MARCH 3–4, 2018
PROGRAM INFORMATION
SEA OF COMETS
Choreography | LUIS VAZQUEZ
Music Composition | EZIO BOSSO
Lighting Design | CLAIRE CHRZAN
Costume Design | LUIS RAZO
Cast | Zachary Boresow, Roma Catania, Gahee Chung, Jonathan Dole, María José Esquivel Losada, Jasmine Getz, Rees Launer, Antonio Mannino, Valentino Moneglia Zamora, Jonathan Philbert, Alexandra Richey, Stephanie Santiago, Katya Schloemann, Lucas Tischler
Ballet Notes: A falling star, delicate and unique, swirls into a rushing blizzard, blowing a quiet strength through the skies. Beauty and strength coexist. A drop of rain ripples into a deep pond, waves of love and mystery run as deep as the oceans. Art reflects time. A dream, a wish, a hope starts to lose its light. We carve our own paths. Two sparks collide in the air, a youthful ember starts to burn into a shimmering display, a Sea of Comets.
MEMENTO MORI
Choreography | TELMO MOREIRA
Music Composition | MARIEL MARIEL, DANIEL PEMBERTON, and MAX RICHTER
Lighting Design | CLAIRE CHRZAN
Costume Design | LUIS RAZO
Cast Saturday, March 3 and Sunday, March 4 2:00pm Shows: Roma Catania, Katharine Cowan, Samantha Crimi, Jonathan Dole, Megan Dollar, Jasmine Getz, Rees Launer, Antonio Mannino, Valentino Moneglia Zamora, Alexandra Richey, Alexander Roy, Stephanie Santiago, Katya Schloemann, Yuha Tomita, Abbey Yoder
Cast Saturday, March 3 at 7:30pm Roma Catania, Katharine Cowan, Samantha Crimi, Andrea de León Rivera, Jonathan Dole, Jasmine Getz, Satoru Iwasaki, Rees Launer, Antonio Mannino, Alexandra Richey, Alexander Roy, Stephanie Santiago, Lauren Shaul, Yuha Tomita, Abbey Yoder
Ballet Notes: My vision is based around a central character that represents what it’s like to cultivate a career as a racially diverse person. Through love, failure, persistence despite disappointment, and cultural shock, I imagine a central figure summing up these aspects of a person’s life. These elements stated, however, aren’t specific to race. I see its message as a universal one. All humans are artists, and all artists must go through similar adversity to succeed in their chosen medium of creation. I see this ballet being able to connect to a broad spectrum of people including all races, creeds, and sexes.
PAUSE
NIGHT VISION
Choreography | CLAUDIA SCHREIER
Music Composition | RICHARD DANIELPOUR
Lighting Design | CLAIRE CHRZAN
Costume Design | VICTORIA MEARINI
Cast | Zachary Boresow, Ryoka Chiba, Katharine Cowan, María José Esquivel Losada, Daniela Maarraoui, Antonio Mannino, Valentino Moneglia Zamora, Jonathan Philbert, Alexander Roy, Stephanie Santiago, Masanori Takiguchi, Margarida Trigueiros
Ballet Notes: Schreier’s new work is set to Richard Danielpour’s First Light (1988), a vibrant concerto that draws upon influences of Stravinsky, Bernstein, Copland, Gregorian chants, and even The Beatles to create an “ebulliently brassy, percussive” score with “visceral appeal” (The New York Times). Inspired by the striking emotional contrasts Danielpour weaves throughout, Schreier’s ballet for 12 dancers is a propulsive display of competition, revelry, conflict, and reflection.
“First Light” by Richard Danielpour, Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc. By arrangement with G. Schirmer, INC. publisher and copyright owner.
