“Mankato Ballet Company and Mankato Symphony Orchestra have been dancing around the idea of collaborating for years,” writes Amanda Dyslin in Sunday’s (11/24) Mankato Free Press (Mankato, Minnesota). “So about a year ago, they came to the decision that the symphony would play live in the orchestra pit for all of this year’s performances. The move years ago to the Ted Paul Theatre at Minnesota State University allows for 26 orchestra musicians to provide the music throughout the ballet. ‘I think the experience of having that pit open and lit and seeing the musicians down there (will add a great deal),’ said [Mankato Ballet Company Artistic Director Eryn] Michlitsch…. Mankato Ballet has been fundraising for the $15,000 needed to pay the orchestra. Funds have come from a Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council grant for $6,000; $3,500 from the Mankato Area Foundation; a substantial donation from Cherry Creek Cabinetworks; and private donors.… The first time the ballet company and the orchestra will rehearse together is during the dress rehearsal” on December 13, the day before the first performance of Nutcracker opens. “Michlitsch said she’s confident the show will come together beautifully.”
Posted November 25, 2013
