[Whimper Alert]
The daily chore of downloading and clipping coupons off the AARP website would feel less burdensome and depressing if occasionally a coupon from New York City Ballet would pop up under Today’s Hot Deals – just a little ray of hope and light in an otherwise dismal senior citizen existence would mean so much. But woe, we are forgotten.
Payless knows that senior citizens need shoes. Outback knows that many of us can still chew steak. Abington Theatre knows that we can clap our hands. Even GAP recognizes that seniors still want to wear khakis. They all participate in the AARP’s coupon program. NYCB should give it a try, too.
Why this little cry at this time? Here we are one month out from the start of NYCB’s fall season and more than a few of The Most Faithful have not yet received their 4th Ring Society/Society NYCB membership renewals. Who needs this kind of stress when you’re already hanging on by bare threads? The good news is that members can renew over the phone by calling the NYCB box office at 212-496-0600 and begin buying tickets around Labor Day.
Let’s go let’s go let’s go.
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The Royal Winnipeg Ballet will bring its acclaimed production of Dracula to the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts in the Bronx on Sunday November 13th. As usual, the Lehman Center puts its tickets on TDF very early; right now, they are posted for $21 and $12. This is a production that has stood the test of time in Canada (and on tour in the U.S) with many repeated performances since its 1998 premiere in Manitoba. The choreography by Mark Godden is mostly based on Bram Stoker's novel (as opposed to the horror in many movies or TV depictions) and is set to music from Gustav Mahler's first two symphonies.
Also, that singular body of dual identity, the Russian National Ballet and Moscow Festival Ballet will present two programs at Lehman this season. These dancers are always very good, are from top-of-the-line Russian and Eastern European schools, and the ladies always embody the classical aesthetic without straining. Sergei and Elena Radchenko, formerly of the Bolshoi, direct the companies.
Romeo and Juliet along with Carmen are on the bill for March 12th while a Tchaikovsky Gala is planned for April 2nd.
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Here's a brief but brightly written article in the September issue of Houstonia Magazine about our own Jared Matthews. It seems that he's the only Houston-born principal dancer at Houston Ballet. You know, the company is a little tardy on getting its Houston Ballet on Tour webpage updated. Would love to see them stop in at Lincoln Center with either their new Giselle or new Romeo and Juliet.
8 responses to “observations 8-22”
Hi Haglund, are you aware of the way in which they sent out the renewal letters? It was tucked into that huge 2016-2017 brochure they sent out about three weeks ago. I almost missed my letter entirely. I thought, oh, another brochure and put it aside. Only later did I crack it open, and as I did a letter fell out. Almost tossed it aside figuring it was some fundraising plea, but I happened to glance at it and saw it was Society NYCB renewal. I can imagine others missed it entirely.
Hi Haglund, are you aware of the way in which they sent out the renewal letters? It was tucked into that huge 2016-2017 brochure they sent out about three weeks ago. I almost missed my letter entirely. I thought, oh, another brochure and put it aside. Only later did I crack it open, and as I did a letter fell out. Almost tossed it aside figuring it was some fundraising plea, but I happened to glance at it and saw it was Society NYCB renewal. I can imagine others missed it entirely.
Wow, thanks peaseblossom. I remember getting that brochure, but it looked to be the same as the other half dozen that I’ve received. That was a real mess-up on the part of NYCB unless they wanted us to overlook the opportunity for renewal so that they could get closer to eliminating it altogether, which has always been their desire. Why would they go to the expense of sending yet another hefty and expensive brochure along with the Society NYCB renewal letter? Very wasteful.
Wow, thanks peaseblossom. I remember getting that brochure, but it looked to be the same as the other half dozen that I’ve received. That was a real mess-up on the part of NYCB unless they wanted us to overlook the opportunity for renewal so that they could get closer to eliminating it altogether, which has always been their desire. Why would they go to the expense of sending yet another hefty and expensive brochure along with the Society NYCB renewal letter? Very wasteful.
Thanks for the heads up! I am not a senior citizen, but I also have been waiting anxiously for my renewal letter since August rolled around. I don’t recall receiving the brochure you both mention (or any kind of mailing from NYCB in recent weeks). I was going to wait until Monday to call if I still hadn’t received renewal notice by the weekend, but just renewed successfully by phone after seeing this post. Box office person was super nice, so I didn’t want to press her with my paranoia, but color me suspicious!
Thanks for the heads up! I am not a senior citizen, but I also have been waiting anxiously for my renewal letter since August rolled around. I don’t recall receiving the brochure you both mention (or any kind of mailing from NYCB in recent weeks). I was going to wait until Monday to call if I still hadn’t received renewal notice by the weekend, but just renewed successfully by phone after seeing this post. Box office person was super nice, so I didn’t want to press her with my paranoia, but color me suspicious!
Hi florizel.
It’s good that you renewed by phone. I did, too. Of course, the Society NYCB ticket prices went up A LOT. I think part of it was an increase in that hokey “facility fee” that now makes the total cost – if my ears heard correctly – $24 each. I hope that any others who are still waiting for their renewal letters will call the box office. NYCB isn’t going to shed any tears for those who miss the renewal deadline.
Hi florizel.
It’s good that you renewed by phone. I did, too. Of course, the Society NYCB ticket prices went up A LOT. I think part of it was an increase in that hokey “facility fee” that now makes the total cost – if my ears heard correctly – $24 each. I hope that any others who are still waiting for their renewal letters will call the box office. NYCB isn’t going to shed any tears for those who miss the renewal deadline.