BOA
Choreography | OMAR ROMÁN DE JESÚS
Music Composition | PEDRO BROMFMAN, RODRIGO AMARANTE, TZUSING, ANTONYMES,* ALONSO Y BERNARDO, and LAMBERT
Lighting Design | CLAIRE CHRZAN
Costume Design | MARK GIERINGER
Cast | Roma Catania, Samantha Crimi, Jonathan Dole, Megan Dollar, Jasmine Getz, Rees Launer, Rachel Lovett, Alexandra Richey, Katya Schloemann, Daphne Seberich, Yuri Tamagawa, Yuha Tomita
*“The End of Everything” — Written by Ian M Hazeldine and Christoph Berg — taken from the Antonymes album “There Can Be No True Beauty Without Decay”
RUNNING TIME IS APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR AND 20 MINUTES WITH NO INTERMISSION
ASL interpretation provided by Lisa Wagner
William Blair with Joffrey Board Member
Rita Spitz
PROGRAM INFORMATION
SPONSORS
Nuveen and the Nuveen Fund Board, in honor of Lorna Ferguson
PROGRAM INFORMATION
JOFFREY ACADEMY OF DANCE,
OFFICIAL SCHOOL OF THE JOFFREY BALLET
ASHLEY WHEATER | Artistic Director
GREG CAMERON | Executive Director
KARINE PROVOST | Academy Director
RAYMOND RODRIGUEZ | Head of Studio Company and Trainee Program
KEESHA BECKFORD
Youth Division Liaison
ALLIE DEAVER-PETCHENIK
Academy Administrative Assistant
KARIN ELLIS-WENTZ
Head of Pre-Professional Programs
BRIDGET HOLMES
Academy Communications Coordinator
GRACE KOWALSKI
Academy Coordinator
ANNIE LYONSWRIGHT
Temporary Student Services Administrator
SARAH MAZZULLA
Student Services Manager
CARA SCREMENTI
Partnerships and Production Manager
KYLE SEGUIN
Pre-Professional Division Liaison
TRISH STRONG
Children’s Division Liaison
CAITLYN CARR, MOLLY HILLSON, EMMA WILMARTH, CELINA WU
Academy Receptionists
JOFFREY ACADEMY OF DANCE
Joffrey Tower | 10 East Randolph Street | Chicago, IL 60601
312.784.4600 | joffrey.org/joffreyacademy
/joffreyacademyofdance /JoffreyAcademyofDance /joffreyacademy
ASHLEY
WHEATER | Artistic Director
Born in Scotland and raised in England, Wheater was trained at The Royal Ballet School. Wheater began his professional career with The Royal Ballet, and danced at the London Festival Ballet, The Australian Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet and San Francisco Ballet. In 1997, he became Ballet Master at San Francisco Ballet, and in 2002, Assistant to the Artistic Director. In 2007, Wheater was appointed Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet. New work is the life blood of a company, and he has introduced numerous premieres to the repertoire. In 2008, the Boeing Corporation recognized his commitment to community outreach and diversity in the world of dance, presenting him the “Game Changer” award. In 2010, Wheater, representing The Joffrey Ballet, was named Lincoln Academy Laureate, the highest honor presented by the State of Illinois. The Chicago Tribune selected Wheater as 2013 “Chicagoan of the Year” for his contributions to dance. In 2014, Wheater accepted the Chicago Spirit of Innovation Award for The Joffrey Ballet. In 2015, Wheater received the University of Chicago Rosenberger Medal for Outstanding Achievement in the Creative and Performing Arts.
GREG CAMERON | Executive Director
Driven by his lifelong love for the arts, for his hometown, and for connecting with people from every background, Greg Cameron leads The Joffrey Ballet as Executive Director, responsible for organization-wide administration and strategy. Under Cameron’s partnership with Artistic Director Ashley Wheater, the Joffrey has set new records at the box office and built the strongest financial foundation in its history.
Previous roles include the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs; the Art Institute of Chicago; the Museum of Contemporary Art, where he rose to the role of Deputy Director and Chief Development Officer; and WTTW/ WFMT, where he served as COO.
Cameron serves on the Board of Trustees for Dance/USA, currently acting as Council Chair for the Managers’ Council for Large Budget Organizations, while staying an active member of the Chicago cultural community, volunteering for a wide range of nonprofit organizations and civic committees. These include Enrich Chicago, Forefront, and the UIC Chancellor’s Leadership Board, as well as the School of the Art Institute of Chicago Fashion Committee, the UIC Visiting Committee—College of Architecture and the Arts, Terra Foundation’s Art Design Chicago Advisory Committee, and Choose Chicago. Cameron also serves as a State Street Commissioner.
