ABT Announces ‘Manon’ Casting

Cynthia Harvey will dance the title role in American Ballet Theatre’s production of “Manon” on Sept. 20, the opening night of the troupe’s six-day run at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Guillaume Graffin will appear opposite Harvey, and Gil Boggs and Kathleen Moore will handle supporting roles in Kenneth MacMillan’s ballet. It will be the first time ABT has danced the full-length “Manon” in Southern California.

In subsequent performances, the leads will be Julie Kent and Robert Hill, Susan Jaffe and Charles Askegard and Harvey and Graffin. Each pair will dance “Manon” twice.

ABT gives the first West Coast performances of James Kudelka’s “Cruel World” on two mixed repertory programs that also include Natalia Makarova’s staging of “The Kingdom of the Shades” from “La Bayadere” and Twyla Tharp’s “In the Upper Room.”

Casting, subject to change:

* Tuesday, Sept. 20, 8 p.m.: “Manon,” Cynthia Harvey, Guillaume Graffin, Gill Boggs, Kathleen Moore.

* Wednesday, Sept. 21, 8 p.m.: “La Bayadere,” Susan Jaffe, Parrish Maynard. “Cruel World” and “In the Upper Room,” ensemble pieces.

* Thursday, Sept. 22, 8 p.m.: “La Bayadere,” Harvey, Graffin. “Cruel World” and “In the Upper Room,” ensemble pieces.

* Friday, Sept. 23, 8 p.m.: “Manon,” Julie Kent, Robert Hill, Keith Roberts, Christina Fagundes.

* Saturday, Sept. 24, 2 p.m.: “Manon,” Jaffe, Charles Askegard, Ethan Brown, Kathleen Moore.

* Saturday, Sept. 24, 8 p.m.: “Manon,” Harvey, Graffin, Boggs, Moore.

* Sunday, Sept. 25, 2 p.m.: “Manon,” Kent, Hill, Roberts, Fagundes.

* Sunday, Sept. 25, 8 p.m.: “Manon,” Jaffe, Askegard, Brown, Christine Dunham.

Tickets, $18 to $55, are available through Ticketmaster, (714) 740-2000 or (213) 480-3232, or at the center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, (714) 556-2787.