San Diego Premiere of S.F. Ballet’s ‘Sleeping Beauty’ Receives Grant

The San Diego Foundation for the Performing Arts just announced that the San Diego premiere of San Francisco Ballet’s critically acclaimed staging of “The Sleeping Beauty” will be financed, in part, by a $20,000 grant from the John M. and Sally B. Thornton Foundation. The Thorntons’ gift, along with grants from other sources, brings the total support for the program to $100,000.

“The production costs about $280,000,” said Fred Colby, director of the foundation. “But ticket revenue (projected at $180,000) should pay for the rest. This represents the most underwriting we’ve ever received for a single event. I guess it shows the perception of the foundation has improved, and that the San Francisco Ballet is held in very high esteem.”

“We are thrilled that a generous gift from the Thorntons has enabled us to bring San Francisco Ballet’s gorgeous, all new production of ‘Sleeping Beauty’ to San Diego audiences,” said Danah Fayman, SDFPA president.

San Francisco Ballet’s “Beauty” will launch the 1990-91 season for the foundation Oct. 2-3 at the Civic Theatre. The Tchaikovsky classic will be danced to full orchestral accompaniment.