For Immediate Release
March 01, 2004

Contact:
Linda Miele
(207) 856-1663
Beryl Wolfe
(207) 883-6083
E-mail: msballet@maine.rr.com
Web Site: http://www.mainestateballet.org

Local Maine dancers from Biddeford to Brunswick will perform in the upcoming Maine State Ballet's Sleeping Beauty to be held Saturday, March 13 and Sunday, March 14 at 1 p.m. at the Merrill Auditorium. Tickets for the two matinee shows can be purchased through Porttix, (207) 842-0800 or www.porttix.com. For more information, call (207) 856-1662 or visit the Maine State Ballet website at www.mainestateballet.org.

Area dancers were rewarded for their work in ballet class by receiving roles in the full-length Sleeping Beauty. Maine State Ballet holds an audition in the fall for some 200 area dancers all hoping for a chance to perform in a Maine State Ballet production. Many who audition are chosen for The Nutcracker, but fewer dancers can be used in the spring and summer shows.

The ballet will feature dancers from the following communities:

Auburn: Lindsey Le
Biddeford: Emily Kimball
Boothbay: Caitlin Brackett
Brownfield: Gretchen Brown
Brunswick: David Brann
Cape Elizabeth: Danielle Beaumont, Emma Hockmuth, Eliza Mette, Meghan Mette
Cornish: Wyatt Barr
Cumberland: Jessica Broadhead, Tessa Churchill, Jessie Dellert, Sara DeVinney, Michelle Frizalone, Lauren Grass, Chloe Kilburn, Lindsey Lebel, Marlowe Miller, Tory Nevens, Anyssa Pollak, Brenna Pollak, Costa Pollak, Kathryn Savasuk, Sara Sheldon
Falmouth: Sara Alpert, Gemma Carter, Laura Carter, Danielle D’Alfonso, Julia Damion, Nicole Goldstein, Ruth Gray, Hannah Hays, Michael Holden, Emily Jackson, Katya Nash
Gardiner: Maria Burgess
Gorham: Leigh-Ann Esty, Sara Esty, Casey Galipeau, Chelsea Galipeau, Gabrielle Grandstaff, Rebecca Harrigan, Alana McKeen, Cynthia Reynolds, Nicholas Reynolds, Ann Marie Robinson, Molly Stewart
Kennebunk: Holly Corbett, Janet Ottman, Molly Morse, Christine Pepin, Sasha Thivierge-Bonney
Lisbon Falls: Lacey Michaud
Lyman: Catherine Wagner
North Waterboro: Justine Boss, Kate Hamilton
North Yarmouth: Hannah Dorr, Elizabeth Grear, Madeline Landry
Old Orchard Beach: Madeline Landry
Poland: Lily Sands
Portland: Angela Balzano, Chloe Beavin, Caitlin Bernard, Molly Berry, Jessica Cook, Elizabeth DeWitt, Elizabeth England, Katie Farwell, Lesley Flores, Kirby Johnson, Erin Kilbride, Valorie Lake, Blaire McKinley, Elise Mercier, Candace Morong, Christine Reynolds, Mary Ridley, Rebecca Ruesch, Katie Skog, Meghan Strout, Josephine Vincent, and Tyler Winslow
Raymond: Rhiannon Pelletier, Becci Webb
Saco: Ian Camenga, Hannah Eon, Kerry Eon, Kristyn Souliere, Lindsay Stack
Scarborough: Hannah Anderson, Allison Clark, Elizabeth Dragoni, Molly Hogue, Carly Ross, Erika Saito, Kaitlynn Saldanha, Olivia Wolfe
South Portland: Alexis Hilton, Emily Igo, Christina Williams
Standish: Danica Holtan, Nordica Holtan
Topsham: Heidi Skirbe
West Gardiner: Mollie Sharples
Westbrook: Grace Arsenault, Sagan Clifford, Nicolette Kapothanasis, Jon Murray, Vanessa Pooler, Maura Quigley
Windham: Amy Allen, Ashley Allen, Chaelley Clauson, Marina Davidson, Glenn Davis, Janet Davis, Daly Grogan, Tessa Jeffers, Juliette Lauzier, Adam Miele, Kristen Morrison, Kiara Tringali, Courtney True
Yarmouth: Olivia Gosselin, Michael Hamilton, Elizabeth Schrader


Merrill Auditorium Scheduling Requires Cooperative Effort

Scheduling of Merrill Auditorium gets tight when two productions request the same weekend, especially the same day. The Saturday, March 13 scheduling of Maine State Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty in the afternoon and the Portland Concert Association’s Preservation Hall Jazz Band that night proved to be a challenge. However, due to the cooperative efforts of the Portland Concert Association (PCA), Maine State Ballet and the International Alliance of Theater and Stage Employees Union #114, both events will share the day.

"It went very smoothly, so we are grateful for their generosity and cooperation," said Linda Miele, Artistic Director of Maine State Ballet. "It will be a very active day for the Merrill."

The technical directors for PCA and the Maine State Ballet, the president and business director Union #114 respectively, sat down and determined that, with an initial joint set up of the lights, both shows can utilize some of the same equipment.

Judith Adam, Executive Director of PCA Great Performances is pleased to see the auditorium used as much as possible. “Full scheduling of Merrill Auditorium to the extent we can provides the community with what was intended when the hall was renovated.”

Maine State Ballet, established in 1986, has become the leading professional dance company in the State of Maine. Working together, Maine State Ballet and the Maine State School for the Performing Arts encourage students to become active, intelligent young artists who will emerge as artistic leaders in their communities.

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