American Ballet Theater's Sleeping Beauty - Final Performances in Costa Mesa CA Today (Sunday)

A quick sneak-it-in post, since Sunday (today as you are probably reading this) is the last day this is being performed in Costa Mesa, California. But the production sounds all sorts of amazing, with new choreography and classic combined, full of symbolism and a different sort of storytelling to usual story ballets.

By the way - beautiful promotional pic, don't you think? Although it also looks incredibly uncomfortable.. that girl is going to need a massage when she finally gets woken up!

The American Ballet Theatre returns to the Center with the world premiere of its new production of The Sleeping Beauty, with choreography by Marius Petipa and additional choreography by ABT Artist in Residence, Alexei Ratmansky. This classic story ballet tells the enchanting tale of the beautiful princess cursed to sleep for 100 years by an evil sorceress, until awakened by the kiss of a handsome prince. It’s ballet on the grandest scale with the superstar dancers and spectacular sets and costumes that only ABT can deliver. And it all unfolds to Tchaikovsky’s ravishing score, performed live by the Pacific Symphony.

New costume design left to right:
1st row: Rose Adagio, The Wolf, Queen at Christening, English Prince
2nd row: Catalabutte, Mandarin, King at the Christening, Indian Prince
3rd row: Hummingbird Fairy, New Wedding Dress, Ariana, Garland Couples

(You can see the costumes sketches much larger HERE.)

I wanted to point to a hilarious, irreverent post on her special night out to see an older ABT Sleeping Beauty production (at The Lincoln Center) HERE. The writer clearly was completely entranced, but makes some hilarious observations and connections too, such as:

"Any respectable girl knows the story of Sleeping Beauty. She is born, and at her welcoming ceremony, her parents offend Helena Bonham Carter, who curses the princess to an early death via poisonous spindle."

I had to laugh.

And if you get the chance to see the ABT's current production, consider going. It's touted to be a little bit more than a standard production of Sleeping Beauty (which is a very difficult ballet to stage and execute because of the technical difficulties - many companies are just not up to the grueling task!).

For this Sunday/today's last two performances, you can find more information HERE.


For more information on the American Ballet Theater touring (though I don't see any further performances of this new Sleeping Beauty production after tomorrow until June) go have a look HERE.Note: if you end up going and seeing a performance of this Sleeping Beauty later in the year, I've read articles which say the ballet, because it's a brand new production, is being tweaked and revised, according to critic and audience reception as it goes along (this is fairly standard for age companies adding a new signature work to their repertoire) so be assured that it will only get better.

Fairy tale bonus of the day:

Ballet legend, Gelsey Kirkland and her amazing Carabosse costume from the ABT production in 2007. I just had to share. It looks like beetles and magic! You can see more from the creator, Kari Love, who created the costumes for the 2007 production HERE.

Shh! It's A Maleficent Collection Sneak Peek! (OUAB Gets A Hot Topic/Disney Collaboration Preview)

Yes, I have new horns!*

They are from the lovely people at Hot Topic who I had the privilege of spending time with today (Friday, April 11), previewing their new, limited edition, fashion collection collaboration with Disney, inspired by, you guessed it, Maleficent.

Once Upon A Blog was also invited to interview the design team and so, amid props from the movie (that Disney wouldn't let me photograph for all the usual legal reasons, although I am allowed to describe them... so more on those later), I got to talk fairy tales with people who have designed a modern fashion collection that aims to exude an aura of fairy tales with teeth. Boy did they succeed!

The collection is seriously gorgeous - lots of black on black textures with elegant lines and a dark-magic edge, inspired by Maleficent's costumes and props. (There are a couple of light and pretty Aurora-inspired pieces too.) I can't wait to show you - and I will very soon!

I was able to interview one of the design team (using a camera phone) and will be bringing you that video soon, along with lots of lovely collection pics. I got to talk Sleeping Beauty, the popularity of conflicted fairy tale characters and, of course, the upcoming movie, with the Hot Topic team and will share that with you too. (It's been an exciting day!)

