Sleeping Beauty 2011
Directed by MJ Emerson, Sleeping Beauty stars Dean College graduate JJ Heald as Aurora, the ingenue who takes a big nap due to the machinations of the Evil Fairy Solonaceae and the intervention of the Lilac Fairy, played by Vivid Motion veterans Jessica Jane Means and Emily Zack-Farrell, respectively. Vivid Motion newcomer Keith Nadeau takes on the role of Prince Stephan, the man with the plan to awaken a sleeping princess with a kiss.
The story of Sleeping Beauty is perhaps best known as a classical ballet with music by Tchaikovsky from 1889, or a Disney animated film from 1959. Set in the 20th century, Emerson begins the narrative in the 1940's, with Aurora's Sweet 16 set in the 1950's, a new twist on the timeless tale. Music ranges from Duke Ellington and Gershwin to Katy Perry as Aurora awakens present day, and includes music from the classical ballet. Dance styles range from the lyrically emotive choreography of Emily Zack-Farrell to the upbeat tempos of Gerry Shannon – this show is the SLEEPER hit of the summer!!!
Vivid Motion's Sleeping Beauty is sponsored by The Warren Memorial Fund, Gorham Self Storage, The Portland Phoenix, and Fun Box Monster Emporium. Choreographers are: Emily Zack-Farrell, Gerry Shannon, Ali Shannon, Trevor Bean, JJ Heald, Meagan Luce, Roxanne Guildford and MJ Emerson.
Dancing with the Vivid Motion Summer 2011 Company are Meagan Luce of Windham; Natalia Irving of Falmouth; Scott Potter and Lauren Treidel of Yarmouth; Sophie Little of Gorham; Venus Murphy of Scarborough; John Larson III of Saco; Ali Shannon and Gerry Shannon of Bath; JJ Heald of York; Aaron Mitchell, Emily Zack-Farrell, Daphne Gerard, Kat Masters, Catherine Perreault, Ariana Solodar-Wincele, Bet Black, Roxanne Guildford, Keith Nadeau, Michelle Tham, Tali Haberkamp, Trevor Bean, Jessica Means and Margaret Irving, all of Portland.
Vivid Motion is a community based non-profit dance company that strives to make dance accessible to dancers of all levels and to traditional and non-traditional dance audiences. We try to make dance that is as fun to watch as perform; and take the 'secret meaning' out of dance, or at least poke at it a little. Best known for their annual Nutcracker Burlesque, this production of Sleeping Beauty is an all ages show.
Sleeping Beauty, presented by Vivid Motion Inc., July 15-17, 2011. Performances Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm, Saturday and Sunday at 2:00pm at Lucid Stage, 29 Baxter Boulevard, Portland. Tickets $12-Adults, $10-Students/Seniors, $5-Children 12 and under, available now at Lucid Stage and online at lucidstage.com
