(MADISON, WI) Madison Ballet is hitting the road! For the second season in a row, the growing professional ballet company that calls Madison home announces two tour dates! One is a return trip to Oshkosh’s Grand Opera House immediately following the Madison Dracula performances; another is a first for the company—an out-of-state trip to the 2,200-seat Juanita K. Hammons Hall in Springfield, Missouri.

This is the first time Madison Ballet has taken the home-grown hit Dracula on the road— the rock ballet struck a chord with Madison audiences when it premiered in 2013, sparking rumors of future tours almost immediately. Now those aren’t just rumors anymore!

Dracula’s first road trip will be to the Grand Opera House in Oshkosh. After a successful tour of repertory works there last season, Madison Ballet can’t wait to seduce the crowds with the sexy, stunning, and rocking full- length ballet that is Dracula.

“Dracula on tour at The Grand is the result of two years planning and I’m very excited about it. [Madison Ballet’s] W. Earle Smith and Gretchen Bourg have had a real ‘can-do’ attitude about adapting this terrific production to allow it to tour, and we’re looking forward to excited audiences in Oshkosh, which will only extend Madison Ballet’s audience in the state. A classic ‘win-win’ for both organizations and a great example of what can happen when arts leaders are open to collaboration,” says an excited Joe Ferlo, Director of the Grand Opera House.

The Grand is notorious for celebrating Halloween in a big way (the venue is reportedly haunted) so Dracula is guaranteed to be memorable in this fully restored vintage Victorian venue. Check it out in Oshkosh October 21- 22, 2015.
The second stop for this buzz-worthy production is in Springfield, Missouri at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall on the University of Missouri campus on March 31, 2016. Missouri is the “show me” state and Dracula is taking that to heart—with another amazing performance! Madison Ballet can’t wait to take a bite out of Missouri!

“Touring Dracula has always been one of our big artistic goals,” says Director W. Earle Smith. “To be able to achieve that, only two years after our Overture Center debut, is a real source of pride for our organization and a testament to the talented team of Madison-based artists who have made this show what it is.”

Unlike traditional versions of the Bram Stoker classic, Madison Ballet’s Dracula breathes new life into the story of the undead with a unique, high-volume mix of rock concert and contemporary ballet. It features the athletic choreography of Artistic Director W. Earle Smith and an original rock score composed by Michael Massey, played live on stage by a seven piece band. With steampunk sets and costumes plus vintage video footage, Dracula is a performance experience like no other.

TOUR TICKET INFORMATION
October 21-22, 2015 at The Grand Opera House in Oshkosh, WI
Tickets from $25-$48
Tickets on sale August 29 (members)/September 8 (general public) More information at: www.grandoperahouse.org
March 31, 2016 at Juanita K Hammons Hall in Springfield, MO
Tickets $22
Tickets on sale now
More information at: www.hammonshall.com

Madison Ballet promotes appreciation of and access to ballet by providing training and performing opportunities through professionally produced productions and educational initiatives. Located at 160 Westgate Mall, Ste I, Madison, WI, 53711, Madison Ballet is the first professional level training program in South Central Wisconsin and one of the largest performing arts organizations in Wisconsin.
For more information on the Madison Ballet’s 2015-16 tour dates contact Beth Shippert-Myers at 608.210.1674 or visit www.madisonballet.org.