Martha Graham Dance Company
Appalachian Spring & The Auditions PEAK World Premiere
Comprising the “most skilled and powerful dancers you can ever hope to see” (The Washington Post), Martha Graham Dance Company performs the iconic dance maker’s most celebrated work, Appalachian Spring, in concert with a Peak Performances commission, The Auditions by choreographer Troy Schumacher and composer Augusta Read Thomas. This new work has been designed to resonate with Graham’s classic, which turns 75 this year. “America’s foremost new-music group” (Alex Ross), the International Contemporary Ensemble joins the Graham Company for these world-class renditions of new music by Thomas and the original Pulitzer Prize–winning score for Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland.
Janet Eilber, Artistic Director
Music performed by International Contemporary Ensemble
Conducted by Vimbayi Kaziboni
Appalachian Spring (75th-Anniversary Performance)
Music by Aaron Copland
Set by Isamu Noguchi
Choreography by Martha Graham
Costume Design by Karen Young
Lighting Design by Yi Chung Chen
The Auditions – Peak World Premiere
Music by Augusta Read Thomas
Choreography by Troy Schumacher
Costume Design by Karen Young
Lighting Design by Yi-Chung Chen
Martha Graham Dance Company’s The Auditions | Artists’ Virtual Talk
Jedediah Wheeler, Executive Director of Arts + Cultural Programming at Montclair State College speaks with the creative artists of The Auditions and the broadcast and online premiere of the performance: PEAK Plus on ALL ARTS on Nov. 8, 2020.
The Auditions was commissioned by PEAK Performances as a companion piece to Appalachian Spring in celebration of its 75th anniversary performed and recorded in November 2019 at the Alexander Kasser Theater.
Intro Music The Auditions, by Augusta Read Thomas
Promo Video courtesy of ALL ARTS
Photos by Marina Levitskaya
Engage
19 Poses Instagram Photo Opp
Pose and post on Instagram with a life-sized cardboard cutout of legendary dancer and choreographer Martha Graham, dancers from the company, and Rocky the Red Hawk. Learn one of the “19 Poses” to embody female empowerment and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which finally granted women the right to vote.
Find us on the Student Center Plaza, the MSU amphitheater, and the steps of the Kasser Theater throughout the morning (rain locations: University Hall Grand Concourse and SCM lobby). Join us from 12:30-1pm in the Kasser Theater Lobby for the final photo opp.
The 19 Poses honor Graham’s revolutionary approach to representing women on stage; each is drawn from an evocative and powerful moment from her many iconic performances. Capture your pose on Instagram using the hashtags #19poses and #gramyourgraham and tag us @peakperfs @marthagrahamdance
Sneak Peak
Alexander Kasser Theater
Appalachian Spring conversation with Neil Baldwin, Professor of Theatre & Dance at Montclair State University, and Janet Eilber, Artistic Director Martha Graham Dance Company.
First Impressions
Troy Schumacher, Janet Eilber, Augusta Read Thomas, Vimbayi Kaziboni
For more information, visit www.peakperfs.org/engage
Special Children’s Event
STORY TIME!
Join us for a special reading of the children’s book Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring
Written by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan and read by the dynamic Janet Eilber, Artistic Director of the Martha Graham Dance Company. Following the reading, the historic dance company performs an hour-long program of classic works and a world premiere.
Children ages 4+ can attend this event and performance for a one-time price of $10 per ticket
For more information, visit www.peakperfs.org/engage
Amplify
Program
Credits
Music performed live by International Contemporary Ensemble with Music Director Vimbayi Kaziboni
Programs in Peak Performances’ 2019-20 season are made possible in part by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
