Photo Credit: Michael Henninger
Behind the Scenes with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
“Beauty and the Beast” Brightens the Benedum Stage This Month
On a recent Thursday evening, the stage at downtown’s Benedum Center for the Arts was abuzz with activity — limber dancers stretching, squatting, leaping and quietly chatting as they warmed up for the full run-through of “Beauty and the Beast,” which debuted the following evening.
The production was created in 1958 by Lew Christensen, former artistic director of San Francisco Ballet. He refreshed the ballet in 1982 with new choreography, sets and costumes. PBT purchased the production in 2014, and updated it again for a 2015 Pittsburgh Premiere.
Fast forward nearly a decade, and this latest version of the beloved tale — onstage at the Benedum through Feb. 25 — transports audience members to other worlds that range from a magical garden and enchanted forest, home to some gracefully leaping stags, to a grand palace that morphs into a feast for the eyes with its mesmerizing waltzing and joyful, celebratory air.
Meet the Artistic Director
In the midst of a busy debut week, we were thrilled to chat with Adam W. McKinney, who joined the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) as artistic director last winter.
McKinney finds Pittsburgh to be a hidden gem with much to offer. As a bonus, he already had a personal connection to the city; he had regularly visited due to his father living and working here. During that time, he also took company classes with PBT.
Reflecting on the lead-up to any big production, McKinney says, “Opening night is the best! I love the excitement that buzzes through the theater — both in the audience and backstage with the artists.”
“Hard work always pays off,” he adds.
McKinney believes that “Beauty and the Beast” is a beautiful, classical ballet. “It weaves the timeless tale about the transformative power of love, with intricate choreography, charming characters, gorgeous costumes, a stunning set and the iconic Tchaikovsky score,” he says. “I think audiences of all ages will enjoy the whimsy and romance of the performance.”
He finds this particular production to be unique since it’s based on the original storybook from the 1750s. “Many, of course, like myself, may have seen Disney’s 1991 film,” he says, “which is a departure from the original story. I have enjoyed noticing both the differences and similarities between the two.”
Seeing the Big Picture
In regard to the broader picture, McKinney is honored to be building upon PBT’s “long history of excellence in Pittsburgh by making ballet accessible to all people, bringing in new works and choreographers, presenting family-friendly productions, and working in and with local communities to ensure that they know that they belong in ballet and at PBT.” He adds, “I am working to build a culture that focuses on inclusivity and opportunity and reflects the diversity of the Pittsburgh region.”
He’s incredibly excited to create more opportunities for the local community to engage with PBT. This includes fostering education programs in schools, furnishing accessibility programming and providing health and wellness classes for members of the Pittsburgh area. Two inclusive events for “Beauty and the Beast” will take place in the next week — a student matinee on Friday, February 23, and a sensory-friendly performance on Sunday, February 25.
The biggest compliment one could pay after attending a production McKinney’s worked on? “If someone said they absolutely loved the ballet they just watched, felt included and welcomed during it, and that they can't wait to come to our next production!”
What's Next
When discussing what’s next, McKinney’s ecstatic to share that during PBT’s 2024-25 season, they’ll celebrate their 55th anniversary with an exciting Emerald Season. “This is the first full season that I have curated for PBT, and I am so proud of it,” he says. “The season includes two world premieres, two Pittsburgh premieres and several family-friendly fairy tale ballets.”
The lineup includes:
- An all-new production of Peter Pan
- Pittsburgh’s favorite holiday tradition, The Nutcracker
- The Valentine’s weekend romance of Romeo and Juliet with the PBT Orchestra
- Two world premieres in Spring Mix: 5 for 55
- The must-see Pittsburgh premiere of The Wizard of Oz with the PBT Orchestra
No doubt, McKinney’s schedule has been jam-packed in the run-up to this latest ballet debut. Yet, once things slow, what might an ideal day off look like in his new hometown? “I like to spend early mornings on my Peloton,” he says. “Some of my other favorite pastimes include exploring the city, eating at some of Pittsburgh’s amazing restaurants and enjoying the outdoors (and the wonderful four seasons we get here!).” He also delights in cooking, traveling, writing and spending time with family.
And luckily for us, he’ll continue to devote his time and talent to creating productions that light up Pittsburgh’s ever-expanding cultural scene.
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