Pacific Northwest Ballet Announces Dazzling 53rd Season with Balanchine's Jewels
September 26 - October 5, 2025
Marion Oliver McCaw Hall
321 Mercer Street at Seattle Center
Seattle, WA 98109
Seven Performances Only!
Friday, September 26 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, September 27 at 2:00 and 7:30 pm
Friday, October 3 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, October 4 at 2:00 (audio-described performance) and 7:30 pm
Sunday, October 5 at 1:00 pm
SEATTLE, WA - Pacific Northwest Ballet raises the curtain for its 53rd season with Jewels, George Balanchine's dazzling homage to three golden ages of music and dance. Emeralds whispers of grace, courtesy, and French perfume; Rubies sizzles with American sass; and Diamonds conjures the glittering magnificence of old St. Petersburg. PNB's production of Jewels is adorned with costumes and scenic designs created exclusively for the company in 2017 by Jérôme Kaplan.
Jewels runs for seven performances only, September 26 through October 5 at Seattle Center's Marion Oliver McCaw Hall. Tickets start at just $44. (The program will also stream digitally October 9 thru 13; Digital access is available by subscription only.)
For tickets and additional information, contact the PNB Box Office at 206.441.2424, in person at 301 Mercer Street, or online at PNB.org.
During the opening weekend of Jewels, PNB will be joining forces with Seattle Opera, as well as the Fifth Avenue Theatre, Seattle Rep, Union Arts Center, and Village Theatre, for a massive sale of costumes, accessories, and fabric from past productions. The sale is scheduled for Saturday, September 27 from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm. Admission is by timed-entry: See SPECIAL EVENTS, below, for additional information.
ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE
Jewels
Music: Gabriel Fauré, Igor Stravinsky, and Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Choreography: George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust
Staging: Philip Neal, Jonathan Porretta, and Peter Boal
Scenic and Costume Design: Jérôme Kaplan
Lighting Design: Randall G. Chiarelli
Running Time: Two hours and 15 minutes, including two intermissions
Premiere: April 13, 1967; New York City Ballet
PNB Premiere: June 1, 2006 (Rubies premiere: February 3, 1988); New production, September 22, 2017
Balanchine's "plotless full-length ballet," Jewels, premiered at New York City Ballet in 1967. The idea for a new ballet using highly jeweled costumes was inspired by Mr. Balanchine's visit to Van Cleef & Arpels' Fifth Avenue Salons in early 1966.
Emeralds is a romantic evocation of France, the birthplace of classical ballet, with a score by Gabriel Fauré and dancers dressed in Romantic-length tutus.
Rubies is considered the American jewel, with its Jazz Age score by Igor Stravinsky, stylized flapper costumes, and Balanchine's sophisticated choreography.
Diamonds is Balanchine's homage to his native St. Petersburg, with echoes of Petipa's Swan Lake and Raymonda, and an intimate pas de deux at its centerpiece.
For additional Jewels program notes, visit PNB.org.
Jerome Kaplan, costume and scenic designer of PNB's production, has created sets and costumes for numerous ballets worldwide. For additional info, visit jeromekaplan.com.
TICKET INFORMATION & DISCOUNT OFFERS
Tickets to Jewels as well as the rest of PNB's 2025-26 season are now on sale through the PNB Box Office:
Phone - 206.441.2424
In Person - 301 Mercer Street at Seattle Center
Online 24/7 - PNB.org
Subject to availability, tickets are also available 90 minutes prior to show times at McCaw Hall. Advance tickets through the PNB Box Office are strongly suggested for best prices and greatest availability. Tickets to Jewels are $44 - $248, with discounts available for children 14 and under. Groups of ten or more may enjoy discounts of up to 20% off regular prices. Visit PNB.org/season/group-sales for more information.
PNB offers select audio-described performances for visually-impaired and blind patrons at $20 per ticket. The audio-described performance of Jewels is Saturday, October 4 at 2:00 pm. For additional accessibility info, visit PNB.org/accessibility.
PNB's digital presentation of Jewels (October 9 - 13) is available by subscription only for $300 (tax inclusive).
For information about special ticket offers including group discounts, The Pointe, Pay-What-You-Can, rush tickets, Beer & Ballet night, TeenTix, and more, visit PNB.org/offers.
Caveat Emptor: Always purchase tickets directly from PNB to avoid ticket resellers and ensure the best available prices. Suspected scams should be reported to the Better Business Bureau.
PNB is committed to honoring its performance calendar. In the unlikely event that the status of a performance does change, an announcement will be posted on PNB.org.
SPECIAL EVENTS
PNB CONVERSATIONS & DRESS REHEARSAL
Thursday, September 21
Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at McCaw Hall
Join dance historian Doug Fullington with guests for in-depth interviews with artists. The conversation begins at 5:30 pm, followed by the dress rehearsal at 7:00 pm. Tickets (suggested donation of $25) may be purchased through the PNB Box Office.
BALLET TALK
Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at McCaw Hall
Join dance historian Doug Fullington for a 30-minute introduction to each performance, including discussions of choreography, music, history, design and the process of bringing ballet to the stage. One hour before performances. FREE for ticketholders.
MEET THE ARTIST
Nesholm Family Lecture Hall at McCaw Hall
Enjoy a Q&A with Artistic Director Peter Boal and PNB dancers, immediately following each performance. FREE for ticketholders.
THEATRICAL COSTUME SALE
Saturday, September 27, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
The Opera Center, 363 Mercer Street (just east of McCaw Hall)
During the opening weekend of Jewels, PNB will be joining Seattle Opera, as well as the Fifth Avenue Theatre, Seattle Rep, Union Arts Center, and Village Theatre, for a massive sale of costumes, accessories, and fabric from past productions. Tickets ($40 to $10 - admission based on timed entry) may be purchased in advance beginning August 25 at Seattleopera.org/costumesale.#
Pacific Northwest Ballet's 2025 performances of George Balanchine's Jewels are supported by the Cordelia Corporation. The works of George Balanchine performed by Pacific Northwest Ballet are made possible in part by The Louise Nadeau Endowed Fund. Pacific Northwest Ballet's 2025-26 season is proudly sponsored by 4Culture, ArtsFund, Microsoft, and The Shubert Foundation. PNB's digital season is made possible by Katherine Graubard and William Calvin. PNB media sponsorship provided by The Seattle Times.
Publicity Contact
Gary Tucker, Director of Communications
O 206.441.2426 / M-T 206.328.TUCK (8825) / GTucker@PNB.org / PNB.org/press
Everything is subject to change. For further information, please visit PNB.org.
PACIFIC NORTHWEST BALLET
301 Mercer Street
Seattle, WA 98109
206.441.2424
www.PNB.org
MEDIA CONTACT (not for publication): Gary Tucker, 206.441.2426
CONTACT FOR PUBLICATION: PNB Box Office, 206.441.2424 or PNB.org
