Beloved favorites are returning for Pacific Northwest Ballet’s 53rd Season including (obviously) the holiday treat, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® but also long time classics like Cinderella and Giselle. But, there’s also a world premiere from dancers Christopher D’Ariano and Amanda Morgan plus favorite works by such artists as Ulysses Dove, Alejandro Cerrudo, Dani Rowe, and Twyla Tharp. There’ll also be the return of Kent Stowell’s Firebird and an evening of works by resident choreographer Jessica Lang who is also working on a new family matinee production based on the Momotaro stories, the Japenese folk fables about “Peach Boy”.
From the press release:
Pacific Northwest Ballet Artistic Director Peter Boal has announced the line-up for PNB’s 53rd season, running from September 2025 through June 2026. The season will kick off with George Balanchine’s [literally] sparkling Jewels, and highlights include an evening of works by PNB resident choreographer Jessica Lang (who will also be creating a new family matinee production based on the popular Japanese folk tales of Momotaro), two beloved story ballets (Cinderella and Giselle), and the long-awaited return of Kent Stowell’s Firebird. Elsewhere in the schedule are works by Alejandro Cerrudo, Ulysses Dove, Dani Rowe, and Twyla Tharp; and a world premiere from PNB soloists Christopher D’Ariano and Amanda Morgan. (Plus, of course, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®.) The PNB Box Office is now open for subscription renewals and new subscriptions; tickets for individual programs go on sale July 22. (To accommodate the financial challenges of creating art in these tough economic times – and to meet the growing demand for matinee performances – PNB is moving its Thursday subscription series to a second Saturday matinee. Thursday subscribers may either retain their current seats for the new Saturday matinee, or receive priority seat assignments to another series.) PNB continues to offer a digital subscription ($300) so audiences across the country and around the globe can attend the show as well. For further information, contact the PNB Box Office by phone at 206.441.2424, or online at PNB.org. As always, everything is subject to change.
PACIFIC NORTHWEST BALLET’S 2025-26 SEASON LINE-UP
[Follow select hyperlinks for additional information and program notes.]
September 26 – October 5, 2025
Choreography: George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust
Scenic and Costume Design: Jérôme Kaplan
Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli
Emeralds
Music: Gabriel Fauré
Premiere: April 13, 1967, New York City Ballet
PNB Premiere: June 1, 2006; Kaplan Design Premiere: September 22, 2017
Rubies
Music: Igor Stravinsky
Premiere: April 13, 1967, New York City Ballet
PNB Premiere: February 3, 1988; Kaplan Design Premiere: September 22, 2017
Diamonds
Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Premiere: April 13, 1967, New York City Ballet
PNB Premiere: June 1, 2006; Kaplan Design Premiere: September 22, 2017
Rep 2 – IN THE UPPER ROOM
November 7 – 16, 2025
WORLD PREMIERE
Music: Thomas Nickell and Fiona Stocks-Lyons
Choreography: Christopher D’Ariano and Amanda Morgan
Lighting Design: Reed Nakayama
Music: Shannon Rugani
Choreography: Danielle Rowe
Costume Design: Emma Kingsbury
Lighting Design: Reed Nakayama
Premiere: November 3, 2023, Pacific Northwest Ballet
Music: Philip Glass
Choreography: Twyla Tharp
Scenic Design: Santo Loquasto
Costume Design: Norma Kamali
Lighting Design: Jennifer Tipton
Premiere: August 28, 1986, Twyla Tharp Dance
PNB Premiere: November 1, 2007
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®
November 28 – December 28, 2025 (NOTE: Not part of the 2025-26 Subscription season.)
The Northwest’s favorite holiday tradition, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® is back once again (surprise!) to delight one and all. From the liveliest lobby in town to the dazzling sets and costumes and unforgettable performances, The Nutcracker is an integral part of the holidays for ballet fans of all ages!
Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Choreography: George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust
Staging: Judith Fugate with Peter Boal and Garielle Whittle
Costume & Scenic Design: Ian Falconer
Lighting Design: James F. Ingalls
Balanchine Production Premiere: February 2, 1954, New York City Ballet
PNB Premiere: November 27, 2015
January 30 – February 8, 2026
Music: Sergei Prokofiev
Choreography: Kent Stowell
Staging: Kent Stowell and Francia Russell
Scenic Design: Tony Straiges
Projection Design: Wendall K. Harrington
Costume Design: Martin Pakledinaz
Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli
Premiere: May 31, 1994, Pacific Northwest Ballet
Rep 4 – FIREBIRD
March 13 – 22, 2026
Music: Various
Choreography: Alejandro Cerrudo
Scenic Design: Alejandro Cerrudo
Costume Design: Branimira Ivanova
Lighting Design: Michael Korsch
Premiere: March 15, 2012, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
PNB Premiere: March 18, 2016
Music: Richard Einhorn
Choreography: Ulysses Dove
Costume Design: Holly Hynes
Lighting Design: Mark Stanley
Premiere: May 9, 1994, New York City Ballet
PNB Premiere: September 17, 2005
Music: Igor Stravinsky
Choreography: Kent Stowell
Scenic Design: Ming Cho Lee
Costume Design: Theoni V. Aldredge
Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli
Premiere: September 29, 1989, Pacific Northwest Ballet (Kennedy Center)
Momotaro [WORLD PREMIERE]
March 21 – 29, 2026 (NOTE: Not part of the 2025-26 Subscription season.)
Featuring students of Pacific Northwest Ballet School.
Choreography: Jessica Lang
Concept, Dramaturgy, and Story Adaptation: Kanji Segawa
Creative Associate: Kanji Segawa
Scenic Design: Jessica Lang and Reed Nakayama
Costume Design: Meleta Buckstaff
Lighting Design: Reed Nakayama
Narrator: William Lin-Yee
April 10 – 19, 2026
Libretto: Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Théophile Gautier
Music: Adolphe Adam, with additional music by Friedrich Burgmüller, Ludwig Minkus, and Cesare Pugni
Choreography: Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot, and Marius Petipa
Staging: Peter Boal
Choreography Reconstruction: Doug Fullington
Historical Advisor: Marian Smith
Scenic and Costume Design: Jérôme Kaplan
Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli
Original Production Premiere: June 28, 1841; Ballet du Théâtre de l’Académie Royale de Musique, Paris
Petipa Production Premiere: February 5, 1884; Imperial Ballet, St. Petersburg
PNB Premiere: June 3, 2011; Kaplan Design Premiere: May 30, 2014
Rep 6 – ALL LANG
May 29 – June 7, 2026
Music: Benjamin Britten
Choreography and Scenic Design: Jessica Lang
Costume Design: Bradon McDonald
Lighting Design: Nicole Pearce
Premiere: August 2016, Pacific Northwest Ballet (at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Massachusetts)
Music: Robert Schumann and Clara Schumann
Choreography: Jessica Lang
Creative Associate: Kanji Segawa
Costume Design: Jillian Lewis
Lighting Design: Reed Nakayama
Premiere: November 12, 2020, Pacific Northwest Ballet (digital season)
ZigZag [PNB PREMIERE]
Music: Tony Bennett
Choreography: Jessica Lang
Creative Associate: Kanji Segawa
Scenic Design: Derek McLane
Costume Design: Wes Gordon
Lighting Design: Nicole Pearce
Premiere: October 26, 2021, American Ballet Theatre (New York)
SUBSCRIPTION & TICKET INFORMATION
The Pacific Northwest Ballet Box Office is now taking orders for subscription renewals, new subscriptions, and digital-season subscriptions to PNB’s 2025-26 season. Full-season [seated] subscriptions start at $214 for seats to all six programs. Four-show mini-season subscriptions start at $147. Full and mini-season subscribers may add digital streaming access for reps 1-6 for $50 (does not include The Nutcracker or Momotaro.)
DIGITAL SEASON: For five years, PNB’s digital stage has allowed the company to stay connected with audiences around the world, and our plans are to continue providing an at-home streaming option this season. Many works PNB performs onstage during the 2025-26 season will be shared exclusively with Digital Season subscribers after the curtain comes down on in-person performances, available to view for five days. The digital subscription (which includes The Nutcracker) is available for $300.
Beginning July 22, tickets to all PNB performances (starting at $40) and George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® (starting at $35) may be purchased through the PNB Box Office:
- Phone – 206.441.2424
- In Person – 301 Mercer Street at Seattle Center
- Online 24/7 – PNB.org
(Tickets are also available – subject to availability – 90 minutes prior to each performance at McCaw Hall. In-person ticket sales at the McCaw Hall Box Office may be subject to day-of-show increases. Advance tickets through the PNB Box Office are strongly suggested for best prices and greatest availability.)
For information about special ticket offers including group discounts, The Pointe, Beer & Ballet, Pay-What-You-Can, and student and senior rush tickets, visit PNB.org/offers.
About the Author: Michael Strangeways
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