Jérôme Kaplan at PNB

Costume and set designer Jérôme Kaplan is internationally renowned and a PNB favorite. The 2025/26 Season features his stunning designs in two ballets, Jewels and Giselle. Read on to learn more about Kaplan and his work at PNB!

About Jérôme Kaplan

Jérôme Kaplan was born in Paris, France in 1964. As a child, Kaplan loved to create imaginary cities and places using wooden blocks and Legos. Later, he studied Scenography at the Ecol de la Rue Blanche, learning about scenography, costume design, model making, and more. In 1992, designing sets for L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, Kaplan established his ongoing partnership with Jean-Christophe Maillot at the Ballets de Monte Carlo. Now, he is internationally renowned, partnering with the Royal Danish Ballet, Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Cario Opera House, Australian Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Ballet Zurich, American Ballet Theater, Staatsballett Berlin, and more. Kaplan is the first French scenographer to work with the National Ballet of China. His design approach prioritizes, “giving a strong impression, clarifying a story, highlighting the music, the choreography, and above all, revealing the vision and wishes of the choreographer or director.”

Ballets with Jean-Christophe Maillot (Roméo et Juliette, Cendrillon)

PNB’s repertoire includes two Jean-Christophe Maillot ballets designed by Jérôme Kaplan: Roméo et Juliette and Cendrillon. Kaplan took a “less is more” approach in both. His minimalistic style and monochrome designs emphasize the dancers’ movement. After renting the Roméo et Juliette costumes for several performances, the PNB Costume Shop reconstructed our own versions in 2012. Kaplan was pleased with the results, especially the crocheted tunics constructed to look like chain mail! Also in 2012, PNB premiered Don Quixote, choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky, with sets and costumes by Kaplan.

Giselle

Kaplan returned in 2014 to design Giselle. PNB’s production of the ballet, staged by Peter Boal with historical advisement by Doug Fullington and Marian Smith, is heavily influenced by the original 1841 production. Kaplan’s designs are no different, based on 19th-century garb. The first act’s designs are full of rich, autumnal tones, while the second act is dark and ghostly. Kaplan says, “When you redesign a historical ballet like Giselle, you only need to read, open your ears, and be serious in the work. The ballet will be revealed to you like a photograph in the laboratory, slowly and magically.”

Jewels

Most recently, Kaplan designed George Balanchine’s Jewels for PNB in 2017. Kaplan had big shoes to fill, as the original costumes were designed by Barbara Karinska, who designed over 9,000 costumes for New York City Ballet, and invented the “powder-puff” tutu for Jewels. Kaplan saw himself as “in a way, the assistant,” focusing on updating the classic costumes. Every section of the ballet has different inspirations. Emeralds has medieval influences; the crown in Rubies is designed after the Statue of Liberty’s; and Diamonds has an abstract, modern focus. Each is created to last for decades of performances.

Jérôme Kaplan says, “a good scenographer is above all a good storyteller who knows how to tell a story visually.” His many designs for PNB demonstrate this skill. Each is uniquely beautiful. You can see his designs onstage this season at Jewels and Giselle. Get tickets here.