HARVEY SCHMIDT
Texas Fourth
Program
Choreographed by Agnes de Mille
Composed by Harvey Schmidt, plus traditional songs
Orchestrated by Hershy Kaye
Scenery by Oliver Smith
Costumes by A. Christina Giannini
Lighting by Nananne Porcher
A Fourth of July parade in Baird, Texas in the year 1936. A loving tribute to small town life, with majorettes, acrobats and a marching band of children playing combs. The choreography is based on social dancing of the period – the Lindy Hop, the Big Apple. The high point of the ballet comes with the entire parade marching across the stage with American Flags flying and a float featuring a piano player with the head majorette sitting atop playing “The Eyes Of Texas Are Upon You” on the saxophone. The ballet is great fun and a real crowd pleaser.
Date of Premiere: April 26, 1973 by the Agnes de Mille Heritage Dance Theatre and students at the North Carolina School of the Arts.
American Ballet Theatre Premiere: July 8, 1976
Original Cast of American Ballet Theatre: Dennis Nahat (Fiddler, Batonist, Head Batonist), William Carter (Buck and Wing), Rebecca Wright (Girl), Eric Nesbitt (Boy), George de la Pena (Piano Player), Buddy Balough (Trumpet Player) and Ruth Mayer (Ghost of the Mother) in principal roles at the New York State Theatre.
Cast: College kids from 1936 (26 dancers), Baton twirlers (5 girls), Children who play combs (6), Piano Player, Saxophonists (can be head twirler), Acrobat.