Skip to main content

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s Thrilling and Surprising Spring Mix Will Run April 10-12 The Riveting Choreography in Spring Mix Includes Both a World Premiere and a Pittsburgh Premiere

 

 

PBT Artists Caitlyn Mendicino and Colin McCaslin. Photo Credit: Justin Merriman

 

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s (PBT) Spring Mix showcases four incredible works that take center stage at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, April 10-12, 2026. The mixed repertory program features classical and contemporary works from visionary choreographers, including a world premiere and a Pittsburgh premiere, as well as the return of sensational audience favorites.

 

The works in Spring Mix include the Pittsburgh premiere of Mark Godden’s Angels In The Architecture, a tribute to the dreams of Shaker communities set to Aaron Copland’s evocative Appalachian Spring, an exciting world premiere from acclaimed choreographer Garrett Smith, the return of Barak Marshall’s dynamic Monger and Adam W. McKinney’s new staging of the Swan Lake Act II “ White Swan” Pas de deux.

 

“I cannot wait for Pittsburgh audiences to experience the bold, beautiful choreography in this amazing Spring Mix production,” said PBT artistic director Adam W. McKinney. “I am thrilled for my restaging of the ‘White Swan’ Pas de deux to be included as part of this performance, along with the works of three visionary choreographers.”

 

Starting off the production is a beautiful new staging of the “White Swan” Pas de deux from the iconic ballet Swan Lake. The work was originally choreographed by Lev Ivanov and will include new staging from PBT artistic director Adam W. McKinney. This duet, from Act II of the full-length ballet, is one of the most beautiful and moving pas de deux in classical ballet. The dance is known for its perfectly timed lifts and fluid, graceful swan-like arm movements.

 

PBT will also present the audience favorite Monger by award-winning choreographer Barak Marshall. Monger follows the lives of a group of domestic workers who are sequestered in the house of an abusive employer and explores the dynamics of hierarchy, power, dignity and the compromises people make in order to survive. Monger is mesmerizing, with its innovative, fast, sharp dancing, paired with theatrical elements and an eclectic mix of music that ranges from Gypsy and Balkan to folk and Baroque. Monger, first produced by PBT in October 2023, showcases Marshall’s unique ability to seamlessly blend music, dance and storylines into smart, spellbinding works.

 

One of the highlights in Spring Mix is the Pittsburgh premiere of Mark Godden’s Angels In The Architecture, a glorious tribute to the dreams of Shaker communities. The ballet is set to Aaron Copland's Pulitzer Prize-winning Appalachian Spring. The simplicity in set, costumes and choreography reflects the ease, devotion and unity with which the Shakers lived. The work’s moving exploration of light and darkness, faith and doubt, creates an emotional and visually stunning ballet of spiritual and artistic reflection.

 

Closing the production will be a world premiere by acclaimed choreographer Garrett Smith.

Smith is known for creating captivating ballets by drawing inspiration from the artists in front of him, crafting tailor-made movements that play to each artist's strengths and highlight the best in each individual. Themes in his works frequently include human identity and self-reflection.

 

PBT Connects: Theater Programs

The following PBT Education and Community Engagement programs are available to help expand the ballet experience, and are open to all ticket holders:

 

Opening Night Preview | Friday, April 10 | 6:30 p.m.

Audience members can enrich their experiences at the performance by hearing from choreographers, stagers and other creative artists involved in the production. 

 

Artist Q&A | Friday, April 10 | after the performance

Audience members can chat with PBT’s artists about their roles in the performance, preparing for a ballet, working with choreographers and more. The event will take place in the theater.

 

Tea with the AD | Saturday, April 11 | 6:45 p.m.

Grab your tea – or your favorite drink – and join Artistic Director Adam W. McKinney for an informal conversation before the performance.

 

Artist Q&A | Saturday, April 11 | after the 7:30 p.m. performance

Audience members can chat with PBT’s artists about their roles in the performance, preparing for a ballet, working with choreographers and more. The event will take place in the theater.

 

Schedule

PBT will perform Spring Mix at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center on the following dates and times: 

  • Friday, April 10, 2026, 7:30 PM

  • Saturday, April 11, 2026,  2:00 PM

  • Saturday, April 11, 2026, 7:30 PM

  • Sunday, April 12, 2026, 2:00 PM

 

Ticket Information

Single tickets for Spring Mix start at $33.50, including all fees, and are available at pbt.org or by calling 412-456-6666. Season subscription packages are also available. More information is available at pbt.org or by calling 412-454-9107.

