We’re so excited for the new musical, “Marie: Dancing Still.” Broadway legend, Susan Stroman is choreographing and directing this innovative brand-new production with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music composition by Stephen Flaherty. The original musical tells the informed but mostly inspired story of Marie van Goethem, the 14-year-old Paris Ballet “rat” who served as the muse for Edgar Degas’ famous sculpture, “Little Dancer.” You’ve probably seen pictures of Degas ballerina paintings and sculptures. But when Ahrens saw the statue during a trip to the National Gallery in Washington, D.C., her gaze looked beyond the artistry of the work to the young human being who actually inspired it. Ahrens became curious about the scrawny yet poised girl in the work of art. Ahrens researched all she could about this young ballerina but found that after Marie was fired from her ballet company, she seems to have disappeared from history without a trace. The mystery and possibility of Marie’s life, the juxtaposition of the glamour of ballet and the desolation of Marie’s working-class family, and the exciting intersection of so many art forms from ballet and music to painting and sculpture all dovetailed, in Ahrens’ eyes, was the perfect seedling for a brand-new musical.
Originally titled, “Little Dancer,” “Marie: Dancing Still” premiered at The Kennedy Center back in 2014. Since then, the creative team continued working to build and breathe even more life into the show. “Marie” is said to be a beautiful blend of not only classical ballet and Broadway, but also stunning fine art-inspired sets and costumes. New York City Ballet principal ballerina, Tiler Peck stars as Marie and, with Stro at the helm, we’ve no doubt the choreography in “Marie” is going to be nothing short of spectacular.
“Marie: Dancing Still” is playing an out-of-town tryout at Seattle’s 5thAvenue Theatre through April 14thand a future on Broadway is on everyone’s mind. We love when dancing worlds collide, and we can’t wait to see ballet and Broadway take the stage as one!