The Sleeping Beauty

Music by P.I. Tchaikovsky
Production Conceived and Produced after Marius Petipa by Adam Sklute
Staging and Choreography for The Prologue and Act 2 by Pamela Robinson-Harris
Staging and Choreography for Acts 1 & 3 by Mark Goldweber
Coach and Production Consultant: Anna-Marie Holmes
Scenery and Costumes by: Peter Cazalet
Lighting by Nicholas Cavallaro
Utah Chamber Orchestra conducted by Terence Kern
Assistant conductor: Jared Oaks
Act 2 boat design, sculpting, construction and automation by Jamison Moore, Robert Clifford, Bruce Fugit

The performance will last approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes with one 20 minute intermission.

PROLOGUE

The Christening

The King and Queen have invited all the Fairies of the land to the christening of their daughter, the Princess Aurora. Each fairy presents her gift to the newborn Princess, imbuing her with the qualities of Kindness, Joy, Beauty, and Temperament when suddenly the proceedings are interrupted by Carabosse, Fairy of Jealousy. She is in a rage because the court’s Major Domo, Catalabutte, has neglected to inviteher. Carabosse casts an evil spell on Aurora; one day, when she least suspects it, the Princess will prick her finger on a spindle and die. The entire court is in despair until the Lilac Fairy, Fairy of Wisdom, steps forward to bestow her gift. Although she cannot counteract her sister’s curse, she can mollify it. Instead of dying, Aurora will fall into a deep slumber from which she can only be awakened by the kiss of true love.

ACT I

The Spell

It is Princess Aurora’s sixteenth birthday and as young subjects of the kingdom arrive with garlands and tokens of appreciation, three old crones are busy spinning and knitting a gift. Two guards interrupt the festivities and arrest the old women. There is a years’ old ban on spinning on penalty of death and the guards are here to enforce it. The King and Queen arrive just as the guards are about to put the hags to death and because it’s a joyous occasion the King pardons the old women their transgressions.
Princes from the four corners of the earth come to win Aurora’s hand in marriage and the young princess revels in the adulation of the handsome bachelors. From out of the crowd one of the old crones approaches Aurora and presents her with a gift. Enraptured, Aurora dances with it joyously until she suddenly pricks her finger. The gift was indeed a spindle in disguise. Everyone is aghast as Aurora falls lifeless. The hag reveals herself as Carabosse and disappears in triumph. The Lilac Fairy appears and casts her spell of sleep over the princess and the court. She enshrouds the Palace in a forest until the promised awakening.

ACT II

The Vision

It is a hundred years later and Prince Desire is leading a hunting party through the woods. Bored, he entertains himself with flirtatious diversions. The prince dismisses his retinue and meditates on his longing for an ideal love. The Lilac Fairy appears and shows him a vision of Princess Aurora. Enthralled, he begs the Fairy to lead him to this beautiful vision and together, guided by her retinue of nymphs, they travel through changing landscapes until they reach the hidden castle. Carabosse and her minionshave been jealously guarding the castle and attempt to stop the prince, but her evil magic is overpowered by the wisdom of The Lilac Fairy. Desire awakens the Princess Aurora with a kiss, breaking the spell and causing the defeated Carabosse to vanish.

ACT III

The Wedding

Fairy-tale characters have come to celebrate the wedding of Princess Aurora and Prince Desire. Aurora’s parents, the guests, and the entire court—joined by the fairies of Kindness, Joy, Beauty, and Temperament—pay their respects to the bride and bridegroom as the Lilac Fairy blesses the marriage with wisdom and truth.