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Ballet to Broadway: Wheeldon Works

927 May 2025

Ballet to Broadway: Wheeldon Works

927 May 2025

Ballet to Broadway: Wheeldon Works

927 May 2025
Main Stage
Ballet and dance

Sensuous contemporary ballet meets the energy of musical theatre in four distinctive short works.

Fool’s Paradise, The Two of Us, Us, An American in Paris: four works showing the remarkable choreographic range of The Royal Ballet's Artistic Associate, Christopher Wheeldon.

Running time
More information available soon
Guidance
More information available soon
#royaloperahouse
Exceptional philanthropic support from

Royal Ballet and Opera Principal Julia Rausing Trust

Generous philanthropic support from

Mr and Mrs Edward Atkin CBE, John Burns CBE and Susan Burns OBE, Ricki Gail and Robert Conway, Sir Lloyd and Lady Dorfman OBE, David Fransen, Kenneth and Susan Green, Simon and Tracey Holden, Simon and Virginia Robertson, the Thompson Family Charitable Trust, The Wheeldon Production Syndicate, Royal Ballet and Opera Friends and an anonymous donor

Artistic Associate Christopher Wheeldon generously supported by

Kenneth and Susan Green

The 2024/2025 Royal Ballet season is generously supported by

Aud Jebsen

Background

Four distinctive ballets from one choreographic imagination.

Christopher Wheeldon's remarkable career spanning ballet to musical theatre has brought him from London to New York and beyond, and has earned him international acclaim. Recently nominated for an Olivier award for his choreography in MJ The Musical, Wheeldon and his versatile artistry is celebrated in this mixed programme.

Fool’s Paradise 

Luminescent and shimmering, Fool’s Paradise marked the first of Wheeldon’s many collaborations with composer Joby Talbot. It was created in 2007 for Wheeldon’s own company, Morphoses, and first performed in 2012 by The Royal Ballet.

The Two of Us 

The wistful songs of Joni Mitchell set the scene for the UK premiere of The Two of Us, a duet of deep intimacy and yearning. It was created in 2020 for the Fall for Dance Festival in New York, and had American ballet dancers Sarah Mearns and David Hallberg in its original cast.

Us (Duet) 

Us is a tender duet danced by two men. It was created in 2017 for BalletBoyz and is set to Keaton Henson’s music. 

An American in Paris (Ballet)  

The Royal Ballet celebrates Wheeldon’s extraordinary success in musical theatre by performing the ballet scene from his Tony Award-winning musical An American in Paris. Set to Gershwin’s jazzy melodies, the musical is inspired by the 1951 film of the same name starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron. The musical went on to win four Tony awards. The full musical depicts a blossoming romance between the American G.I. Jerry Mulligan and a French ballerina, Lise Dassin. The ballet excerpt was Wheeldon’s take on one of the most memorable scenes from the film – an extended sequence in which the two central characters dance through Paris.  

Cast and Creatives

Cast
The cast of this production may vary depending on performance date. Go to cast and dates to see these.
See cast and dates

FOOL’S PARADISE

Creatives
Costume Designer

Narciso Rodriguez

Lighting designer

Penny Jacobus

THE TWO OF US

Creatives
Orchestrated By

Gordon Hamilton

Costume Designers

Harriet Jung and Reid Bartelme

US (DUET)

Creatives
Costume designer

Katherine Watt

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (BALLET)

Creatives
Designer

Bob Crowley

Lighting designer

Natasha Katz

Access

There is lift access and step-free routes to over 100 seats in the Stalls Circle, Balcony and Amphitheatre. There are 10 steps or fewer to some seats in the Stalls Circle, Balcony, Amphitheatre and the Donald Gordon Grand Tier. All seats in the Orchestra stalls are accessed by 9 steps or more. 

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