I also get to share with you the exclusive online pre-order date, (APRIL 15!! - Mark your calendars!), which happens about three weeks before it goes into stores, and I'm so very glad I can because, honestly, once images start getting around, I don't think there will be much of the limited edition collection left for the stores.

More on this really soon but I just couldn't wait to share a teensy bit. In the meantime, some of the new Maleficent accessories, along with their in-store classic Maleficent casual wear can be found HERE.

Stay tuned!

*Note: I have not been paid for this endorsement. The horns were given to invited guests as a thank you for taking time to consider helping promote the collection on their own terms and came with the press release kit we received on entering. They also had strawberries, other yummy-looking fruit and iced lemon water but pictures of those aren't nearly as exciting.

Festival de Gavarnie's Monstrously Enchanting Production of "La Belle et La Bête" in the Pyrénées Mountains

This is from the middle of this year, but this Beauty and the Beast production in the mountains of France looks like it would have been amazing to see in person! I had to share it straight away, even though it's no longer running. Everything about this production appears exquisitely done; from the flyer to the costumes and masks, to the setting and the lighting... I only wish I could see it so I could enjoy the writing and performance (beyond the little in the video below) as well.

✒ ✒  ✒ (click the "Read more" link below this line for LOTS more photos & production info) ✒ ✒ ✒  ✒ 

Carol Ann Duffy & BalletLORENT Create a Spellbinding Rapunzel

I mentioned this contemporary ballet production briefly on Facebook a while back but it keeps appearing in the news - with good reason, so it's about time I wrote a proper post.

More and more positive critical response is appearing as people see BalletLORENT's new full-length work, Rapunzel (currently on tour in the UK). They're also taking note of the star-studded creative team aboard this project as well (finally!).

There was a considerable period of research time spent during the creation of Rapunzel, in conjunction with the world-famous Sadlers Wells Ballet Company and the project attracted some diverse world class talent as a result. BalletLORENT has a very good reputation in contemporary dance circles but beyond that the production boasts the talents of:

• Carol Ann Duffy  - multi-award winning poet, writer and playwright as well as having been appointed British poet laureate in 2009 (and whom should be known specifically to regular blog readers here for her work with fairy tales)
• Murray Gold - composer for Doctor Who
• Michele Clapton - costume designer for Game of Thrones
• Lesley Sharp - award winning British actress for film and TV (she is Narrator for the ballet)
• Phil Eddolls -  Commonwealth and Olympic Games set designer

And many more..! (You can see the full creative contributors HERE.)
Take a look at the promo video. It's beautiful, unusual and interesting.

✒ ✒ ✒ ✒ ✒ (click the "Read more" link below this line) ✒ ✒ ✒ ✒ ✒ 

"Take Back Halloween" Baba Yaga (& A Request for Some Love for Baba's Oracle Please!)

This new-ish site, Take Back Halloween, was put together for all the girls and women who are tired of dressing up their daughters (and themselves) as sexy-somethings for Halloween and would like a range of non-traditional suggestions (along with tips on how to put together each look).

My favorite of the excellent lot, which includes a lot of historical women and mythic females (along with Persephone, Medusa and the Morrigan) is Baba Yaga (surprise, surprise). You can see the main idea in the image at the head of the post but there is an excellent list of suggestions on how to pull off a Baba Yaga witch-look as opposed to a traditional witch look on the website HERE. (This has me wishing I'd bought that skull necklace I saw in Michael's Craft Supplies a few weeks ago!)

Baba Yaga, Vasilisa & Chicken Legged Hut by Forest Rogers
(the hut features in top image as well)

You could also have a mortar & pestle bottom half, hold a glowing skull lamp... so many variations are possible here. And if you could make your hair (or a wig) like the sculpture's at right... wow!)

And speaking of Baba Yaga, more than a few of you have come to appreciate her even more since she's been generously bestowing advice here regularly (check the "Ask Baba Yaga" tag to see if you've missed any).

