In an article that appeared in the Tennessean.com, Nashville Ballet artistic director Paul Vasterling admits that “After endless research — and numerous worrisome nights — he’s created ”Lizzie,” his own interpretation of the events that set Victorian society on its ear.”
Vasterling’s theory is that Lizzie committed the crimes and was a victim of incest by her father Andrew. In order make the theory match the evidence, he also believes that Lizzie was nude during the murdering. To that end, his ballet of Morton Gould’s Fall River Legend includes a nude scene.
Principal dancer Jennifer McNamara says
”I am nervous about that,” said McNamara, 36. ”It’s not so much what the audience will think; I believe they’ll be so involved in the piece that it won’t be gratuitous.” Instead, it’s the other members of the company and the students she teaches through the ballet’s school that she’s concerned about. For the younger set, she plans to individually address her classes and answer any questions the students might have.
But more than anything, she hopes anyone who watches comes away with a view of Lizzie as ”a really strong woman for her time.”
Check out the Nashville Ballet site for a great flash ad for the ballet!
WHAT: Nashville Ballet’s Fall Series, including the world premiere of “Lizzie”; The Nashville Symphony accompanies.
WHEN: October 6-8. Performances at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Oct. 8
WHERE: TPAC’s Polk Theater
TICKETS: $19-$52 through the TPAC box office downtown or at Davis-Kidd Booksellers in the Mall at Green Hills; Ticketmaster outlets; 255-ARTS (2787); or www.ticketmaster.com. Groups of 10 or more receive a 20% discount.
CONTACT: www.nashvilleballet.com
