Prodigal Son Through the Years at PNB
PNB first performed George Balanchine’s Prodigal Son in 1984. Today on the PNB Blog, celebrate Prodigal Son‘s 95th anniversary, as well as the beloved ballet’s 40th anniversary here at PNB! Travel back in time with these archival photos of PNB’s Prodigal Son performances through the years.
1984
Lucinda Hughey and Adam Miller in rehearsal. Lucinda Hughey and Adam Miller perform. Photos © David Cooper.
1990
Lucinda Hughey, Dagoberto Nieves, and PNB Company dancers perform. Lucinda Hughey and PNB Company dancers perform. Photos © Kenneth Brown.
1992
Lucinda Hughey as the Siren. Dagoberto Nieves as the Prodigal Son. Photos © Ben Kerns.
2004
Patricia Barker, Jonathan Porretta, and PNB Company Dancers perform. Patricia Barker performs as the Siren. Jonathan Porretta performs as the Prodigal Son. Photos © Angela Sterling.
2007
Lucien Postlewaite performs as the Prodigal Son. Ariana Lallone performs as the Siren. Lucien Postlewaite performs as the Prodigal Son. Photos © Angela Sterling.
2015
Lesley Rausch performs as the Siren. James Yoichi Moore and Laura Tisserand perform. Benjamin Griffiths performs as the Prodigal Son. Photos © Angela Sterling.
Season Encore Performances
Prodigal Son has been performed three times at PNB’s special Season Encore performance. Season Encore is an annual performance that celebrates the ballet season and departing dancers.
Lucien Postlewaite and Laura Tisserand perform Prodigal Son in 2012. Jonathan Porretta performs Prodigal Son in 2019. James Yoichi Moore performs Prodigal Son in 2024. Photos © Lindsay Thomas.
On Tour
PNB has performed Prodigal Son on tour three times: at the Seattle Goodwill Games in 1990, in Honolulu, Hawaii (also in 1990), and at New York City Center in 2016. The New York City Center tour is pictured here.
Lesley Rausch backstage at New York City Center. PNB Company dancers perform Prodigal Son. Kyle Davis, Jonathan Poretta, and Ezra Thomson perform Prodigal Son. Jonathan Poretta and PNB Company dancers perform Prodigal Son. Photos © Lindsay Thomas.
PNB will perform Prodigal Son once again at ALL BALANCHINE, running November 1 -10, 2024. This year’s production includes exciting premieres from Jonathan Batista and Kuu Sakuragi in the Prodigal Son role and a triumphant reprise by Lucien Postlewaite, who returns to the role after first performing it 20 years ago. With Jonathan Porretta as the rehearsal director and Peter Boal (originally coached by Jerome Robbins himself) as the stager, this year’s Prodigal Son promises to be one for the history books, too.
