perform with Maine State Ballet over the years, including in the perennial holiday favorite, The Nutcracker. She sees the growing relationship between Maine State Ballet and the local theatre community as a win for everyone involved.

"Maine is home to some terrific actors, and it's exciting to see them collaborating with MSB. The Company has always had wonderful actors onstage - Ron Trell, Fred Bernier, Jonathan Miele, to name few - and bringing more strong actors into the fold deepens MSB's field of artists," she says. "Maine State Ballet mounts exceptionally staged story ballets. The participation of strong character actors is essential, adding an essential layer of quality to complement the incredible caliber of the dancing."

Maine State Ballet's Don Quixote runs August 10 through August 19, 2017, at the Maine State Ballet Lopez Theater, 348 U.S. Route One, Falmouth.

Performance times are Thursday and Friday evenings at 7:00pm, and Saturdays at 2:00pm and 7:00pm.

Tickets are priced at $19-$25 for reserved seating, with a $2 discount for seniors (62 & over)and children (12 & under). Order tickets online at www.mainestateballet.org or call Maine State Ballet at 207-781-7672 for more information.

Maine State Ballet, based in Falmouth, Maine, is one of New England's leading performing arts institutions and twice named Maine's Best Dance Group by Downeast Magazine. Its two components are the School for the Performing Arts, offering instruction in ballet, tap, jazz and other dance styles to more than 500 children and adults; and the Maine State Ballet Company, comprised of more than 25 professional dancers. Maine State Ballet is a nonprofit organization.

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