Pacific Northwest Ballet Continues its 24/25 Season with ‘Roméo et Juliette’

Jean-Christophe Maillot’s captivating Roméo et Juliette, first performed in 1996 by Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo—where Maillot serves as resident choreographer and artistic director—returns to enthrall audiences as Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB) continues its 2024-25 season. This contemporary take on Shakespeare’s timeless tale has been celebrated globally, with Scènes Magazine calling it “one of the most beautiful ballets adapted from Shakespeare’s masterpiece.” Since its West Coast premiere with PNB in 2008, it has remained a beloved highlight of the company’s repertory, cementing its status as a signature work.

Shakespeare’s story of star-crossed lovers has inspired countless reinterpretations, from West Side Story to Twilight, and its allure resonates deeply in the world of dance. Peter Boal, PNB’s artistic director, was spellbound by Maillot’s Roméo et Juliette when he saw its New York debut in 1999. That experience prompted him to make it his first full-length acquisition for the company. Though Maillot’s Roméo et Juliette is firmly grounded in classical ballet, his choreography is imbued with natural and intuitive movement that feels progressive and expands margins of expression. As the famous story of star-crossed lovers unfolds, the dancers’ swimming hands, flying arms, and off-kilter balances speak for racing hearts, reckless impulses, and inner turmoil.

The ballet’s minimalist yet striking design amplifies its emotional intensity. Vast swathes of blue and gold light mirror the grandeur of Sergei Prokofiev’s iconic score, while the joys and sorrows of young love shine through with the intimacy of a cinematic close-up. Prokofiev’s music, often regarded as his finest work, weaves a rich tapestry of sound—tender and lyrical one moment, fierce and haunting the next—perfectly complementing the unfolding drama.

Maillot draws structural inspiration from the episodic nature of Prokofiev’s score, crafting a narrative that unfolds like a film. Departing from the traditional focus on clan rivalry, his Roméo et Juliette zooms in on the turbulence of youth. The lovers grapple with clashing emotions—tenderness versus violence, fear versus pride—trapped in a tragedy that mirrors the wild extremes of adolescence. It’s a time when fate feels uncontrollable, and the storms of passion and principle can spiral into devastating outcomes. Scenic designer Ernest Pignon-Ernest echoes this delicate, volatile essence with a set of airy, transparent forms that hint at deeper layers of meaning, blending simplicity with profound complexity.

Roméo et Juliette runs for eight performances, April 11 through 20 at Seattle Center’s McCaw Hall. Tickets are $38 – $210, with discounts available for children 14 and under. (Note: Content may not be appropriate for young children.) For information about special ticket offers including group discounts, The Pointe, Pay-What-You-Can, rush tickets, Beer and Ballet Night, TeenTix, and more, visit PNB.org/offers.

Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancers Elizabeth Murphy and Lucien Postlewaite in Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Roméo et Juliette, on stage at Seattle Center’s McCaw Hall April 11 – 20, and streaming digitally (for subscribers) April 24 – 28, 2025. Photo © Angela Sterling.