THE LEADERSHIP
ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP
KARINE PROVOST | Academy Director
Karine Provost joined The Joffrey Ballet in June 2012 as Managing Director of the Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet. During her time at the Joffrey, Provost has increased Academy enrollment by 40%, established housing for year-round students and created new partnerships with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Libraries, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and more. Provost has been instrumental in the creation of the Joffrey Studio Company in 2015 and the Conservatory Program in 2017. In 2016, Provost’s role was elevated to Academy Director, overseeing the finance, marketing, policies and operations of the Joffrey Academy of Dance in addition to working directly with Joffrey’s Artistic staff to create, implement, and supervise all Academy programs. Previously, Provost served as School Manager for The Washington Ballet under the direction of the late Rebecca Wright before joining Hubbard Street Dance Chicago as Manager of Pre-Professional Programs.
RAYMOND RODRIGUEZ
Head of Studio Company and Trainee Program
Raymond Rodriguez was born in New York City and began dancing at the age of six. While attending the High School of Performing Arts in Manhattan, he studied ballet and also began training at the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) School on a full scholarship. Taught privately by ABT Ballet Master Jurgen Schneider, he gained performing experience with ABT performing children’s roles and later as an apprentice. He joined Cleveland Ballet (Ballet San Jose) in 1981 as a Principal Dancer, and during his tenure with the company he has held the positions of Rehearsal Assistant, Repetiteur, Regisseur, Principal Ballet Master, Associate Artistic Director, and Managing Director. In 2016, he moved to Chicago to join The Joffrey Ballet as Head of Studio Company and Trainee Program.
Rodriguez had a diverse repertoire as a Principal Dancer with roles that included Albrecht in Giselle; Romeo in Romeo and Juliet; The Peruvian in Léonide Massine’s Gâité Parisienne; The Profiteer in Kurt Jooss’ The Green Table; Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake; principal roles in George Balanchine’s Who Cares?, Tarantella, Serenade, Agon, The Four Temperaments, Rubies and Theme and Variations. He had the pleasure of sharing the stage on international tours with such legends as Rudolf Nureyev and Cynthia Gregory. He has performed, assisted and remounted works by Flemming Flindt, most notably The Toreador where he performed the title role at its company premiere and staged the work for the 2008/2009 Season, for which he won an Isadora Duncan Award. He is an ABT certified teacher (Pre-Primary to Level 7) and an international guest instructor, most notably at the Bartholin International Ballet Seminar held in Copenhagen, Denmark. Rodriguez is concurrently an MFA in Dance candidate at Hollins University, with an anticipated completion in 2018.
OMAR ROMÁN DE JESÚS | Choreographer
Omar Román de Jesús began his formal training at School for the Performing Arts in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Román was a member of Balleteatro Nacional de Puerto Rico from 2006–2011. During this period, he won the Championship Cup and Gold Medal at the National Dance Competition in Puerto Rico. He received a scholarship to the Ailey School in 2011. He just finished his fourth season with Parsons Dance and is excited to begin a new journey with Ballet Hispánico.
Román’s choreography has been recognized for its originality, and he has been praised for his ability to craft an emotional arc. He has presented his choreography at Baruch Performing Arts Center, Peridance Capezio Center, Sala Sinfónica Pablo Casals, Ailey Citigroup Theater, the 14 Street Y, The Joyce Theater and others. Román has received awards from The Dance Gallery Festival and Reverb Dance Festival. He has been commissioned by Steps Repertory Ensemble, Instituto de Cultura de Puerto Rico, and recently, his new work, DANIEL, was commissioned by Parsons Dance for the company’s 2017 Joyce season as part of its initiative to support emerging choreographers through David Parsons’ GenerationNow Fellowship. Román is thrilled to be a winning choreographer for the Joffrey Academy of Dance’s 8th annual Winning Works Choreographic Competition.
