PACE UNIVERSITY PRESENTS

FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH

A WEEKEND CELEBRATING THE

LIFE OF FREDERIC FRANKLIN

May 30 through June 1

Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University

GALA PERFORMANCE FRIDAY, MAY 30 at 7:30pm

Jacques D’Amboise, Arthur Mitchell, Charles Askegard, Martine van Hamel, Gus Solomons jr, Carmen de Lavallade, Xiomara Reyes, Marge Champion and More

Gala Proceeds to Include the Frederic Franklin Scholarship Fund at

The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (JKO) School at American Ballet Theatre

SATURDAY MAY 31 and SUNDAY JUNE 1 at 7:30pm

THE MEN DANCERS: FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH

All Male Tribute to Frederic Franklin

New York, NY, April 30, 2014 – After collaborations in 2012 and 2013 with an all-male cast, Tina Croll and Jamie Cunningham’s The Men Dancers: From the Horse’s Mouth make their return to New York May 30 through June 1 in honor of ballet great Frederic Franklin (1914-2013) in what would have been his centenary year.  This celebration will take place at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts (3 Spruce Street, between Park Row and Gold Street) and is presented by Pace University.

This one-of-a-kind dance/theater event will include a Gala performance of From the Horse’s Mouth on Friday, May 30 at 7:30pm, with a male and female cast. Proceeds from the Gala will include the Frederic Franklin Scholarship Fund at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (JKO) School at American Ballet Theatre. Performances of The Men Dancers:From the Horse’s Mouth, an all male tribute to Frederic Franklin, will be presented Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1, also at 7:30pm.

Cast for the Friday, May 30  GALA to include Mindy Aloff, Jack Anderson, Charles Askegard, Bill Ausman, Ella Baff, Joy William Brown, John Canemaker, Marge Champion, Jacques d’Amboise, Eleanor D’Antuono, Carmen de Lavallade, George Dorris, Ron Honsa, Susan Jones, David La Marche,  Kevin McKenzie, Arthur Mitchell, Norton Owen,  Xiomara Reyes, Nancy Reynolds, Jan Schmidt, Gus Solomons jr, Martin van Hamel, and more.

Cast for the Saturday May 31 and Sunday June 1 performances (vary from day-to-day) include Jack Anderson, Bill Ausman, George Dorris, David La Marche, Norton Owen, Gus Solomons Jr., Todd Allen, Arthur Aviles, Germaul Barnes, Christopher Caines, Mark DeGarmo, Tito DelSaz, Chad Hall, Fadi Koury, Trent Kowalik, Hari Krishnan, Steven Melendez, Max Pollak, Pascal Rekoert, Prashant Shah, Tony Waag, Kota Yamazaki, William Whitener, Jacoby Pruitt, and more.

Rare film footage, videos and multimedia will combine with From the Horse’s Mouth unique blend of movement and storytelling to bring “Freddie” vividly to life. Through the sharing of personal experiences by dancers, actors, and critics, an insightful portrait of the charismatic and much-loved Fredric Franklin will emerge. The intimate From the Horse’s Mouth format provides the ideal vehicle in which to celebrate Frederic Franklin’s extraordinary legacy.

“Freddie was a beacon; he had an impact on so many. It’s exciting to see so many dancers and friends appear in this special tribute. He would have been 100 years old in June. This makes the Horse’s Mouth event even more meaningful,” said Mr. Ausman.

Jamie Cunningham said he and Horse’s Mouth co-founder Tina Croll were grateful to have spent a long afternoon with Freddie toward the end of his life. “At 99, he was as lively as ever,” said Mr. Cunningham. “One story he told really stayed with me – Freddie said when he danced Stanley Kowalski in the ballet of Streetcar Named Desire, Marlon Brando came back stage and said, ‘If I could do with words what you’re doing with movement, I’d be a better Stanley.’ That’s the kind of artist he was,” said Mr. Cunningham.

The Men Dancers: From the Horse’s Mouth was first introduced during the Jacob’s Pillow 80th anniversary season. That all-male production, in honor of the Pillow’s founder Ted Shawn, cast 25 extraordinary male dancers from all backgrounds, including Dance Theatre of Harlem founder Arthur Mitchell; master choreographer Lar Lubovitch; Merce Cunningham Dance Company Director of Choreography Robert Swinston; Chet Walker, who conceived the 1999 Tony-award-winning musical Fosse; former NYC Ballet principal dancer Charles Askegard and Trent Kowalik (one of the original “Billy” performers from the musical Billy Elliot). Inspired by the success of that production, almost all of the dancers featured at Jacob’s Pillow returned to New York City for a reprise in January, 2013.

TICKETS: 

http://schimmel.pace.edu/events/view/from_the_horse_s_mouth

Ticket prices for From the Horse’s Mouth at The Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University range from $25 to $95. $5 student rush tickets available at the box office with valid student ID. The performances will take place at 7:30pm Friday, May 30 to Sunday June 1.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit http://schimmel.pace.edu or call toll-free (866) 811-4111.

Friday, May 30 at 7:30pm:  Performance and Post-Performance Reception: $95 (Gold Circle Orchestra) $35 | $25

Proceeds to include the Frederic Franklin Scholarship Fund at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (JKO) school at American Ballet Theatre 

Friday, May 30 at 7:30pm:  Performance only $40/$35/$25

Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1 at 7:30pm: $40/$35/$25

Pace Presents performances take place at The Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts located at 3 Spruce Street between Park Row and Gold Street in downtown Manhattan.

* Cast subject to change

ADDITIONAL VENUE INFORMATION

Wine is served in The Schimmel Center lobby from our cash bar starting one hour prior to show.

Subscription series tickets are now available by visiting schimmel.pace.edu

Tickets to all events are available for purchase now:

• Online at schimmel.pace.edu
• By phone via The Ovation Tix Call Center at (866) 811-4111
• In person in advance at The Michael Schimmel Center Box Office, open Mon-Fri from 1pm-6pm
• Day of Show at The Michael Schimmel Center starting two hours before curtain.

Located one block east of City Hall and immediately adjacent to the Brooklyn Bridge, The Schimmel Center’s 670-seat theatre regularly hosts academic and community events in addition to its yearly schedule of the world’s finest music, theatre and dance.  Over the past twelve years, The Schimmel Center has served as a founding venue for The River-to-River Festival (2002), hosted both The Tribeca Film Festival and The Tribeca Theatre Festival (2001), provided a headquarters for The National Actors Theatre (2002 to 2004), presented the only Democratic Presidential Debate to present all ten candidates for the 2004 election, and actively hosts James Lipton’s award-winning Bravo series Inside the Actors Studio,  taped on the Schimmel Theatre’s stage since 2005.