Entertainment Events

Segerstrom Center for the Arts | North American Premiere of American Ballet Theatre’s Like Water for Chocolate (Photos Included)

Image001

Segerstrom Center for the Arts Presents the North American Premiere of

American Ballet Theatre’s Like Water for Chocolate

Elegant Pre-Performance Dinner, Red Carpet Arrivals,
and Cast Party Added to the Evening’s Festivities
Performances continue through April 2, 2023

What: 

An array of cultural VIPs, celebrities, and dance lovers attended the North American Premiere of Christopher Wheeldon’s latest evening-length ballet Like Water for Chocolate. Performed by American Ballet Theatre, the official dance company of Segerstrom Center for the Arts, the three-act ballet is set to an original score by Joby Talbot and inspired by Laura Esquivel’s best-selling novel of the same name which was also adapted into a beloved movie. The ballet received its World Premiere at London’s Royal Ballet in 2022 and will be a centerpiece of ABT’s upcoming summer season at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Prior to the premiere, Elizabeth Segerstrom and Connie Spenuzza welcomed 150 guests to an elegant dinner. Alfonso Ramirez of The Patina Group created a special three-course menu to set the stage for the ballet. A trio of Sea of Cortez Mexican Shrimp, corn arepas, and fried squash blossoms was followed by the duet entrée of Mexican striped bass and filet with corn equites, baby squash, ranchero salsa, and cilantro. For dessert, guests enjoyed cacao cake with sweet corn madeleine, sliced strawberries, and coconut chantilly cream.

Following the performance, South Coast Plaza hosted a themed cast party, with beautiful flowers and vivid colors in the lobby of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Chef Alfonso continued with his menu inspired by Tita’s cookery in Like Water for Chocolate, Chiles en Nogada (chiles in walnut sauce), the final dish of the novel; hot chocolate made with single-source premium vanilla from Veracruz; and Mexican wedding cookies, a tribute to the novel’s final chapter. Flowers, including the story’s iconic red roses, were used extensively as garnishes.

The signature cocktail for the evening was the Tita Margarita, with Patron Silver, Patron Citronage, fresh lime juice, and agave. The theme carried into the music by Rich Manzano, “DJ Dosa” with selections by Santana, Selena and Los Lonely Boys played along with other crowd pleasers.

WHO

VIP Guests included Susan Jaffe, Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre; renowned choreographer Christopher Wheldon, CEO of fashion brand BB Dakota Gloria Brandis, co-founder of CREATE CA Malissa Shriver and Bobby Shriver and cast members Scout Forsythe, Blaine Hoven, Devon Teuscher, Paulina Waski, Katie Williams, and Herman Cornejo. Segerstrom Center Board Chair Jane Fujishige Yada; Elizabeth Segerstrom; Connie and Peter Spenuzza; additional underwriters Walter and Lana Parsadayan, Mary Cramer, Jackie Glass, Stewart Smith, Sam & Tammy Tang, Michelle Rohé, George & Terry Schreyer. Also in attendance were Bart and Avery Barth, ABT Board Chair, Segerstrom Center for the Arts board members and loyal supporters Jaynine Warner, Shanaz and Jack Langson, Gaddi Vasquez, Jennifer and Anton Segerstrom, Mary and Phil Lyons, John Stratman and Naomi and Casey Reitz, president of Segerstrom Center.

Among the many celebrities who walked the red carpet, including actors, dancers and musicians, were Alfonso Arau, a filmmaker who directed the movie adaptation of the novel; Sergio Arau and Yareli Arizmendi (who played Rosaura in the 1992 movie) Cheryl Burke, Maria Canals-Barrera, Nitzia Chama, Jennie Garth, Ana Flores, Gisselle Kuri, Adrian Lyles, Xolo Maridueña, Alex Meneses, Carolina Reynoso, Nour Milla, Yarel Ramos, Sarah-Nicole Robles, Gleb Savchenko, Emma Slater, and Damian Terriquez.

ZayZay.Com Newsletter!

Be the first to hear,
first to see, first to win!

Don’t worry, we really hate spam.
Your email is safe. 🙂

Social Media Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com