Internationally Renowned Bolshoi Ballet Brings Select Performances to U.S. Cinemas

Fathom Events, BY Experience and Pathé Live extend the splendor of Russia’s celebrated dance company to select U.S. cinemas with the Bolshoi Ballet 2014-15 Season. Four titles from Bolshoi Ballet’s 2014–15 season will be screened as Sunday matinees with three live productions (captured earlier the same day from Moscow) and one pre-recorded program. The live productions in this series include The Legend of Love on Sunday, Oct. 26 and the beloved classics The Nutcracker on Sunday, Dec. 21 and Swan Lake on Sunday, Jan. 25. A special presentation of Romeo and Juliet, previously recorded, will be exhibited as a part of the cinema series on Sunday, March 8. The series trailer, starring Bolshoi dancers David Hallberg and Olga Smirnova can be seen here.

Tickets for the Bolshoi Ballet 2014-15 Season are available at participating theater box offices and at www.FathomEvents.com. The events will be presented in 350 select movie theaters around the country through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network. For a complete list of theater locations and prices, visit the Fathom Events website(theaters and participants are subject to change).

“Fathom’s commitment to the continued presentation of the world’s finest in arts and entertainment will be on full display with the Bolshoi Ballet in cinemas across the U.S.,” Fathom Events CEO John Rubey said. “These specific performances are iconic favorites and will allow audiences to experience the grandeur of Russia’s greatest ballet company, all in the comfort of their local movie theater.”

The Legend of Love – Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014 at 12:55 p.m. ET / 11:55 a.m. CT / 10:55 a.m. MT and tape-delayed to 12:55 p.m. PT/AK/HI

The royal apartments of Queen Mekhmene Banu are plunged into mourning – her young sister, Princess Shyrin, is dying. The Princess will only be saved if the Queen gives Shyrin her beauty. The Queen decides to sacrifice herself, but later regrets her action when she is disfigured and Shyrin falls in love with the Queen’s own lover, the painter Ferkhad. This splendid tale of forbidden love, self-sacrifice, jealousy and suffering returns to the Bolshoi stage after a 10-year absence. “The Legend of Love” is one of Russian ballet master Yuri Grigorovich’s earliest choreographic works, and its storyline explores the conflict between love and duty through its two heroines. Featuring stylized movements, sets and costumes inspired by the Middle East, this stunning ballet uses pure dance to tell the story and is further enriched by the talent of the Bolshoi troupe.

The Nutcracker – Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014 at 12:55 p.m. ET / 11:55 a.m. CT / 10:55 a.m. MT and tape-delayed to 12:55 p.m. PT/AK/HI

On Christmas Eve, Marie’s godfather, Drosselmeyer, gives her a strange toy: a wooden nutcracker carved in the shape of a little man. At midnight, when the celebrations are over, all the toys magically come to life. The nutcracker grows to human size and takes charge of the tin soldiers, flying to the rescue of Marie, who is threatened by the Mouse King and his mouse army. Based on E. T. A. Hoffmann’s story, “The Nutcracker” is one of the greatest classics in the world. With iconic music by Tchaikovsky, and enchanting sets and costumes, this beautiful tale explores the universal themes of love, power and evil.

This version, created for the Bolshoi by Yuri Grigorovich, is full of romanticism and philosophical reflections on ideal love. Masterfully interpreted by the Bolshoi dancers, it will enchant the whole family for the festive season, proving that one is never too young or too old to be swept away by “The Nutcracker.”

Swan Lake – Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015 at 12:55 p.m. ET / 11:55 a.m. CT / 10:55 a.m. MT and tape-delayed to 12:55 p.m. PT/AK/HI

At the palace, the royal family and their guests are gathered for Prince Siegfried’s birthday celebrations. In a majestic ceremony, Siegfried is made a knight; young girls try to attract his attention, as he must choose a wife during the ball. Overcome by the sudden awareness of his future responsibilities, he escapes into the night and meets a strange flock of swans by a magical lake. White swan by day, human by night, the beautiful Odette awaits an oath of true love to break the curse. The great legend of the enigmatic swan/woman is one of the most romantic classical ballets, appropriately set in the era of courtly romance and characterized by elegance, style and harmony.

With Tchaikovsky’s famous, lyrical score, Swan Lake depicts the tragic love between Princess Odette and Prince Siegfried, and will no doubt be performed to perfection by the unparalleled virtuosity of Russia’s great Bolshoi Ballet. This universal and enchanting masterpiece of love, deception and drama is a must.

