Star Spangled Sketches

A world premiere that captures the fiery independence of colonial America as it forges itself into a nation.

Ballet Theatre of Maryland culminates its 33rd season with the world premiere of Star Spangled Sketches. The centerpiece of the program is a new historical work – Frontier: 1812, set to David Arkenstone’s Emmy award-winning score for the History Channel.

Inspired by the letters and memoirs of Dolley Madison and other significant women of the period, the work will depict the major events of the 1812 war that forged young America into a nation. “Dolley and James Madison provide the threads that tie all of the sketches together, says Cuatto, “creating a tapestry of the events that turned the tide of war in favor of America beginning with the causes and declaration of war through the Burning of Washington to the Battle of Fort McHenry and the creation of the Star Spangled Banner.”

A pre-performance history lecture will accompany each performance, beginning a half-hour prior to the show. The lecture will take place in the auditorium.