 

Groups purchasing eight or more tickets save up to 50%. More information is available at pbt.org/groups. 

 

Coming next to PBT:

  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream with the PBT Orchestra – May 15-17, 2026 at the Benedum Center

 

PBT’s 2026-27 Season - Escape into Wonder

Watch our video preview for highlights of the exciting new season lineup.

 

  • Giselle with the PBT Orchestra, October 23-25, 2026

  • The Nutcracker,  December 4-27, 2026 

  • Alice in  Wonderland, February 12-21, 2027

  • Spring Mix: World Premieres,  April 9-11, 2027 

  • The Sleeping Beauty with the PBT Orchestra, May 7-9, 2027

 

Season subscriptions are now available. For more information, visit pbt.org/subscribe or call 412-454-9107. Single tickets for the 2026-27 season will be available in late August.

 

About Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre has been Pittsburgh’s premier professional ballet company since 1969. Today, PBT is a nationally recognized ballet company of 32 professional dancers, a training institution for over 1,200 students of all ages, and an incubator for education and accessibility programs in classrooms, libraries and community centers throughout the region. The company, under the leadership of artistic director Adam W. McKinney and executive director Nicholas Dragga, performs a wide-ranging repertoire of classical ballets, contemporary masterworks and new commissions in nearly 50 performances annually. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sanctified Explores Through Music How Diverse Attitudes are Transformed into an Inspired Unity

  Marissa Lily, Mils James, Manny Walker, Emir Hardy, Chuck Timbers, Cheryl El Walker, Katy Cotten & Brenda Marks Set by Mark Clayton Southers Credit all Photos: Kim El One of the many things live theater does well is taking its audience to different places, times and moods through the power of story-telling. While this is a fairly obvious observation, this thought became especially poignant when, over a period of less than 24 hours, when I found myself on board a battleship in late 18 th century Portsmouth, England, then, 17 hours later, walking into a small Black church in rural South Carolina in the present day. The vehicles for this geographic time travel to places and times worlds apart were Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera, “H.M. S. Pinafore” and playwright Javon Johnson’s “Sanctified.” Both works, while musical comedies with morals to the story, came from diverse and rich cultural backgrounds. I’ve already published my review of Pinafore on my arts and enterta...
Post a Comment
Read more

Exciting Things are Happening at PFO!

  Dear Friends, I invite you to join me in experiencing the voice of opera legend Csilla Boross as she kicks off our Legends in the Limelight concert series on September 24 at the Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall in Carnegie! Csilla performed the title role of Adriana in PFO’s concert opera debut of  Adriana Lecouvreur  on September 8 at the Carnegie Music Hall. Please enjoy the below video of Csilla singing Poveri fiori aria Act 4 from our final dress rehearsal! It was truly and amazing performance! I am hopeful you can join us for this magical evening! As you know, at PFO it’s all about the VOICE!!! Much love, Click below for a sneak peak of Csilla Boross: Sneak Peek of Adriana Lecouvreur! - YouTube For More Information and Tickets CLICK HERE Calling all young professionals! Please join us for a PFO Happy Hour this Wednesday, September 18 at the Mansions on Fifth! Come meet our staff as well as other Pittsburgh area young professionals! You will also have the opport...
Post a Comment
Read more

Mon Valley Fans of Live Theater Get a Sumptuous Taste of Future Possibilities

The Cast of "What Do I Wear, 2,500 Tears of Fashion in Theatre" Credit all Photos: Kelly Tunney     The Mon Valley YMCA in Monongahela never looked so festive, so blatantly celebratory, as on the evening of April 13 when a troupe of 16 actors arrived with a trailer full of colorful costumes, many of which were quite elaborate.     The audience barely understood the full depth of the dazzle that awaited them as they took their seats for an event exuberantly titled “What Do I Wear, 2,5000 Years of Fashion in Theatre.”     The fundraiser for Pittsburgh International Classic Theatre was the brainchild of PICT’s artistic director, Elizabeth Elias Huffman. Elizabeth Huffman at the Podium     Huffman conceived of an idea that called for choosing selections from plays that started with the era of the ancient Greeks, marched on through Elizabethan England and Shakespeare, popped in on Restoration England via an American playwright,...
Post a Comment
Read more