Follow Us

Alice in Wonderland Breaks Box Office Records

Calgary/Edmonton, AB - Alberta's young and the young at heart made Alberta Ballet's family favourite Alice in Wonderland a box office hit earlier this month. Due to strong demand from those who missed it when it premiered, Alberta Ballet included an encore run of Edmund Stripe's Alice in Wonderland, one of the most acclaimed productions in the Company's history, as part of its 2008-2009 season.

Over 11,000 people attended six performances across Alberta and set new records for single ticket sales.

The Mad Hatter's Tea was also a great success as children and adults enjoyed the company of characters from the ballet and performance by School of Alberta Ballet students. This unique and entertaining fundraising event helped to raise over $3,000 for Alberta Ballet.

As the second-last performance of its 2008-2009 season, Alice in Wonderland was an auspicious indicator of the strength of the company's season. Despite the troubling economic climate, Alberta Ballet audiences have once again proven their commitment to the Company's inclusive and innovative performances.

The last performance of 2008-2009, the double bill of Carmen & Boléro, will serve as yet another example of the creative diversity of the season and the resiliency of Alberta Ballet. After being notified late last year that Ballet BC would be cancelling its tour of A Streetcar Named Desire due to financial challenges, Alberta Ballet worked with all its stakeholders to assemble a dynamic replacement program for its audiences - including a world premiere.

Since its premiere in 2003, Carmen has been a favourite across Canada and internationally, touring China three times. Boléro is an exciting world premiere by Jean Grand-Maître, Alberta Ballet's Artistic Director. A semi-abstract ballet set against the dueling themes of good and evil, nature and industry, Boléro is one of the most powerful scores ever written for ballet and Grand-Maître's production will push audiences to the limits of visual catharsis.

Calgary audiences can enjoy Carmen & Boléro May 7 - 9 at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, and Edmonton performances run May 12 and 13 at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. Tickets are available as low as $34. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit albertaballet.com.

About Alberta Ballet:
Alberta Ballet, a not-for-profit organization, is Canada's third-largest ballet company. Since its formation in 1966, with its cutting-edge repertoire and talent led by Artistic Director Jean Grand-Maître and Darryl Lindenbach, Executive Director, Alberta Ballet has remained at the forefront of the national and international arts scene. One of the only arts organizations in Canada to call two cities home, Alberta Ballet is proud to be a community leader both on and off the stage.

Media contact:

Samantha Garner, Marketing & Communications Coordinator
P: 403-245-4222 ext. 529 | E: samanthag@albertaballet.com