ABOUT THE CHOREOGRAPHERS
ABOUT THE
CHOREOGRAPHERS
TELMO MOREIRA | Choreographer
Telmo Moreira began his training at the National Conservatory Dance school of Portugal. After being awarded one of the top prizes in the 2007 Prix de Lausanne, he received a scholarship to complete his studies at the Vaganova Ballet Academy, where he had the opportunity to perform Flower Festival Pas de deux at the Marinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. Moreira has also received the Outstanding European Dancer award at the Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP) finals, the Judges Prize at the 2008 Varna International Ballet Competition (IBC), was a finalist at the 2008 Bejing IBC, and was a semi-finalist in Jackson USA IBC 2014. After competing in the Prix de Lausanne for the second time, Moreira received the apprenticeship award and chose to join American Ballet Theatre’s second company, where he danced works by Jerome Robbins, George Balanchine, and Edwaard Liang. Moreira has been invited to participate in international galas such as YAGP Japan’s Gala. Moreira joined Orlando Ballet in 2011 where he danced numerous leading roles and danced works by Jessica Lang, Peter Chu, Abdur Jackson, Robert Hill, George Balanchine, and Jerome Robbins. During his time with the company, Moreira had the opportunity to choreograph his own ballets and created Barco Negro (2014), Unsaid (2015), and Same Old Fear (2016). He also created his own production of Firebird for Florida Ballet. In 2016, he won best choreography at the YAGP regionals in Tampa. In September 2017, Moreira became a full-time faculty member with the Rock School.
LUIS VAZQUEZ | Choreographer
Luis Vazquez was born and raised in Chicago and began his dance training with various studios throughout the city before attending the dance program at Interlochen Summer Arts Camp with an emphasis in modern technique. His passion for dance grew as he went on to earn his B.F.A. in Dance from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. While studying at the University of Illinois, he had the pleasure of performing works by Rebecca Nettl-Fiol, Jennifer Monson, Tere O’Connor, Sahar Azimi, Elijah Gibson, and Jennifer Archibald, among many others. Vazquez continued his professional training through numerous intensives including Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and Alonzo King LINES Ballet, for which he received a scholarship to attend. Upon graduation, Vazquez immersed himself in the Chicago dance community, participating in workshops with Visceral Dance Chicago, DanceWorks Chicago, Elements Contemporary Ballet, and Hubbard Street resident choreographer Alejandro Cerrudo. Vazquez began his professional career when he joined Thodos Dance Chicago for two seasons, where he performed works by Melissa Thodos, Ann Reinking, Brian Enos, Shannon Alvis, Kevin Iega Jeff, and Garfield Lemonius. He made his debut as a professional choreographer when his piece Siren premiered at the 2017 Thodos New Dances concert.
THE CHOREOGRAPHERS
ABOUT THE CHOREOGRAPHERS
CLAUDIA SCHREIER | Choreographer
Claudia Schreier has been commissioned by organizations including the Vail Dance Festival, New York Choreographic Institute, Ballet Academy East, and The Ailey School. Since 2015, Claudia Schreier & Company has presented several full-evening length performances of her choreography featuring dancers from New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Miami City Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and other leading companies. In 2017, the company made its Joyce Theater debut, which included three world premieres choreographed for former NYCB principal Wendy Whelan, current principal Jared Angle, and soloist Unity Phelan. Schreier serves as rehearsal assistant to Damian Woetzel and has contributed to programs at the White House, Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York City Center and the Kennedy Center. She is the recipient of the 2017 Virginia B. Toulmin Fellowship at the Center for Ballet and the Arts at NYU; other awards include the 2017 Lotos Foundation Prize, the 2014 Breaking Glass Competition Prize, and the 2008 Suzanne Farrell Dance Prize. She has been featured in the The New York Times, Dance Magazine, Pointe, ELLE, and Harvard Magazine and was a featured guest on the television program Black America. Schreier received a B.A. from Harvard University in 2008.
ANASTACIA HOLDEN | Winning Works Ballet Master Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Anastacia Holden was first interested in international folk dance and started ballet at the local YMCA at the age of seven. She began serious study with Judy Rice at the University of Michigan and later continued her training under Prima Ballerina Maniya Barredo in Alpharetta, GA. Holden joined The Joffrey Ballet as a dancer in 2005 following two seasons as an Arpino Apprentice.
During her 14 year tenure with Joffrey, Holden performed soloist and leading roles in a variety of works including: Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella (Spring Fairy); Paul Taylor’s Cloven Kingdom; Yuri Possokhov’s Don Quixote (Amore) and Bells (Mazurka); Alexander Ekman’s Episode 31; Christopher Wheeldon’s Fool’s Paradise; Jirˇí Kylián’s Forgotten Land (Red Woman); Giselle (Peasant Pas de Deux); Kurt Jooss’s The Green Table (the Young Girl); Wayne McGregor’s Infra; William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated; Stanton Welch’s La Bayadère (Gamzatti) and Maninyas (first Pas de Deux); Julia Adams’s Night; The Nutcracker (Sugar Plum, Clara); Lar Lubovitch’s Othello (Bianca) and “...smile with my heart;” Christopher Wheeldon’s Swan Lake (Cygnets, Pas de Trois); George Balanchine’s Tarantella; Gerald Arpino’s Viva Vivaldi; and Justin Peck’s Year of the Rabbit (Tiler).