The Baba's oracle, Taisia Kitaiskaia, is currently on a well-deserved break so I wanted to ask a special favor of all of you who have appreciated/enjoyed/are-in-awe-of her posts:

With the Baba's reputation being what it is, I'm not surprised that the comments and questions have been on the fewer side (who wants to annoy Baba Yaga?!) but in order to make sure Taisia feels both appreciated for her efforts and remains keen to continue acting as oracle for us, would you please send her a note of appreciation and/or gratitude?

You can post a supportive comment below, add to those at The Hairpin HERE or mail her privately at the following address:
AskBabaYaga AT gmail DOT com
Also, you've had any niggling questions you'd like to ask the Baba, please send those too! The more the merrier. You never know what will inspire Baba Yaga to utter her uncanny wisdom.

D23 To Present OUAT: Behind the Fairytale

Not listed in their previous event line-up, Disney has announced that Once Upon A Time will be showcased at D23 as well. Although much may be a repeat of Comic-Con, you know Disney will have it's own few exclusives.

I find it interesting that the OUAT team are presenting "Behind the FAIRYTALE" and not "Behind the FAIRY  TALE"... but perhaps that's what they'll be talking about - the idealism behind the show, rather than fairy tale content/influence.

Press release:

Executive Producers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz will be featured at a panel titled ‘ABC’s Once Upon A Time: Behind The Fairytale’ on Saturday, August 10 at 1:00 p.m. at Stage 23. Eddy and Adam will talk about exciting developments for season three of their hit series ‘Once Upon A Time’ as well as their new fall series, ‘Once Upon A Time In Wonderland,’ which takes place in the Victorian England of Alice and the strange new land that exists on the other side of the rabbit hole. The Q&A with the executive producers will be moderated by D23’s Jeffrey Epstein. 

Guests on the D23 Expo show floor are invited to come aboard the Jolly Roger for a swashbuckling good time with some of your favorite fairytale characters from ABC’s hit series Once Upon A Time. Explore the famous pirate ship and feast your eyes on original props from the set. You will also find Snow White, Prince Charming, the Evil Queen, Captain Hook, and Emma Swan (and Emma’s red leather jacket). Every pirate who boards the ship gets to visit the Evil Queen’s vault. And a surprise awaits when you unlock a box from Regina’s wall of hearts. No pirate will leave empty handed! (Edit FTNH: That means, every one who goes aboard and visits the Queen's vault of hearts will come away with a souvenir.) Don’t let this exciting adventure sail by without you! 

In addition, as previously announced, guests will be able to get an up-close-and-personal look at some of the elaborate costumes from Once Upon A Time inside the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit located on the second floor of the Convention Center.

They won't be the only "costumes" on display either. The designer princess gowns will be getting window fronts as well:

There is an amazing display of exclusive gowns inspired by Disney’s Princesses making their U.S. debut at the D23 Expo inside the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit. These designs by top designers will be available for viewing, August 9–11 at the Anaheim Convention Center. These Dresses are inspired by the stories of the Disney Princesses by Ralph & Russo (Tiana), Versace (Cinderella), Elie Saab (Aurora), Marchesa (Ariel), Escada (Jasmine), Missoni (Mulan), Roberto Cavalli (Pocahontas), Jenny Packham (Rapunzel),  Valentino (Belle), and Oscar de la Renta (Snow White).

 

The stunning dresses were first showcased in a set of window displays at Harrods, the luxury store in Knightsbridge, London, during the 2012 holiday season.

There's also word of "exclusive screenings" which would, if they got the wording right, means they're going to screen something they didn't already show at Comic-Con but I haven't heard any speculation (or excitement) about what that might be since I think the reveal stage is pretty much done now. Still, we may be surprised.

The Saving Mr. Banks presentations have been slightly expanded in description as well but it's all still a little vague (possibly on purpose!). We do know the film already has a PG-13 rating, suggesting it's both complete and been before the required review boards so there's a good chance any Saving Mr. Banks screenings will have a decent amount of footage (possibly all - sometimes there are such surprises kept on purpose).

Sources: StitchKingdom, Chip&Co, PressEnterpriseBloggers, TheFutonCritic,