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William Shakespeare's tale of an exiled duke and his young daughter, banished to a mythical island in The Tempest brings all the magic of the original play to the ballet stage when Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley performs its company premiere of Michael Smuin's The Tempest April 36.
In Shakespeare's final play, the lead character, Prospero, has learned some handy new tricks during his isolation—mainly how to conjure up illusions and use magic to his advantage. So when Prospero discovers a ship carrying his enemies, he uses magic to create a violent storm, drawing his oppressors to the island prison. The ballet is full of drama and magic and also romance when Prospero's daughter, Miranda, falls in love with one of the captors.
Enhanced by more than 80 costumes designed by Tony and Emmy award-winning costume designer Willa Kim, the ballet also features an impressive set designed by Tony Walton. Expect a giant ship to break apart in a rolling ocean as it turns into Prospero's cave. Special effects and dramatic entrances and exits from above the stage are in the cards as well.
Acclaimed choreographer Smuin and Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley Artistic Director Dennis Nahat met while performing together in American Ballet Theatre. Their paths would cross many times over the decades that followed, taking Smuin to direct the San Francisco Ballet and Nahat to create the Cleveland Ballet, which eventually turned into the current evolution of Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley. Nahat describes Smuin's Tempest as "fresh and alive with humor, romance, drama and everything a full evening of dance, theater and music should have."
Tickets are $22 to $68. Call 408.288.2800 or visit www.balletsanjose.org for more information.
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