Romeo and Juliet (Pre-recorded) – Sunday, March. 8, 2015 at 12:55 p.m. local time

In Verona, the rivalry between the Capulets and the Montagues brings bloodshed to the city. When the Capulets organize a masked ball in honor of their daughter Juliet, Romeo Montague and his friend Mercutio attend incognito because of the hatred that tears the two houses apart. Romeo and Juliet fall madly in love, and are distraught when they realize they belong to rival families.

William Shakespeare’s timeless story, written in 1595, is brought to the stage through breathtaking choreography and Sergei Prokofiev’s much-loved score. With its famous melodies, rhythmic variety and universal theme, this story of impossible love remains an all-time favorite, and is one of the world’s most popular ballets.

For more information about Bolshoi Ballet and the ballet series, please visit www.bolshoiballetincinema.com.

About AC JV, LLC

Fathom Events is owned by a newly formed entity called AC JV, LLC. Fathom is the recognized leader in the alternative entertainment industry, offering a variety of one-of-a-kind entertainment events in movie theaters nationwide that include live, high-definition performances of the Metropolitan Opera, the performing arts, major sporting events, music concerts, comedy series, Broadway shows, original programming featuring entertainment’s biggest stars, socially relevant documentaries with audience Q&A and much more. Additionally, Fathom events take audiences behind-the-scenes and offer unique extras – creating the ultimate entertainment experience for fans of all ages. Co-owned by the three largest movie theater circuits in the United States, AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC), Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK) and Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC), Fathom’s live digital broadcast network (“DBN”) is the largest cinema broadcast network in North America, bringing live events to more than 750 locations in 171 Designated Market Areas® (including all of the top 50). For more information, visit www.fathomevents.com.

About Bolshoi Ballet

The Bolshoi Theatre of Russia, one of the greatest music and dance stages in the world, was founded in 1776 and to this day remains a spearhead of Russian culture. With more than 250 dancers, the Bolshoi Ballet is one of the largest and most celebrated ballet companies in the world. Its annual repertoire of up to 30 titles per year includes classical masterpieces, rare productions and outstanding works by the most famous contemporary choreographers. Moreover, thanks to its school, the Bolshoi keeps the revered tradition of classical ballet alive through new generations of talented young dancers. For the 5th season, the Bolshoi Ballet will continue to open its doors and allow viewers across the world to attend their outstanding performances in over 1,000 cinemas internationally.

About BY Experience

BY EXPERIENCE kicked off the digital revolution of live events to movie theaters and other locations globally with David Bowie’s 2003 Reality album launch and since then, over 20 million tickets have been sold worldwide for cinema events BY Experience has distributed globally. Credits: Worldwide HD Distribution Representative, The Met: Live in HD series (2006 to present); International (ex-UK) Distribution Representative, the U.K.’s National Theatre Live series (2009 to present); Executive Producer for Cinema Leonardo Live (February 2012) and the series Exhibition: Great Art on Screen (2013), the public radio shows Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me! Live (2013), This American Life – Live! with Ira Glass (2008, 2009, 2012) and A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor (February and October 2010), the Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of The Importance of Being Earnest (June 2011), Red Hot Chili Peppers Live: I’m With You (August 2011); The Big Four: Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax (June 2010), St. Olaf Christmas Festival (2007 and 2011), the New York Times speaker’s series TimesTalks LIVE (2009), David Gilmour: Remember That Night — Live from the Royal Albert Hall (September 2007), Distributor to Cinema Westlife: The Farewell Concert (June 2012), the classic music celebration BBC Last Night of the Proms (2009 - 2012), BBC Electric Proms: Robbie Williams (October 2009). BY Experience distributes to over 60 countries, to 2,000 movie screens. For more information, visit: www.byexperience.net.

About Pathé Live

Pathé Live, a Gaumont-Pathé subsidiary since 2008, is the European leader in the distribution of alternative programs in cinemas. Its network is rapidly expanding and now counts more than 130 cinemas venues in France and over 1000 venues around the world. Thanks to its unique system of high definition and video transmission by satellite, Pathé Live is able to deliver high quality live and recorded events everywhere across the globe. Pathé Live has, over the years, been providing a wide variety of programs such as operas, ballets, concerts, exhibitions and has also been a pioneer in the broadcast of 3D live shows. Pathé Live is the distributor of the Met Live in HD in France and Switzerland.

Pathé Live has also been producing and distributing the Bolshoi Ballet shows since 2010 live or near live in 1000 cinemas across the world and will launch with the new 2014-2015 season, its 5th Bolshoi Ballet in cinemas season. These shows, specifically shot for the big screen with 5.1 sound and 10 HD cameras, will continue to provide a unique opportunity for the audience to experience an unprecedented proximity with the artists and enjoy a unique look behind the scenes of the most renowned ballet company in the world.