May 17, 2017 – (Becket, MA) – The Jacob’s Pillow 85th Anniversary Season kicks off with the Season Opening Gala, the Pillow’s signature fundraising event, Saturday, June 17. The event embodies the start of the summer season in the Berkshires, and features exclusive programming, unique and delicious food and drink, and plenty of dancing and live music.

Cocktail hour features pop-up performances and the U.S. debut of Toronto-based Throwdown Collective, the opening of the Jacob’s Pillow Jumps photography exhibit in Blake’s Barn, a specialty cocktail station by Methuselah Bar & Lounge, and a “Browse and Bid” marketplace silent auction.

The Gala program includes an exclusive work-in-progress performance by New York City Ballet principal dancer Sara Mearns and Festival 2015 duo Company Wang Ramirez; Miami City Ballet in Carousel Pas de Deux by Sir Kenneth MacMillan; and a world premiere performed by the Ballet Program students of The School at Jacob’s Pillow, choreographed and set in just four days by Bruce Wells, former New York City Ballet dancer and former resident choreographer for Connecticut Ballet, Boston Ballet, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.

For the full press release, click here.