Ballet Theater Performs This Pianist’s Drag Persona


I didn’t quit the job completely and enjoyed working together. Kenneth MacMillan. In 1985 Kenneth returned to the “Romeo and Juliet” scene. There was a stage rehearsal in Los Angeles that Friends of ABT could attend. The dancers were without hair and make-up, and there was no orchestra; I would be in the pit following the conductor. The conductor missed the rehearsal, so I had to play everything under the stage and I couldn’t even see the dancers. But I did. Nobody said “Congratulations”, “Thanks”, “You saved the day”. I remember going to my car thinking: It’s always going to be like this.

By then I had already found the Pyramid Club, so I was building an audience there. Finally I wrote a musical called “Ballet of the Dolls” which is a parody of “Valley of Dolls” in the ballet world. Kenneth came to see him. I was playing the piano on the wings, but I had a cameo. When I saw Kenneth at work a few days later, he said, “I really enjoyed the show, but John, you’re the person the audience wants to see on stage.” Nobody told me that, and here is the great Sir Kenneth MacMillan. This was a huge confirmation.

So how does it feel to be at the center of ABT now?

It’s weird because I’ve always been backstage there. And I always knew that was part of the deal. ABT had a pianist named Barbara Bilach. He desperately wanted more respect. He was pretty vocal about it and rubbed people the wrong way. But she was beloved. No matter what happens, I can always make him laugh because on Lypsinka’s program he says: “Barbara please!”

In what other ways has ballet come into your life as Lypsinka?

I never saw myself as a real dancer. I jokingly say that I learned the dance through osmosis. I reviewed Makarova’s port de bras. was there A critic who said that Lypsinka performed With the precision of the balanchine dancer. I don’t know if that’s true, but if you’re working in the ballet world, there’s a discipline to it.

There are other pianists with ambitions at ABT, I must say. I can only be the most flamboyant. But you know, behind the scenes, there’s a hard-working band of musicians. Their names may never be in the papers but they are back and they have ambition and perseverance and deserve recognition.



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