Historical Theatrical Event at Sand Harbor

May 21, 2007

Media Contacts

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:           Rosine Bena, Artistic Director

                          Sierra Nevada Ballet

                          775-720-5204

Program features Russian Ballet principal dancer, Eugene Petrov, Domingo Rubio

(Featured in the movie, THE COMPANY),  international tap star Sam Weber, and

a full company of dancers

Reno, NV, May 21, 2007 - The Sierra Nevada Ballet, in collaboration with the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, will present The Unicorn, The Gorgon and The Manticore at as part of their CELEBRATION OF GENIUS program on August 22 and 23 at sand harbor State Park. This exciting program features internationally acclaimed performers, a range of music and dance, and costumes considered to be pieces of art.

The Unicorn, The Gorgon and The Manticore, written by Gian Carlo Menotti, is based on a 1597 madrigal comedy. It was first performed in the 1950s with costumes commissioned by the Library of Congress. Then the Washington Ballet performed it for television in the 1960s and early 1970s, receiving rave reviews.

Before her death in 2006, Washington Ballet founder Mary Day sent the costumes to Sierra Nevada Ballet founder and artistic director Rosine Bena, with a request that Bena recreate and update this work for her Nevada company. Bena has accomplished her friend's wish and has prepared a dazzling choreographic work, complete with the fantastic costumes.

"This summer program has something for everyone," says Bena, "a variety of dance and music, humor, and a timeless, universal message that audiences of all ages will enjoy. It also showcases Russian Ballet principal dancer Eugene Petrov; international Ballet star, Domingo Rubio, as well as one of the greatest tap dancers in the world, Sam Weber. This promises to be a great event and I know Mary Day would be proud!"

The Unicorn, The Gorgon and The Manticore will be performed on August 22 and 23  at 7:30 pm at Sand Harbor State Park as part of the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival.

For tickets or information, please contact the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival  at (800) 74-SHOWS, or visit their website at LakeTahoeShakespeare.com.  For information about the Sierra Nevada Ballet, please visit http://www.sierranevadaballet.com/ or call 775-783-3223.

About the Sierra Nevada Ballet - The Northern Nevada Ballet Company

Sierra Nevada Ballet is the professional ballet company in northern Nevada, with quality productions that rival those in major cities. Jack Neal, local music, dance and theater critic, reviewed SNB and said: "At last a truly professional dance company is emerging in the Reno metropolitan area." Versatile and innovative, Sierra Nevada Ballet incorporates the popular with the experimental. Always a crowd pleaser, it offers music and different types of dance, from well-known classical to new-age contemporary, original pieces.  For more information, visit sierranevadaballet.com or call (775) 783-3223.

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