Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Presents the Pittsburgh Premiere of Ben Stevenson’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Artists Christian García Campos and Kurtis Sprowls; Photo by Justin Merriman   Audiences are invited to step into the magical world of A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the Pittsburgh premiere of Ben Stevenson OBE’s ethereal ballet retelling of Shakespeare’s comedic romp, presented with live music from the PBT Orchestra. PBT will perform the whimsical, family-friendly ballet May 15-17 at the Benedum Center as the closing production of its 2025-26 Dream Season.   A Midsummer Night’s Dream ballet, based on William Shakespeare’s iconic comedy, weaves a tale of quarrels and reconciliations between Oberon and Titania, the fairy king and queen and the romantic misadventures of two mortal couples—all under the spell of the mischievous fairy, Puck. The dreamy forest escapade will captivate audiences with its comedy, romance and playfulness. The ballet incorporates stunning costumes, lush scenery, exceptional choreography and a recognizable, vibrant Felix Mendelssohn score, brought to life by the PBT Orchestra and the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh.   “I am delighted to share Ben Stevenson’s enchanting production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Pittsburgh audiences for the first time,” said Adam W. McKinney, artistic director at PBT. “This beautiful  story ballet, filled with magic, myth and whimsy, is a lovely way to end our amazing Dream Season.”   Ben Stevenson OBE was a decorated and acclaimed ballet dancer, teacher, ballet director and choreographer. Stevenson’s profound impact on dance spanned decades and continents, shaping countless careers and elevating ballet companies to global prominence. Regarded as the Artistic Director of Houston Ballet, Texas Ballet Theater and Co-Director of the now defunct National Ballet, he choreographed more than 30 ballets, including Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, Dracula and the beloved parody The Nutty Nutcracker. For his lifetime of achievement, Stevenson was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 1999. He also received three gold medals at the International Ballet Competition (1972, 1982, 1986), the Dance Magazine Award in 2000 and the Texas Medal of Arts in 2005.   A Midsummer Night’s Dream is generously sponsored by   PBT Connects: Theater Programs The following PBT Education and Community Engagement programs are designed to enrich the ballet experience and are open to all ticket holders:   Opening Night Preview | Friday, May 15 | 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. The event will be held in the theater.   Family Workshop | Saturday, May 16 | 1 p.m It’s always easier for kids to appreciate and understand a performance and the art form with a bit of preparation! Join us for a story time, dancing and a chance to see costumes and props up close! The event will be held in the multi-purpose room on the 2nd floor. Reserve your spot here!   Curtain Up! | Saturday, May 16 |  1 p.m This is a special opportunity to see the dancers warming up before the show. The event will take place in the theater.   Tea with the AD | Saturday, May 16 | 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. The event will be held in the theater.   Artist Q&A | Saturday, May 16 | 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.   Curtain Up! | Sunday, May 17 |  1 p.m This is a special opportunity to see the dancers warming up before the show. The event will take place in the theater.     Schedule PBT will perform A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Bendum Center on the following dates and times: ●       Friday, May 15, 2026, 7:30 PM ●       Saturday, May 16, 2026, 2:00 PM ●       Saturday, May 16, 2026, 7:30 PM ●       Sunday, May 17, 2026, 2:00 PM     Ticket Information Single tickets for A Midsummer Night’s Dream 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.     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 starting August 10.     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.