Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) is celebrating America’s 250th anniversary with four family-friendly ballets at the Benedum Center, Feb. 20-22.
The fun includes everything from big-band rhythms to star-spangled flair, plus surprises for sports lovers: Pittsburgh-area families can enjoy the talent of PBT’s dancers and the PBT Orchestra during a fun-filled “baseball ballet” (!) called “The Mighty Casey.” The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Parrot and Pierogies came to PBT this week to join a rehearsal for “The Mighty Casey,” learning ballet moves, teaching the dancers about playing baseball and enjoying some zany antics.
To make it easier for more families to attend, PBT has created a special code for Kidsburgh readers to purchase discounted $25 tickets for America 250 with the PBT Orchestra. The code is PBTAMERICA25. Click here for more details and tickets.
Image courtesy of PBT.
Families can also catch George Balanchine’s jubilant classical ballet “Stars and Stripes Pas de deux” and Ben Stevenson’s romantic “Three Preludes,” about two dancers who fall in love, featuring a score by Rachmaninoff.
And America 250 will begin with “Company B,” choreographed by Paul Taylor in 1991 and set to popular swing and jazz music by The Andrews Sisters from the 1940s. The show blends jitterbug, jazz and an athletic modern dance style, making it both a unique challenge for the dancers and an audience favorite.
Photo courtesy of PBT.
“These ballets not only capture the heart and soul of the American spirit, but also showcase the range and vitality of American dance and the spectacular versatility of our PBT artists,” says Adam W. McKinney, artistic director at PBT.
Special events include:
Opening Night Preview, Friday, Feb. 20, 6:30 p.m.: Audience members will hear from choreographers, stagers and other creative artists involved in the production in the Multi-purpose Room on the 2nd floor of the Benedum.
Family Workshop, Saturday, Feb. 21, 12:45 p.m.: It’s always easier for kids to appreciate and understand a performance and the art form with a bit of preparation! Join PBT for a story time, dancing and a chance to see Nutcracker costumes and props up close in the Multi-purpose Room on the 2nd floor of the Benedum. Reserve your spot here.
Tea with the AD, Saturday, Feb. 21, 6:45 p.m.: Grab your tea – or your favorite drink – at the bar and join Artistic Director Adam W. McKinney for an informal conversation before the performance. The event will take place in the Liberty Lounge on the 2nd floor.
Artist Q&A, Saturday, Feb. 21, after the performance: Audience members can chat with PBT’s artists about their roles in the performance, preparing for a ballet, working with choreographers and more. The event will take place on the Orchestra level of the theater.
Curtain Up!, Sunday, Feb. 22, 1:00 p.m.: This is a special opportunity to see the dancers warming up before the show. You can also chat with PBT Staff about the production. The event will take place in the theater.
Audio Described Performance, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2 p.m.: This performance is for patrons with blindness or low vision, or anyone interested in listening to a live narration of the production.
Click here to learn more and use the code for discounted tickets.