Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with the PBT Orchestra Opens on May 15 The Pittsburgh Premiere Will Take the Stage at The Benedum for Four Performances From May 15-17

 

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Artists Hannah Carter and Lucius Kirst; Photo by Justin Merriman   Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s (PBT) Pittsburgh premiere of Ben Stevenson, OBE’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream will open on Friday, May 15  at 7:30 p.m. at the Benedum Center. Stevenson's ethereal ballet retelling of this Shakespearean comedic romp is presented with live music from the PBT Orchestra and the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh. PBT will present four performances of this whimsical, family-friendly ballet from May 15-17 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.    The production’s four performances have several different PBT artists portraying the lead characters. The artists will dance in the lead roles for the following performances:   Titania and Oberon, the Fairy Queen & King: PBT Principal Artists Hannah Carter and Lucius Kirst (5/15, 7:30 pm and 5/17, 2:00 pm) PBT Principal Artists Grace Rookstool and Colin McCaslin (5/16, 2:00 pm) PBT Principal Artist Tommie Lin Kesten and Soloist David O’Matz (5/16, 7:30 pm)   Hermia & Lysander, a mortal couple in love whose lives are thrown off track by Puck’s magic spell PBT Principal Artist Tommie Lin Kesten and Soloist David O’Matz (5/15, 7:30 pm & 5/17, 2:00 pm) PBT Corps de Ballet Artists Abigail Huang and Henrique Barbosa (5/16, 2:00 and 7:30 pm)   Helena and Demetrius, two humans drawn together by Puck's magic spell who fall in true love as a result of it. PBT Principal Artists Grace Rookstool and Colin McCaslin (5/15, 7:30 pm and 5/17, 2:00 pm) PBT Corps de Ballet Artists Ariana Chernyshev and Ethan Clarisey (5/16, 2:00 and 7:30 pm)   The full casting list can be found here.   “I am thrilled to have Pittsburgh audiences experience Ben Stevenson’s enchanting production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” said Adam W. McKinney, artistic director at PBT. “This beautiful, family-friendly story ballet, filled with magic and whimsy, is perfect for audiences of all ages.”   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 PNC.     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!   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.