- Additional Authors
- Description
- 1 streaming video file (66 min.) : digital, stereo.
- Summary
- Stanley Zompakos speaks with Nancy Reynolds about The merry widow and working with George Balanchine; Reynolds asks Zompakos about his dance background and dancing at the School of American Ballet (SAB); Balanchine asking him to perform in The merry widow; Reynolds asks Zompakos if the 1943 and 1944 productions were the same; Reynolds also mentions that Zompakos was the assistant stage manager for the show; Zompakos learning most of the choreography by rehearsing with Balanchine's assistant, Bill [William] Dollar; about the tour to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle; how the show was not expected to become a hit; how the production was created New Opera Company which was founded by Yolanda Mero-Irian; how Balanchine was connected to the New Opera Company; productions that Balanchine choreographed; Zompakos being 17 years old when he joined this show; when Eddie Weston was drafted during war Zompakos became assistant stage manager due to his 4F military status for the draft; Zompakos speaks about the opening prologue number in Merry widow and the Broom dance (polka); Reynolds shows Zompakos a photograph of the Broom dance with Jack Gansert and Nina Popova; Zompakos describes the Act I finale with mingling and a couple waltzing as curtain comes down; Zompakos continues with discussion of the movement and staging for Act II including Vilia number, and the In Marsovia number; Reynolds plays the music for Act II begining with the opening with In Marsovia music and Maxim's (Girls, Girls, Girls) with June Graham and Babs Heath; discusses Babs Heath's career; ballet dancers not having many opportunities to perform back then; Zompakos speaks about leaving New York City Ballet to perform in Columbia Concert tour, starting a film company with his Brother-in-law in South Carolina, and then teaching at Kansas City Ballet; Zompakos speaks about the Gold and Silver number being the dance highlight; about the waltz costumes worn; Balanchine moving scenery off stage to make more room for dancers; some of the entrances and pantomime used in this section; Reynolds shows Zompakos a xerox of photograph with costumes and photographs of Babs Heath & Jack Gansert and Milada Mladova; also publicity photographs are shown of performers including Lubow Roudenko, Alex[andra] Alexander, Melville Cooper, Jan Kiepura, Marta Eggerth, Etheleyne Holt, and possibly Lisette Verea; Reynolds plays music from Gold and Silver while Zompakos describies stage movements of couples and waltzing; Dollar working with him on his waltzing; Reynolds shows Zompakos photocopies of Girls in Can Can outfits and from souviner book; Zompakos speaks about opening scene in Act III in Maximes restaurant and the opening steps performed by Roudenko with other girls joining in; Reynolds plays music from Act III while Zompakos speaks about the movement the girls are performing; not recognizing the original music because Robert Stoltz changed it; and concludes with Reynolds thanking him for the interview.
- Alternative Title
- Popular Balanchine collection.
- Subjects
- Genre/Form
- Dance.
- Video.
- Interviews.
- Nonfiction films.
- Note
- This interview was created for the Popular Balanchine Collection.
- This interview relates to the Popular Balancine dossiers (Box 25: The Merry Widow) (1943, 1957 Broadway revival) [Dance Division call number: *MGZMD 146, Box 25, The merry widow], compiled by George Dorris. Inventory, overview by George Dorris, background materials (photocopies of published materials), programs (photocopies and originals), reviews (photocopies and typed compilations of press commentary, 1943-1944 and 1957), photographs (digital scans and photocopies, 1943-1944 and 1957). New Opera Company materials, and transcripts of interviews with Todd Bolender, Marta Eggerth, Jayne Ward, and Stanley Zompakos on the 1943 production and with Marta Eggerth, Paula Lloyd, Mary Ellen Moylan, Shaun O'Brien, and Michael Maule on the 1957 revival.
- Access (note)
- Patrons can access streaming video files online only onsite at the Library for the Performing Arts.
- Event (note)
- Videotaped during an interview at the Kansas City Ballet Studios, Kansas City, Mo., on Feb. 16, 2001.
- Source (note)
- George Balanchine Foundation.
- Call Number
- *MGZIDVD 5-7317
- OCLC
- 809262978
- Title
Interview with Stanley Zompakos [electronic resource] / interviewed by Nancy Reynolds ; [presented by] The George Balanchine Foundation.
- Imprint
c2001.
- Country of Producing Entity
U.S.
- Original Version
Original format: 1 DV-CAM cassette.
- Restricted Access
Patrons can access streaming video files online only onsite at the Library for the Performing Arts.
- Performer
Interviewee, Stanley Zompakos ; interviewer, Nancy Reynolds.
- Event
Videotaped during an interview at the Kansas City Ballet Studios, Kansas City, Mo., on Feb. 16, 2001.
- Source
Gift; George Balanchine Foundation. NN-PD
- Connect to:
- Local Subject
Opera ballet. Merry widow
- Added Author
Balanchine, George, choreographer.
Zompakos, Stanley. Interviewee
Reynolds, Nancy, 1938- Interviewer
George Balanchine Foundation.
George Balanchine Foundation. Donor
- Added Title
Popular Balanchine collection.
- Research Call Number
*MGZIDVD 5-7317