A NEW MYTH FOR A FRACTURED ERA
named one of The New York Times
"Best Dance Performances of 2023"
"Picture this: at The Night Falls, a roadside tourist attraction built around a mysterious grotto in the Florida wilderness, a trio of Sirens lure tourists to the water’s edge with their “dangerously beautiful music.” All across America, their song spreads through dreams and nightmares like a “sonic contagion,” drawing sufferers from all walks of life to the grotto, “home of the world’s eeriest echoes.” Here, in this strange and sublime place, these lonesome strangers find a nourishing community in one another—an antidote to the Sirens’ seductive song of despair."
-Esquire, Adrienne Westfield
The Night Falls is an evening-length work of dance-driven music theater choreographed and directed by Troy Schumacher (BalletCollective, New York City Ballet) with book and lyrics by Karen Russell (Swamplandia!) and music and lyrics by Ellis Ludwig-Leone (San Fermin).
Staged for 9 dancers, 8 singers, and musical ensemble, The Night Falls runs 90 minutes with one intermission.
THE NIGHT FALLS PREMIERED AT PEAK PERFORMANCES FEBRUARY 2023, AND IS AVAILABLE FOR TOURING
Press LINKS
New York Times: Best Dance Performances of 2023
Esquire Magazine: Karen Russell Is Resisting Despair
New York Times: “A Song and Dance Collaboration, Straight Outta Swamplandia”
The New Yorker: Goings on About Town “The Night Falls”
NJArts: “BalletCollective’s new ‘The Night Falls’ tells a bold, timely story”
Dance Informa: “Pushing boundaries of form: Troy Schumacher and ‘The Night Falls’”
Conversations on Dance: ‘THE NIGHT FALLS’ AND ‘COPLAND DANCE EPISODES’
"The elaborate production is masterfully directed, written, designed and composed... a parable for our time." - The Dance Enthusiast
"Ingenious, gorgeous." - The New Yorker
"The Night Falls tells a bold, timely story." - New Jersey Arts
CREATIVE AND DESIGN TEAM
Composer and Co-Lyricist Ellis Ludwig-Leone
Librettist and Co-Lyricist Karen Russell
Director and Choreographer Troy Schumacher
Set Designer Jason Ardizzone-West
Associate Set Designer Kenny Duecker
Costume Designer Karen Young
Co-Lighting Designer Amith Chandrashaker
Co-Lighting Designer Abigail Hoke-Brady
Contributing Visual Artist Harold Garcia V
Projections Hannah Tran
Sound Designer Garth MacAleavey
Music Director Naomi Woo
