Pacific Northwest Ballet announces 2023-24 lineup

Pacific Northwest Ballet Artistic Director Peter Boal has announced the line-up for PNB’s 51st anniversary season, running from September 2023 through June 2024. Highlights include the return of Kent Stowell’s iconic Swan Lake, the comedic Coppélia, and Crystal Pite’s stunning The Seasons’ Canon. 

Also in the line-up are previous PNB crowd-pleasers from Donald Byrd, Alexander Ekman, Jiri Kylian, Jessica Lang, Matthew Neenan, Alexei Ratmansky, and Twyla Tharp; a world premiere from Danielle Rowe; and the PNB premiere, at long last, of Alejandro Cerrudo’s large-scale One Thousand Pieces. (Plus a new family-matinee offering, Harold and the Purple Crayon, featuring the students of the PNB School; and, of course, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker.) 

The PNB box office is now open for subscription renewals and new subscriptions; tickets for individual programs go on sale July 18. PNB plans to continue offering its digital subscription as well so audiences across the country and around the world can attend the show. For further information, contact the PNB Box Office by phone at 206.441.2424, or online at PNB.org. As always, everything is subject to change.

THE LINEUP

Rep 1 – PETITE MORT

Sept. 22-Oct. 1

Digital streaming dates: October 5 – 9

PNB’s season-opener is jam-packed with whimsy, artistry, and drama. Built on a foundation of music from Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, and Schubert, this triple-bill looks at the world of dance through the unique perspectives of Jiri Kylian and Alexander Ekman.

Petite Mort

Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Choreography: Jiri Kylian

Staging: Roslyn Anderson

Scenic Design: Jiri Kylian

Costume Design: JokeVisser

Lighting Design: Joop Caboort

Sechs Tänze (Six Dances)

Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Choreography: Jiri Kylian

Staging: Roslyn Anderson

Scenic and Costume Design: Jiri Kylian

Lighting Design: Joop Caboort

Cacti

Music: Franz Josef Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Franz Schubert

Text: Spenser Theberge

Choreography: Alexander Ekman

Staging: Ana Lucaciu

Scenic and Costume Design: Alexander Ekman

Lighting Design: Tom Visser

Rep 2 – LOVE & LOSS

Nov. 3-12

Digital streaming dates: November 16 – 20

This trio of works shines a light on some of the world premieres that PNB’s New Works Initiative has created in recent years. Donald Byrd’s haunting Love and Loss premiered in 2019, Alexei Ratmansky’s stunning tribute to his homeland of Ukraine, Wartime Elegy, followed in 2022, and inventive Australian choreographer Danielle Rowe will create something brand new for PNB dancers this November.

WORLD PREMIERE

Music: Shannon Rugani

Choreography: Danielle Rowe

Costume Design: Emma Kingsbury

Lighting Design: Reed Nakayama

Wartime Elegy

Music: Valentin Silvestrov, and Ukrainian Village Music

Choreography: Alexei Ratmansky

Scenic Design: Wendall K. Harrington

Art: Matvi Vaisberg & Maria Prymachenko

Costume Design: Moritz Junge

Lighting Design: Reed Nakayama

Love and Loss

Music: Emmanuel Witzthum

Choreography: Donald Byrd

Scenic and Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli

Costume Design: Doris Black

George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker

Nov.-Dec. 27 (Not part of the 2023-24 subscription season.)

Digital streaming dates: December 18 – 27

Whether a long-standing family tradition or a first trip to the theater, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® is ready to delight one and all. From the liveliest lobby in town to the dazzling sets and costumes and unforgettable performances, The Nutcracker is an integral part of the holidays for ballet fans of all ages!

Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Choreography: George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust

Staging: Judith Fugate with Peter Boal and Garielle Whittle

Costume & Scenic Design: Ian Falconer

Lighting Design: James F. Ingalls

Swan Lake

February 2 – 11, 2024

Digital streaming dates: February 15 – 19

By the light of Ming Cho Lee’s luminous moon, a flock of ethereal swans transports the audience to the wondrous world of Kent Stowell’s Swan Lake. This classic tale features epic dancing, stunning scenery and costumes, and the iconic score performed live by the PNB Orchestra.

Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Choreography: Kent Stowell

Staging: Francia Russell (after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov)

Scenic Design: Ming Cho Lee

Costume Design: Paul Tazewell

Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli

Rep 4 – ONE THOUSAND PIECES

March 15-24, 2024

Digital streaming dates: March 28 – April 1

Four years after its originally-scheduled PNB premiere, Alejandro Cerrudo’s complete One Thousand Pieces will finally take to the McCaw Hall stage. Cerrudo’s large-scale ensemble work is inspired by the work of artist Marc Chagall and features music from Philip Glass. Paired with the revelry and joy of Matthew Neenan’s made-for-PNB Bacchus.

Bacchus

Music: Oliver Davis

Choreography: Matthew Neenan

Costume Design: Mark Zappone

Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli

One Thousand Pieces

Music: Philip Glass

Choreography: Alejandro Cerrudo

Staging: Pablo Piantino/Ana Lopez

Scenic and Costume Design: Thomas Mika

Lighting Design: Michael Korsch

Harold and the Purple Crayon [PNB Premiere]

March 2023 dates TBA (NOTE: Not part of the 2023-24 Subscription season.)

Featuring students of Pacific Northwest Ballet School.

Based on the beloved book by Crockett Johnson, this hour-long, narrated tale of Harold and his trusty crayon features performances by PNB School students and is the perfect introduction to ballet for young audiences.

Music: Andrew Bird

Choreography: Robyn Mineko Williams/Terence Marling

Scenic Design: Ryan Wineinger-Schattl

Costume Design: Rebecca Shouse

Lighting Design: Matt Miller

REP 5 – THE SEASONS’ CANON

April 12-21, 2024

Digital streaming dates: April 25 – 29

Back by popular demand, Crystal Pite’s mesmerizing The Seasons’ Canon features 54 dancers moving as one organism to Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, recomposed by Max Richter. Pite’s opus is complemented by Twyla Tharp’s Shaker-inspired Sweet Fields and Jessica Lang’s stunning solo work, The Calling.

Sweet Fields

Music: 18th- and 19th-century American hymns and Shaker songs

Choreography: Twyla Tharp

Staging: Matt Rivera with Shelley Washington

Original Costume Design: Norma Kamali

Original Lighting Design: Jennifer Tipton

The Calling

Music: Anonymous 12th-13th century

Choreography: Jessica Lang

Staging: Kanji Segawa

Costume Design: Elena Comendador

Costume Concept: Jessica Lang

Lighting Design: Nicole Pearce

The Seasons’ Canon

Music: Max Richter (Antonio Vivaldi)

Choreography: Crystal Pite

Staging: Eric Beauchesne & Anna Herrmann

Scenic Design: Jay Gower Taylor

Costume Design: Nancy Bryant

Lighting Design: Tom Visser

Coppélia

May 31 – June 9, 2023

Digital streaming dates: June 13 – 17

When a silent beauty appears on the balcony of toymaker Doctor Coppelius’ workshop, it spells trouble for sweethearts Swanilda and Franz: He’s smitten, and she’s determined to confront her rival and win back her beau. With spirited mime, bravura dancing, and Delibes’ famously melodic score, Coppélia is one of ballet’s greatest comedies.

Music: Léo Delibes

Book: Charles Nuitter, after E.T.A. Hoffman

Choreography: Alexandra Danilova and George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust (after Petipa)

Staging: Judith Fugate

Scenic and Costume Design: Roberta Guidi di Bagno

Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli

SUBSCRIPTIONS AND TICKETS

The Pacific Northwest Ballet Box Office is now taking orders for subscription renewals, new subscriptions, and digital-season subscriptions to PNB’s 2023-24 season. Full-season [seated] subscriptions start at $201 for seats to all six programs. Four-show partial-season subscriptions start at $138. The digital-only subscription is available for $300.

Beginning July 18, tickets to all PNB performances (starting at $38) and George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® (starting at $29) may be purchased through the PNB Box Office:

Phone: 206-441-2424

In Person: 301 Mercer Street at Seattle Center

Online 24/7: PNB.org

(Tickets are also available – subject to availability – 90 minutes prior to each performance at McCaw Hall. In-person ticket sales at the McCaw Hall Box Office are subject to day-of-show increases. Advance tickets through the PNB Box Office are strongly suggested for best prices and greatest availability.)

For information about special ticket offers including group discounts, The Pointe, Pay-What-You-Can, and student and senior rush tickets, visit PNB.org/offers.