Nashville Ballet will kick off a national tour of The New York Times acclaimed Lucy Negro Redux in Nashville this spring. Debuting to three sold-out performances in 2019, the performance features on-stage narration by renowned writer and poet Caroline Randall Williams, live music by Grammy award-winning artist Rhiannon Giddens and original choreography by Nashville Ballet Artistic Director Paul Vasterling.
Based on the book of the same name written by award-winning poet Caroline Randall Williams, the show chronicles the mysterious love life of William Shakespeare and his illustrious muses — the “Dark Lady” and “Fair Youth.” A bold and sultry display of one of the literary world’s most iconic figures, Lucy Negro Redux explores themes of otherness, equality and self-worth alongside artists that have experienced it first-hand.
“It’s an extraordinary gift to see the fruit of your imagination brought to life, in any form,” shared Williams. “Getting the book published at all was a dream. Paul Vasterling’s vision to turn it into a ballet was a bigger, wilder dream than I even knew to wish. I hope that people walk away with a new way of looking at color, at women, at bodies, at the possibility of collaborative, multi-genre art. This show is the work of so many minds meeting, [and] the fact that I get to participate in a performance that lives in all of these intersections continues to stagger me, and bring me a great deal of joy.”
Grammy Award-winner and MacArthur “Genuis” Grant Recipient Rhiannon Giddens will be joining Williams and Nashville Ballet Company artists on stage to perform live, original music uniquely composed for this performance. Known for her diverse musicality, Giddens’ score, performed with Francesco Turrisi, blends genres such as bluegrass, soul and folk to tell this compelling story.
“Lucy Negro Redux is for anyone that has ever felt othered because of who they are- whether it be for their gender, skin color or who they love,” shared Nashville Ballet Artistic Director Paul Vasterling. “Our hope is that audiences will walk away with new perspectives of one another that spark important conversations, challenge tradition, and most importantly, create an empathetic understanding of each other’s experiences.”
Following the Nashville performances at TPAC March 18–26, Nashville Ballet will be taking Lucy Negro Redux on a nation-wide tour to Denver, CO., Santa Fe, NM., Kansas City, MO., and Norfolk, VA.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here.
Lucy Negro Redux Tour Dates
Tennessee Performing Arts Center
Nashville, TN
March 18–26, 2022
The Newman Center
Denver, CO
March 29–30, 2022
Lensic Performing Arts Center
Santa Fe, NM
April 3, 2022
The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Kansas City, MO
April 8, 2022
Chrysler Hall
Norfolk, VA
April 23, 2022
COMING UP AT THE BALLET!
Nashville Ballet’s annual Family Day at The Ballet will be making its big return to an in-person event this year! The festivities will take place on Sunday, April 24 at the Martin Center for Nashville Ballet and will feature performances, dance-inspired activities, crafts and so much more.
