Source: Todd Holmberg, 785-532-6425, trholm@k-state.edu
Web site: http://www.k-state.edu/mccain/
News release prepared by: Nellie Ryan, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu

Friday, April 16, 2010

K-STATE'S 2009-2010 MCCAIN PERFORMANCE SERIES FINALE TO FEATURE 'CINDERELLA' BY THE MOSCOW FESTIVAL BALLET

MANHATTAN -- The Moscow Festival Ballet will perform the classic "Cinderella" at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 25, at Kansas State University's McCain Auditorium in the final event of the 2009-2010 McCain Performance Series.

The ballet company will bring to life one of the most favorite rags to riches stories of all time with its full-length ballet version of "Cinderella." The performance features music by legendary composer Sergei Prokofiev and is an event that the entire family can enjoy.

The Moscow Festival Ballet was founded in 1989 when Sergei Radchenko, legendary principal dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet, sought to realize his vision of an independent new company which would bring together the highest classical elements of the great Bolshoi and Kirov Ballet companies within the framework of Russian classical ballet. Under Radchenko's direction, the Moscow Festival Ballet features leading dancers from across Russia and stages original productions of timeless classics.

Tickets for Cinderella are on sale now. Prices start at $17 for K-State students and $34 for the general public. Children's tickets are half-price. Discounts for K-State faculty and military also are available. Tickets can be purchased at the McCain Auditorium box office, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, or by calling 785-532-6428. More information is available online at http://www.k-state.edu/mccain/.

A McCain Conversation, "Cinderella’s Transformations," will precede the show at 6:30 p.m. in 204 McCain. Naomi Wood, K-State associate professor of English, will discuss "Cinderella" and how it is one of the oldest and most popular fairy tales in history. The first written version appears in a Chinese text from the eighth century Christian era. She also will discuss what makes a story a "Cinderella story," and how it can translate across cultures and media. The conversation is free and open to the public.

Also preceding the performance from 6-7 p.m. at the K-State Student Union courtyard is "Fairy Tales and Fun," a free event for children featuring crafts, games, snacks and story time with Snow White, Cinderella, the Fairy Godmother and Willie the Wildcat. The event is sponsored by the Friends of McCain.