Commissioning Partners

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

Production dates: March 13-14, 2009

with the Sinfonia da Camera
Stefan Asbury, conductor

Since 1969, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts has served as one of the nation's premier educational and professional performing arts complexes. The setting for over 300 performances each year, the Krannert Center nurtures excellence and innovation in the performing arts through education, presentation, community service, and research. Above all, it is a place for education. Each season, Krannert Center features performances and productions by students and faculty in the University's School of Music and departments of Theatre and Dance.

"I cannot think of a more worthy investment of resources in the arts on the part of a major research university such as Illinois than that which has been made by Chancellor Richard Herman in support of the Romeo and Juliet project," said Mike Ross, Director of the Krannert Center. "The project is a perfect blending of the research/education/public engagement mission that guides Illinois, and the chancellor's commitment is an emblematic commentary on his belief in the value of the arts to society, the need for continuous exploration, and in the exuberant quality our years-long, high-yield relationship with Mark and his company."

MMDG made its Krannert Center debut in 1987 and has appeared annually in the Center's Marquee Season since 2001. Several of Morris' most popular works such as Gloria, Grand Duo, V, and Dido and Aeneas have been performed there. MMDG's engagement with the Urbana community has been equally successful with the Dance for Parkinson's program each year and the new Shadow Program launched with the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign's dance performance students in the Spring of 2007. Shadow Program fellows receive behind the scenes access to the company on tour and scholarships to the pre-professional summer intensives at the Mark Morris Dance Center in Brooklyn. In 2007, Krannert Center was officially proclaimed MMDG's Midwest Home.

Website: http://www.KrannertCenter.com