‘Sleepy Hollow’: the Washington Ballet Brings Fresh Energy to an American Classic
By • February 19, 2015 0 1100
It is America’s first great ghost story by a beloved legendary author and involves a headless horseman—yes, there is—the fiery Puritan preacher Cotton Mather, the school teacher Ichabod Crane, the British spy Major Andre, witches burned at the stake. All of this adds up to the perfect, adventuresome and spectacular ingredients for the Septime Webre-conceived and -choreographed Washington Ballet production of “Sleepy Hollow” which makes its world premiere at the Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theater for seven performances Wednesday, Feb. 18, through Sunday, Feb. 22.
“Sleepy Hollow,” which also features guest artist Xiomara Reyes, a principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre as Katrina Van Tassel, is the third installation in Washington Ballet’s “The American Experience” series, which develops original full-length ballets based on iconic American literary masterworks. “The Great Gatsby” and “The Sun Also Rises” were the first two produced to kick off the series.
Webre said he was attracted to Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” in which a headless horseman is prominently featured, along with a school teacher and his love, because it represented an opportunity to create something spectacular and theatrically thrilling. Webre has woven the familiar tale into the Salem witch trials, the American Revolutionary War and a love triangle with the help of a spectacular cast and design team.
The musical score by composer Matthew Pierce features ancient Gaelic lyrics and hymns performed by a 14-piece orchestra and 18 choristers from the Choristers of Washington National Cathedral Choir. Included in the design team are costume designer Liz Vandal, scenic and properties designer Hugh Landwehr, lighting designer Clifton Taylor, projection designer Clint Allen, librettists Karen Zacarias and Bill Lilley and puppet designer Eric J. Van Wyk.
All the familiar characters are here: the vengeful headless horseman, three witches, the geeky Ichabod Crane, the lovely Katrina Van Tassel and the town rowdy, Brom “Bones” Van Brunt.
Webre said he chose “Sleepy Hollow” for the American Initiative series “not only for the grabbing imagery, but because Washington Irving is America’s first true celebrity author. This was a man that made his pen a pistol and made fiction an American profession.”
The score by Pierce, who created the music for Washington Ballet’s “Alice (In Wonderland),” the company says, “creates an atmosphere that lends a cinematic quality to the production. He imparts a fresh and bold energy to the early 19th-century, story-based folk music and country fiddling that inspired his score.”
The large cast also includes Luis R. Torres as Cotton Mather, Jared Nelson or Corey Landolt as Ichabod Crane, Brooklyn Mack or Gian Carlo Perez as the Headless Horseman, Reyes or Maki Onuki as Katrina Van Tasssel, Jonathan Jordan or Miguel Anaya as Brom “Bones” Van Brunt.
Performances are 7:30 p.m., Wednesday (preview); 7:30 p.m, Thursday; 7:30 p.m., Friday; 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Saturday; 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., Sunday.
