When Houston Ballet announced its 2015-16 season last month, there was one intriguing tidbit that wasn't publicly revealed until Monday. Houston Ballet trustee and long-time ballet supporter Lynn Wyatt will provide the serious dollars required for production of artistic director Stanton Welch's world premiere of Giselle.
Welch's interpretation of the well-known Adolphe Adam score will be complemented by new costumes and scenery by Italian designer Roberta Guidi di Bagno. She also did the lavish designs for Welch's Romeo and Juliet, which premiered at Wortham Theater Center in February and was underwritten by Melza and Ted Barr. In this grand tradition of underwriting, Phoebe and Bobby Tudor provided the important dollars for Houston Ballet's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
New ballet productions typically range between $100,000 and $2 million. While the ballet is not revealing the actual figure of Wyatt's donation, they say that a new production of the scale anticipated for Giselle will run around $1 million.
“Lynn is one of the first people I met when I arrived in Houston to take the position of artistic director," Welch said in a statement. "We instantly became friends and, since then, she’s been instrumental in always making me feel supported, loved and a part of Houston."
A new production of the scale anticipated for Giselle will run around $1 million.
Houston Ballet has special affection for Wyatt as well. In 2013, she was Houston Ballet Ball honoree. For that evening, Welch choreographed a special ballet, comprised of 19 men in white tie and tails, in her honor.
“As a passionate lover of the arts, I know how important it is that we keep striving to create new works that elevate the status of the company and keep our dancers challenged and engaged," Wyatt said. "I know Stanton will create a beautiful version of Giselle that will remain in the company’s repertoire for years to come.”
The friendship between Lynn Wyatt and Stanton Welch, pictured at the 2013 Houston Ballet Ball, leads to a beneficial relationship.
