Program II – Sunday Matinee

Appalachian Spring

Choreography and Costumes by Martha Graham

Music by Aaron Copland^†

Set by Isamu Noguchi

Original lighting by Jean Rosenthal, Adapted by Beverly Emmons

Premiere: October 30, 1944, Coolidge Auditorium, Library of Congress, Washington, DC

Springtime in the wilderness is celebrated by a man and woman building a house with joy and love and prayer; by a revivalist and his followers in their shouts of exaltation; by a pioneering woman with her dreams of the Promised Land.

The Bride, Laurel Dalley Smith
The Husbandman, Ethan Palma
The Preacher, Antonio Leone
The Pioneering Woman, Leslie Andrea Williams
The Followers, Meagan King, Devin Loh, Amanda Moreira, Isabella Pagano

Commissioned by the Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Foundation in the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

The original title chosen by Aaron Copland was Ballet for Martha, which was changed by Martha Graham to Appalachian Spring.

^†Used by arrangement with the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, copyright owners; and Boosey and Hawkes, Inc., sole publisher and licensee.

We the People

Choreography by Jamar Roberts

Music by Rhiannon Giddens

Arranged by Gabe Witcher

Costume Design by Karen Young

Lighting Design by Yi-Chung Chen

Premiere: April 17, 2024, New York City Center, New York City

Ane Arrieta, Zachary Jeppsen-Toy, Meagan King, Lloyd Knight, Antonio Leone, Marzia Memoli, Amanda Moreira, Ethan Palma, Jai Perez, Anne Souder, Leslie Andrea Williams

We the People was made possible with a significant commissioning grant from The O’Donnell-Green Music and Dance Foundation.

This production was also made possible by the 92nd Street Y, as part of 92NY’s 150th anniversary celebration, in honor and continued support of Martha Graham’s rich 92NY legacy.

Production support was provided by University of Michigan.

Intermission

Immediate Tragedy

Dance of Dedication

Choreography by Martha Graham reimagined by Janet Eilber

Costume by Martha Graham

Original Music by Henry Cowell

Music for reimagined Immediate Tragedy by Christopher Rountree^†

Music performed by Richard Valitutto, piano

Lighting by Yi-Chung Chen

Danceturgy for reimagining by Neil Baldwin

Original premiere: July 30, 1937, Bennington, VT

I was upright and determined to stay upright at all costs.
—Martha Graham

Xin Ying

Significant commissioning support provided by The O’Donnell-Green Music and Dance Foundation.

^†Music produced and mixed by Lewis Pesacov

En Masse

(Bay Area Premiere)

Choreography by Hope Boykin

Music by Leonard Bernstein^†

Additional music by Christopher Rountree

Costume design by Karen Young

Lighting design by Al Crawford

Assistants to the Choreographer: Cameron Harris and Terri Ayanna Wright

Premiere: Oct 4, 2025, at The Soraya, Northridge, CA.

Ane Arrieta, Zachary Jeppsen-Toy, Meagan King, Lloyd Knight, Jai Perez, Anne Souder, Xin Ying

En Masse was commissioned by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; University of Michigan; Boston Symphony Orchestra, Andris Nelsons, Music Director; Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival and the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts; and California State University, Northridge.

En Masse was made possible with a significant commissioning grant from The O’Donnell-Green Music and Dance Foundation.

En Masse was also made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

By arrangement with Boosey and Hawkes, Inc., Sole Agent for Leonard Bernstein Music Publishing Company LLC, publisher and copyright owner.

Music recorded at Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts and California State University, Northridge.

^†For Martha (Variations on a Theme by Leonard Bernstein)
Original music by Leonard Bernstein
Additional composition by Christopher Rountree

Suite for Dance from Mass by Leonard Bernstein Lyrics for “A Simple Song’ by Stephen Schwartz and Leonard Bernstein
Arranged by Christopher Rountree