She originated roles in works by Nicolas Blanc, Donald Byrd, Val Caniparoli, Alexander Ekman, James Kudelka, Jessica Lang, Edwaard Liang, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Ashley Page, Myles Thatcher, Stanton Welch, and Christopher Wheeldon, and she has been honored to dance in numerous works by Joffrey co-founders Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino. In November 2016, Holden was recognized by Pointe Magazine as one of 12 standout performers worldwide for her role as Red Woman in Jirˇí Kylián’s Forgotten Land.
Holden joined the year-round faculty of the Joffrey Academy of Dance in 2017.
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION TEAM
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION TEAM
CLAIRE CHRZAN | Lighting Design
Claire Chrzan is a Chicago based lighting designer for theatre and dance. She received her B.A. in Lighting Design from Columbia College Chicago and has collaborated with many companies including A Red Orchid Theatre, Sideshow, Strawdog, Haven, Manual Cinema, Matter Dance, Eisenhower Dance, and more. Chrzan has toured nationally and internationally as Production Stage Manager for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s second company, HS2, and with Alonzo King Lines Ballet. This is her second year designing Winning Works.
MARK GIERINGER | Costume Design
Mark Anthony Gieringer currently dances with Ballet Hispánico in New York City through which he tours nationally and internationally. He graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri — Kansas City with a dual-emphasis B.F.A. in ballet and modern. Gieringer has worked with and performed works by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Gustavo Ramírez Sansano, Josh Beamish, Bernard Gaddis, Gary Abbott, Ray Mercer, and more. Gieringer was featured in Ballet Hispánico’s Lincoln Center at the Movies, for which he also helped build costumes. This is the second work by Omar Román de Jesús that Gieringer has costumed, the first being DANIEL for Parsons Dance which premiered at the Joyce Theatre in 2016.
VICTORIA MEARINI | Costume Design
Victoria Mearini began her professional career as a ballet dancer, dancing with Boston Ballet, The Pennsylvania Ballet, and The Cleveland-San Jose Ballet for over 20 years before attending Kent State University for Costume Design. She was invited to apprentice Renato Bianchi at La ComedieFrancaise in Paris, where she worked on Lee Breuer’s Un Tramway Nommé Désir. In addition to designs for The Cleveland Ballet, Mearini’s credits include Ballet San Jose’s The Nutcracker, choreographed by Karen Gabay (2017 Winning Works recipient), and Groundworks Dance Theater’s performance of Hindsight, choreographed by Lynne Taylor-Corbett. Mearini was the recent recipient of a John Paul Miller award for Excellence in Silversmithing and a GundFamily Scholarship Award, which led to her graduation from the Cleveland Institute of Art with a B.F.A. in Jewelry and Metals.
LUIS RAZO | Costume Design
Originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, Luis Razo has a background in dance and choreography. Taught to sew by his grandmother, creating costumes has been a long time passion of his. Being a former dancer, he has a firsthand perspective of movement, design, and flow of costume and body movement. He has offered his talent to the Joffrey Academy as well as the Chicago Academy for the Arts. Razo has also been in multiple Top 10 finals of the Cheap-Chic Wedding Dress contest (dresses made solely of toilet paper). In addition to costume design, Razo creates outdoor spaces and holiday décor for small restaurants. He is very excited to be participating in 2018 Winning Works.
THIS SEASON, THE JOFFREY BALLET CELEBRATES ITS 62ND COMPANY ANNIVERSARY
Classically trained to the highest standards, The Joffrey Ballet expresses a unique, inclusive perspective on dance, proudly reflecting the diversity of America with its company, audiences, and repertoire which includes major story ballets, reconstructions of masterpieces and contemporary works.
The Company’s commitment to accessibility is met through an extensive touring schedule, an innovative and highly effective education program including the much lauded Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, Community Engagement programs, and collaborations with myriad other visual and performing arts organizations.
