By Mary Ann Bourbeau
RED BANK – Since joining the New Jersey Ballet in 2021, artistic director Maria Kowroski has brought a significant amount of new repertory to the company. Those exciting changes will be on full display when its innovative performance of “A Night on the Town” comes to the Two River Theater for three performances Nov. 4 and 5.
“A Night on the Town” features Jerome Robbins’ “Fancy Free,” his first collaboration with Leonard Bernstein, which was the inspiration for the full-length musical “On the Town.” George Balanchine’s “Rubies” sends dancers racing across the stage to reflect Igor Stravinsky’s jazz-inflected piano. Christopher Wheeldon’s breathtaking choreography is on full display in “This Bitter Earth.” “Reencounter” by Gustavo Ramírez Sansano offers its take on Georges Bizet’s “Carmen,” which The New York Times called “a dramatic and contemporary dance makeover.”
“ ‘Fancy Free’ is like ballet on Broadway,” said Kowroski. “It was the first piece the famous choreographer Jerome Robbins made on American Ballet Theater, and at its premiere had a shocking two dozen curtain calls. Its huge success led it to becoming the hit Broadway show, ‘On the Town.’ It delivers fun, humor and very exciting dancing.”
Kowroski describes “This Bitter Earth” as a poetic dance with music by Max Richter and Clyde Otis. “Reencounter” is a neoclassical take on the story of “Carmen” with an emotional duet between Carmen and Don José. “Rubies” will close the program with a high energy and sassy performance choreographed by George Balanchine, the founder of New York City Ballet.
“This program is designed to have a little something for everyone,” said Kowroski, a former principal dancer with New York City Ballet. “We have a little taste of Broadway, a classic Balanchine ballet and two pas de deux that will surely pull at your heartstrings.”
Since joining New Jersey Ballet in 2021, Kowroski has restaged the company’s production of “The Sleeping Beauty” and made changes to “Nutcracker.” She also expanded the repertory to include works by renowned choreographers such as George Balanchine, Christopher Wheeldon and Peter Martins. She recently commissioned a new work by Harrison Ball, principal dancer at New York City Ballet, which included a collaboration with fashion designer Zac Posen, who created the costumes.
Building upon New Jersey Ballet’s 64-year history, Kowroski’s vision calls for adding performances and venues, expanding workweeks for the artists, establishing new collaborations with other arts organizations and growing community programming that highlights diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.
“I continue to look into new opportunities for the company and look forward to its steady growth in years to come,” she said.
Kowroski is excited to bring New Jersey Ballet to the Two River Theater for the first time. She has received positive feedback from grateful audience members who now realize they don’t have to travel to New York City to see a magnificent ballet performance.
“My vision for New Jersey Ballet is to bring top rate repertory and high-level artists to the communities of New Jersey,” said Kowroski. “I think Red Bank has a wonderful arts community, and I wanted to see if bringing this exciting program would help us be a part of it. New Jersey is becoming a destination for the arts. It has amazing theater, symphony, ballet, dance, art, sculpture and gardens. I hope that we can all support each other to keep the arts alive in New Jersey.”
Performances of “A Night on the Town” are Saturday, Nov. 4 at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $39 to $59 and can be purchased by calling 732-345-1400 or visiting tworivertheater.org.
This article originally appeared in the October 26 – November 1, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
