BalletMet Takes A Magic Carpet Ride With Aladdin

The enchanting new production features:

* 75 vivid costumes designed by Linda Pisano, who designed the whimsical costumes for Alice in Wonderland;

* A range of orchestral music by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Mikhail Ippolatov-Ivanov and Alexander Borodin with Middle Eastern influences;

* Scenery designed by Dan Gray that transforms the theatre into a Middle Eastern landscape ranging from a murky cave to opulent palaces;

* A Genie of the Lamp that grows in stature through innovative puppetry;

* Special choreography by BalletMet Company dancers Jimmy Orrante and Justin Gibbs;

* Actor Ian Short in the role of the evil magician;

* 20 BalletMet Dance Academy students dancing as street urchins and palace dancers;

* And, of course, a magic flying carpet!

Charles was familiar with the story of Aladdin from his childhood in England and said it is an ideal basis for a story ballet that appeals to all ages. "It is interesting for children, but also offers an outlet to showcase dance that adults enjoy," Charles said. "There is a mystery and romantic fascination with the setting of the story and also opportunities for magical effects."

The magical effects Charles refers to include a flying carpet that carries characters across the sky with the help of Flying by Foy, a company that has provided revolutionary flying systems for theatre, film, music videos and more. Among its credits are the opening ceremony of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and Broadway's Peter Pan.

With extraordinary new scenery and costumes, eclectic music and a flying carpet, Aladdin is a tale for the young and the young at heart and is sure to make imaginations soar.

THE STORY

In this engaging production, a poor young boy, Aladdin, journeys into a secret cave for a magic lamp at the urging of the evil magician. When Aladdin refuses to give the magician the lamp without first being helped out of the cave, the magician gets angry and closes the entrance. Stuck in the dark cave, Aladdin tries to light the lamp and a genie appears. With the help of the genie, Aladdin escapes the cave, becomes prosperous and wins the hand of the beautiful princess. Aladdin and his bride live happily until the magician tricks the princess into giving him the lamp. The magician captures the genie and the princess, but Aladdin finds and defeats the magician. He wins back the princess, eventually setting the genie free.

GERARD CHARLES (CHOREOGRAPHY)

Known for combining humor, classical technique and engaging narrative, BalletMet Artistic Director Gerard Charles has delighted audiences with his BalletMet productions The Sleeping Beauty (2000), Coppelia (2001), Cinderella (2002) and The Nutcracker (2004) and his previous collaboration with Steven Anderson, Alice in Wonderland (2005). A native of Folkestone, England, Mr. Charles trained at London's Royal Ballet School and danced professionally for BalletMet, Milwaukee Ballet and London's Ballet International. Mr. Charles was named BalletMet's Artistic Director in 2001 after three seasons as Associate Artistic Director and five years as Ballet Master.

STEVEN ANDERSON (SCRIPT)

Steven C. Anderson is the Artistic Director of the Phoenix Theatre Circle, which he founded in 1993. He has received numerous honors, including recognition from the deaf community for his pioneering work in creating plays that were sign-language interpreted; a lifetime achievement award from the Ohio Theatre Alliance; multiple nominations for the Governor's Award for the Arts; and recognition for Best Director of a Play and Best Director of a Musical by the Columbus Dispatch in 1999. While his passion is for the creation of innovative work for children and families, he has distinguished credits in adult theater as well. His collaborations with Central Ohio arts organizations include Alice in Wonderland with BalletMet and The Firebird with the Columbus Symphony. This season he worked with Opera Columbus and CAPA on a musical production of The Secret Garden, which employed deaf and hearing actors on stage together.

LINDA PISANO (COSTUMES)

Aladdin marks Linda Pisano's sixth collaboration with BalletMet. Audiences may remember her designs for Alice in Wonderland, Dracula, Beauty and the Beast, Evening Air and Allegoria. Ms. Pisano heads the Graduate Costume Design Program at Indiana University in Bloomington and directs the IU Theatre Program in London. Her work has been featured in the Quadrennial World Design Expo in Prague and the World Stage Design exhibition. She is a four-time winner of the Peggy Ezekiel Award for Excellence in Design, a three-time jury winner in the National Design Expo and a two-time recipient of the Kennedy Center /ACTF Meritorious Achievement in Costume Design Award. Ms. Pisano designs with such companies as the Utah Shakespearean Festival, Phoenix Theatre, Contemporary American Theatre Company and others.

DAN GRAY (SCENERY)

Dan Gray is the Resident Scenic Designer, Associate Professor and Head of the Design/Tech program at The Ohio State University Department of Theatre. He has designed productions at regional theatres including CATCO, Players Theatre Columbus, and The Human Race Theatre. He has also assisted on projects for Broadway, The New York City Opera, Paper Mill Playhouse, The Alabama Shakespeare Festival and The Minnesota Opera. Mr. Gray has received several awards for his designs including five USITT/Ohio Valley Section Peggy Ezekiel Awards. His design for OSU's 1999 production of Feral Music was selected for the U.S. Exhibit to the prestigious Prague Quadrennial in 2003. He continues to design productions for Central Ohio companies including BalletMet, The Columbus Symphony and the Columbus Zoo. -- www.balletmet.org