Prodigal Son Through the Years at PNB

Lesley Rausch backstage at New York City Center, photo © Lindsay Thomas.

October 2024

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, photo © David Cooper.

Lucinda Hughey and Adam Miller perform, photo © David Cooper.

1990

Lucinda Hughey, Dagoberto Nieves, and PNB Company dancers perform, photo © Kenneth Brown.

Lucinda Hughey and PNB Company dancers perform, photo © Kenneth Brown.

1992

Lucinda Hughey as the Siren, photo © Ben Kerns.

Dagoberto Nieves as the Prodigal Son, photo © Ben Kerns.

2004

Patricia Barker performs as the Siren, photo © Angela Sterling.

Patricia Barker, Jonathan Porretta, and PNB Company Dancers perform, photo © Angela Sterling.

Jonathan Porretta performs as the Prodigal Son, photo © Angela Sterling.

2007

Lucien Postlewaite performs as the Prodigal Son, photo © Angela Sterling.

Ariana Lallone performs as the Siren, photo © Angela Sterling.

2015

Lesley Rausch performs as the Siren, photos © Angela Sterling.

James Yoichi Moore and Laura Tisserand, photo © Angela Sterling.

Benjamin Griffiths performs as the Prodigal Son, photo © 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, photo © Lindsay Thomas.

Jonathan Porretta performs Prodigal Son in 2019, photo © Lindsay Thomas.

James Yoichi Moore performs Prodigal Son in 2024, photo © 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.

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.