Founded by visionary teacher Robert Joffrey in 1956, guided by celebrated choreographer Gerald Arpino from 1988 until 2007, The Joffrey Ballet continues to thrive under internationally renowned Artistic Director Ashley Wheater and Executive Director Greg Cameron. To learn more, please visit joffrey.org.
THE JOFFREY ACADEMY TRAINEES AND JOFFREY STUDIO COMPANY
The Trainee Program is a rigorous program with an internationally recognized reputation for excellence which gives students the skills needed to launch their careers into the professional world. Academy Alumni have danced with companies around the world, including The Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Dresden Semperoper and many more. The Joffrey Studio Company is a scholarship program of the Joffrey Academy, comprised of a group of outstanding students at the cusp of their professional careers. The individualized training and performance opportunities provided by the Joffrey Studio Company offers dancers exceptional insight into the life of a professional dancer and pushes dancers to realize their full artistic and technical potential. For more information on the Joffrey Academy of Dance Trainee Program, the Joffrey Studio Company, or other programs at the Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, please visit joffrey.org/academy.
Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, is the only training program owned, operated or endorsed by The Joffrey Ballet. The Joffrey Ballet is not affiliated with any other dance training or school program, including the Joffrey Ballet School in New York. The Joffrey Academy, located in the Exelon Education Center at Joffrey Tower in Chicago, Illinois is the only school that follows the organizational mission, training syllabi, and artistic vision of The Joffrey Ballet. No other program, including those holding the Joffrey name, is sanctioned by The Joffrey Ballet. For more information, please contact Academy Reception at 312.784.4600.
ABOUT THE JOFFREY BALLET
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Joffrey Studio Company | Joffrey Academy Trainees
Yuha Kamoto Japan
Michelle Kenyon San Diego, CA
Rachel Lovett Sunnyvale, CA
Ayuko Ogino Japan
Lauren Shaul Los Angeles, CA
Seina Shimada Japan
Marin Soki Japan
Sophia Stefanopoulos Redding, CT
Yuri Tamagawa Japan
Megan Dollar Lowell, MI
María José Esquivel Losada | Stamford, CT
Mari Fujikura Japan
Jose Antonio Garcia Franco | Spain
Katya Schloemann**** Sacramento, CA
Eloise Shepherd-Taylor United Kingdom
Masanori Takiguchi Japan
Margarida Trigueiros Portugal
Zachary Boresow*** Carlisle, PA
Ryoka Chiba** Japan
Jonathan Dole Sacramento, CA
Rees Launer* Boise, ID
Callahan Porter Los Angeles, CA
Alexandra Richey Henderson, KY
Yuri Rogers San Francisco, CA
Alexander Roy Chicago, IL
Daphne Seberich Italy
Juri Tayama Japan
Lucas Tischler New York, NY
Yuha Tomita Japan
Leah Irene Upchurch Virginia Beach, VA
Abbey Yoder Frederick, MD
Jasmine Getz Sleepy Hollow, IL
Madeline Hanly Dallas, TX
Jessica Humphrey Birmingham, MI
Shiori Ikedo Japan
Satoru Iwasaki Japan
Roma Catania Edmond, OK
Gahee Chung South Korea
Katharine Cowan Olympia, WA
Samantha Crimi Chester, NJ
Andrea de León Rivera Mexico
Daniela Maarraoui Houston, TX
Antonio Mannino Italy
Valentino Moneglia Zamora | Spain
Jonathan Philbert*** New York, NY
Stephanie Santiago Philippines
*Eric B. Eatherly Memorial Scholarship Recipient | **Jeanette Stevens Scholarship Recipient ***Epstein Special Scholars | ****Luminarts Fellow in Dance
ABOUT THE JOFFREY STAFF
ASHLEY WHEATER
Artistic Director
GREG CAMERON
Executive Director
ARTISTIC
Gerard Charles Director of Artistic Operations/Ballet Master
Nicolas Blanc Adam Blyde
Suzanne Lopez
Ballet Masters/ Principal Coaches
ACADEMY
Karine Provost Academy Director
Keesha Beckford Youth Division Liaison
Allie Deaver-Petchenik Administrative Assistant
Karin Ellis-Wentz Head of PreProfessional Programs
Bridget Holmes Communications Coordinator
Grace Kowalski Academy Coordinator
Annie Lyonswright Temporary Student Services Administrator
