NYCB Stars Join Montana Ballet Company for Sleeping Beauty at Willson Auditorium

For the first time in Bozeman's history, a full pit orchestra will accompany a ballet production when Montana Ballet Company takes the stage at Willson Auditorium this weekend with Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty.

The Bozeman Symphony, conducted by Music Director Norman Huynh, will perform from an expanded orchestra pit — the first two rows of seats have been removed to make room. It's the kind of logistical commitment that signals just how big this production is for Southwest Montana's performing arts scene.

And the casting matches the ambition. New York City Ballet Principal Dancer Isabella LaFreniere and Soloist Ryan Tomash will guest with MBC's company dancers. LaFreniere, who trained at the School of American Ballet on full scholarship, was promoted to Principal at NYCB in 2023. Tomash brings an international résumé that includes stints as Principal Dancer with the Royal Danish Ballet before joining NYCB last year.

It's a production MBC has been building toward — Artistic Director Melissa Bowman has steadily scaled the company's ambitions in recent seasons, and Sleeping Beauty is among the most demanding ballets in the classical repertoire. For Huynh, the draw is Tchaikovsky's score. He's never conducted Sleeping Beauty before.

The production also draws on talent from across Bozeman's arts community. Genevieve Trygstad-Burke of Raison D'être Dance Project and Opera Montana, along with Riley O'Toole of Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, are both involved in the production.

Three performances are scheduled: Saturday, March 7 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, March 8 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at montanaballet.org or by calling 406-582-8702.