Louisville Ballet to World Premiere 'Frankenstein' on Halloween

Anthony Krutzkamp is set to bring a new work to the stage in Louisville, Kentucky, for its world premiere. The ballet, titled Frankenstein, draws directly from Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel. Krutzkamp, who serves as the company’s artistic director, focuses the narrative on the dynamic between the scientist Victor and his creation.

The performance is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, at the Brown Theatre. Additional shows will take place on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Krutzkamp noted that the timing aligns with the city’s strong Halloween traditions.

“I looked around. Halloween is a big deal here. It is a really big deal in comparison to other cities,” Krutzkamp said. He described Louisville as the ideal location for the debut of this new piece.

The production is part of Louisville Ballet’s identity as a creation company. Krutzkamp explained that only a small number of ballet organizations function in this capacity. “There’s only four or five creation companies, and we’re one of them,” he said. “The fact that we’re in Louisville, Kentucky, and making things people use.”

Other companies are expected to rent the costumes and sets while adopting Krutzkamp’s choreography. The score is composed by John Adams. Krutzkamp developed the storyline and movement after selecting the music.

Krutzkamp has held the role of artistic director for just over a year. Before arriving in Louisville, he led the Sacramento Ballet. He is a Campbell County native who began dancing at age five. He grew up on a farm where his grandfather was a clogger.

“I was hyperactive,” Krutzkamp recalled. “I was running around everywhere.” He served as a principal dancer with Cincinnati Ballet and retired from active performance at age 32. “A dancer dies twice. (The) first time when they stop dancing,” he said. The show also marks the debut for several of the company’s newest dancers.