Sarah Mazzulla Student Services Manager
Raymond Rodriguez Head of Studio Company and Trainee Program
Cara Scrementi Partnerships and Production Manager
Kyle Seguin Pre-Professional Division Liaison
Trish Strong Children’s Division Liaison
Caitlyn Carr
Molly Hillson
Emma Wilmarth
Celina Wu Academy Receptionists
COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT
Erica Lynette Edwards Director of Community Engagement
Caitlyn Huynh
Community Engagement Associate
Julianna Jarik
Community Engagement Business Administrator
Elizabeth Salmonowicz Community Engagement Manager
Evelyn Sanchez
Michael Smith
Community Engagement Program Coordinators
Linda Swayze
Community Engagement Program Supervisor
COMPANY
ADMINISTRATION & PRODUCTION
Blair Baldwin Company Manager
Jake Fine
Lighting Supervisor
Erin Brown Artistic & Production Administrative Assistant
Katherine Selig Principal Stage Manager
Amanda Heuermann Stage Manager
Ellie Cotey Head of Wardrobe
Gregg Benkovich First Assistant/Shoe Manager
Kate Shattock Second Assistant
Debra Schoell Lead Stitcher
Barbara Luchsinger Stitcher
Erin Tinsley Head Electrician
Steven Lange
Head Carpenter
Gregg Moeller Properties Head
George Paulin
Sound Engineer
Marybeth Cave Assistant Electrician
Joe Principe Flyman
DEVELOPMENT
Sarai Hoffman Chief Development Officer
Afton Battle Director of Annual Campaign
Clare Brody Assistant Director of Grants and Sponsorships
Jimmy Byrne Associate Director of Planned Giving and Major Gifts
Mimi de Castro Associate Director of Corporate Partnerships
Rose Dillon Development Associate
Julia Doherty Director of Major Gifts
Alex Goodman Development and Events Assistant
Chelsea Robinson Director of Events
FINANCE & OPERATIONS
Kathleen Hechinger Deputy Director and Chief Financial Officer
Aaron Glynn
Database Analyst
Paul Key Director of Technology
John Kurtz Director of Facility Operations
Lauren Martin
Executive Assistant to the Executive Director
FINANCE & OPERATIONS (continued)
Terry McDonough Controller
Abby Smith Administrative Assistant
Amy Wicklund Director of Human Resources
Erin Winkler Payroll & Accounts Payable Coordinator
MARKETING
Brian Smith Chief Marketing Officer
Colene Byrd Director of Sales & Patron Services
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART CHICAGO
Vicki Crain Marketing Manager
Matt de la Peña Director of Communications
Sam Fain
Group Sales Manager
Sarah Fiala Marketing Director
Christina Grant Director of Audience Development
Casey Peek Patron Services Manager
Allison Diamond
Chelsea Dvorchak
Fernando Fernandez Alisa Phillips Patron Services Associates
MUSIC
Scott Speck Music Director
Grace Kim Michael Moricz Company Pianists
Okwui Okpokwasili Poor People’s TV Room
Thu–Sat, Apr 12–14, 7:30 pm Sun, Apr 15, 2 pm
Edlis Neeson Theater 2017–18 Season
Buy tickets now at the MCA Box Office or mcachicago.org/stage
#mcastage
“Poor People’s TV Room is part of the grand narrative about politics, the body, and place . . . ” The New Yorker
Photo: © Ian Douglas
COMING FULL CIRCLE WITH THE JOFFREY BALLET
When I was 17, I attended my first audition at the Joffrey through its After School Matters Program. In two weeks, I learned more about myself than I ever thought possible.
In 2017, I was selected as one of four winners of the Joffrey’s Winning Works choreographic competition. I was given a rare opportunity to work with trainees to create a world premiere performance.
Walking into Joffrey Tower for rehearsals, I felt an incredible sense of coming full circle. What started as a simple audition has turned into a career.
It’s because of donor support that opportunities at the Joffrey like Winning Works exist. It’s because of donor support that people like me get to pursue our dreams.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
—LUIS VAZQUEZ
Luis Vazquez: Morna Freitas Photography
Winning Works performance images: Todd Rosenberg | Costumes by Gabriel Brandon-Hanson | Headshots: Telmo Moreira: Michael Cairns Omar Román De Jesús: Annette Navarro | Claudia Schreier: Courtesy of artist | Luis Vazquez: Morna Freitas Photography