George Street Playhouse Partners with American Repertory Ballet for Pre-Show Talk at NUREYEV'S EYES Tonight

George Street Playhouse and American Repertory Ballet will co-host a discussion on the late ballet and film legend, Rudolf Nureyev, led by Princeton Ballet School Director Mary Pat Robertson, tonight, February 19, 2016. The discussion -- free and open to the public -- will take place at 7 p.m. at George Street Playhouse (9 Livingston Avenue) prior to that evening's 8 p.m. performance of NUREYEV'S EYES, on stage at GSP now through February 21. The event is part of an overall collaborative effort between American Repertory Ballet and George Street Playhouse to expose more residents of New Jersey to the value of the arts.

Robertson will relay stories about the famed Russian ballet star and provide the audience with an inside look into the life of a dancer. George Street Playhouse Resident Artistic Director Michael Mastro, director of NUREYEV'S EYES, will talk about the play and how its writer, David Rush, portrays the cultural icon in his script. The presentation will conclude with a Q&A.

Those interested in attending both the pre-show discussion and that night's performance of NUREYEV'S EYES may take advantage of a special 2-for-1 ticket offer by using code BALLETBOGO when ordering tickets via George Street Playhouse's box office at 732-246-7717 or www.georgestreetplayhouse.org. (BALLETBOGO offer valid only for the February 19 performance of NUREYEV'S EYES.)

About NUREYEV'S EYES - Fighting personal demons and demanding perfection, American painter Jamie Wyeth (played by William Connell) and Russian ballet and film star Rudolf Nureyev (Bill Dawes) develop a friendship that transcends their differences and lasts until the end of Nureyev's storied career and too-short life. Struggling to capture the icon on paper and canvas, Wyeth is not satisfied until an unexpected breakthrough provides new inspiration -- opening his eyes to what is right in front of him.

In the 42 years since its founding, George Street Playhouse has become a nationally recognized theatre, presenting an acclaimed mainstage season while providing an artistic home for established and emerging theatre artists. Its leadership consists of Artistic Director David Saint, Resident Artistic Director Michael Mastro and Managing Director Kelly Ryman. Founded in 1974, the Playhouse has been well represented by numerous productions both on and off-Broadway - recent productions include the Outer Critics' Circle Best Musical Award-winner The Toxic Avenger; the Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk and Drama League nominated production of The Spitfire Grill; and the recent Broadway hit and Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning play Proof by David Auburn, which was developed at GSP during the 1999 Next Stage Series of new plays. In 2015, George Street Playhouse has been represented by two productions in New York: the recent Broadway production of It Shoulda Been You, and Joe DiPietro's Clever Little Lies, which opened off-Broadway in October. Both shows received their premieres at the Playhouse. In addition to its mainstage season, GSP's Touring Educational Theatre features three issue-oriented productions that are seen by more than 40,000 students annually. George Street Playhouse programming is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. The 2015-16 production of My Name is Asher Lev is sponsored by TD Bank.

American Repertory Ballet's mission is to bring the joy, beauty, artistry and discipline of classical and contemporary dance to New Jersey and nationwide audiences and to dance students through artistic and educational programs. The organization comprises: the preeminent professional classical and contemporary ballet company in the state; Princeton Ballet School, one of the largest and most respected non-profit dance schools in the nation; and ARB's Access & Enrichment initiatives, including the long-running and acclaimed DANCE POWER program. The performing company is a classical and contemporary ballet company committed to presenting ballets from the 19th and 20th centuries alongside new and existing works by choreographers from today. Founded in 1963, the company is currently under the artistic leadership of Douglas Martin, former principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet. Its rich history of repertory includes established masterpieces by distinguished American choreographers such as George Balanchine, Gerald Arpino, Alvin Ailey, Paul Taylor and Twyla Tharp; cutting edge works by choreographers such as Val Caniparoli, Kirk Peterson, Dominique Dumais, Harrison McEldowney, Amy Seiwert, Susan Shields, Melissa Barak, Patrick Corbin, Trinette Singleton, and ARB Resident Choreographer Mary Barton; and former Artistic Directors Dermot Burke, Marjorie Mussman, Septime Webre and Graham Lustig. ARB has been designated a "Major Arts Institution" by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts consistently for the past two decades, and has repeatedly been awarded a Citation of Excellence by the Council. ARB was voted the Jersey Arts People's Choice for "Favorite Dance Company" in 2008, 2011, 2012, and 2015.

Princeton Ballet School has gained a national reputation for its excellent dance training since its founding in 1954 by Audrée Estey. Under the direction of Mary Pat Robertson, Princeton Ballet School currently serves approximately 1,200 students, starting at age three, and includes a large open enrollment division for adults. Princeton Ballet School has studios in Cranbury, New Brunswick, and Princeton and offers classes in ballet, modern dance, jazz, hip-hop, CardioBallet, and CoMBo - Conditioning for the Mind and Body. Students from the school have gone on to dance in professional ballet and contemporary dance companies in the US and abroad. Graduates have danced with such diverse organizations as New York City Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Miami City Ballet, Complexions, Mark Morris Dance Company, Twyla Tharp, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Ballet West and on Broadway.

IF YOU GO:

Rudolf Nureyev Discussion/Q&A
Presented by George Street Playhouse and American Repertory Ballet

Friday, February 19, 2016, 7 pm
FREE and open to the public
George Street Playhouse - Mainstage
9 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ

Princeton Ballet School Director Mary Pat Robertson to relay stories about ballet icon Rudolf Nureyev and share an inside look at the life of a dancer. George Street Playhouse Resident Artistic Director Michael Mastro to discuss GSP's current production of NUREYEV'S EYES, which he is directing.

Show tickets required to stay for 8 p.m. performance of NUREYEV'S EYES. Use special 2-for-1 offer code BALLETBOGO when ordering for that night's show only via the George Street Playhouse box office at 732-246-7717 or www.georgestreetplayhouse.org.

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