Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre members will dance their way into the hearts of patrons as the beloved classic Peter Pan flies onto the Benedum Center stage beginning on Valentine’s Day weekend.
Artistic director Terrence Orr is very excited to bring Peter Pan back to Pittsburgh, feeling it was “very applicable to perform for Valentine’s Day because it is a popular story that connects many audiences with playfulness, family scenes, and a sweet love story.”
The last time this dance company performed Peter Pan was October 2011. According to Aimee DiAndrea, marketing director, ticket sales this year are going very well. She attributes this to the fact that the story is incredibly well-known, with the ballet essentially paralleling the classic tale that people of all ages have grown to know and love.
Jorden Morris originally choreographed this show in 2006 for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. The individuals at PBT both planning and performing the show feel that he has done an absolutely outstanding job with the choreography. Diana Yohe, one of the dancers playing the role of Wendy, feels that the choreography, despite the fact that there are no words, makes it very clear to audiences what is happening at every moment. Yohe noted that one of her favorite parts about this ballet in particular is the interaction that she has with everyone on the stage. “I think this show was choreographed so that every time feels like the first time; we try to make every interaction a little different each time so it’s like a new experience,” she said.
Christopher Budzynski, one of the three dancers portraying Peter Pan, notes the different character folds that were included in this production. For example, Wendy’s father also plays Captain Hook. “This ties into the sense that that growing older and becoming an adult is the enemy,” Budzynski said.
Audiences can expect a beautiful, action-filled, emotional representation of the well-known story of Peter Pan. Artistic director Terrence Orr noted that this show is good for families and couples alike, and will keep regular attendees, such as subscribers and donors, pleased, as well as pique the interest of new audiences. There truly is something for everyone in this ballet.
“I think all the little boys in the audience will love the scenes with Captain Hook and Peter Pan doing elaborate sword fighting and flying,” said Budzynski. When Yohe thought about the show, she thought that younger girls would love the moment when Wendy takes care of the Lost Boys and beats Peter Pan in a sword fight.
“It’s such a girl power moment!” she said. She also notes that audiences can truly expect the best of both worlds, from action to romance. Budzynski feels the same way.
“There are a lot of big jumps, big turns, and flying to keep the audience engaged, but there are also a lot of tender moments that unfold between Wendy and Peter, and Tinkerbell, as well,” he said.
Yohe’s favorite piece to perform in the ballet is the final pas de deux between Wendy and Peter. “The music and dancing in this part is very beautiful and emotional and dramatic,” she said. Moments like these are what pull the attention of couples out for Valentine’s Day.
There are 40 very intricate costumes involved in this production.
According to Janet Campbell, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s costumier, all of the costumes for this particular production were rented, although some shows are different. They refit and alter all of the rented costumes to the dancer’s needs, and, if an extra costume is needed, it is built to match what already exists.
“I think the costumes are really beautiful, easy to work with, and really get the idea about Peter Pan across,” said Campbell. In particular, she noted the intricacy of the fairy costumes, which are ombré dyed and each feature a different set of butterfly wings.
There are certain difficulties that the artists face in this production that will make the audience appreciate it even more. To begin with, according to Budzynski, they started rehearsals approximately five weeks ago.
While this is standard for professional ballet dancers, the audience will be surprised when they see the extravagance of the show. In addition, most ballets do not have the added feature of actually flying, as this one does. They use the company Flying by Foy to allow the dancers to leap into flight.
“As performing artists, we like to be in control, and this is one of the interesting times when there is nothing we can do once we get pulled off the ground,” said Budzynski.
Both Budzynski and Yohe noted the difficulty of dancing with the harness necessary to fly when they are not actually flying.
“There’s a lot of moments where you are not flying and have to perform technical dance steps with a restrictive harness,” said Budzynski. Budzynski only plays Peter Pan, but Yohe plays Wendy in four performances and also performs as the Red Pirate and a fairy in other performances. Knowing this could cause the audience to hold a whole new appreciation for the hard work and dedication the dancers put into this art form.
While most people purchase tickets at pbt.org, tickets are also sold by phone, at the box office, and in person at the Benedum Center on the day of the performance.
“It’s exciting to have a two-weekend program so subscribers and regular attendees can come the first weekend and hopefully word of mouth will cause some newcomers to come to the second weekend,” said DiAndrea.
The show starts this weekend, with shows at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 12, 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12, and 12:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 14. The following weekend has shows at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 19, at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20, and concludes at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 21. All shows are at the Benedum Center. Student tickets are available for purchase, as well, giving students a very affordable opportunity to see this production.