Seattle’s Pacific Northwest Ballet readies a new production of The Sleeping Beauty
January 29, 2025

Principal dancer Sarah-Gabrielle Ryan (center) dances during a rehearsal of the Pacific Northwest BalletÕs upcoming The Sleeping Beauty performance in McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Thu., Jan. 23, 2025. The Ballet has invested more than $4 million dollars in new costumes and a set by Preston Singletary that features elements of Native design.
Company and student dancers at Pacific Northwest Ballet rehearse Act 1 of their upcoming production of "The Sleeping Beauty" in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Wed., Jan. 22, 2025. The production uses a modern interpretation of Marius Petipa's original 19th-century choreography.
Kelly Caffey (left), a first hand in the costume shop, and draper Val Mayse compare a sketch to one of Queen Papillon's dresses on a dress form as workers make costumes for Pacific Northwest Ballet's upcoming production of "The Sleeping Beauty" in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Wed., Jan. 22, 2025. Pacific Northwest Ballet has invested more than $4 million into this new production of "The Sleeping Beauty" including 268 new costumes designed by Paul Tazewell. Mayse says she has been working in theater costume departments for 54 years and this is her last production.

I had the tremendous opportunity to go behind-the-scenes as Seattle’s Pacific Northwest Ballet prepared for their new production of The Sleeping Beauty. They are making 268 new costumes designed by Paul Tazewell, the Oscar-nominated costume designer for Wicked, and have built a new set incorporating Native designs, created by renowned Tlingit artist Preston Singletary.

I photographed inside the PNB’s costume shop as crews were putting the finishing touches on some of the new costumes, and dancers’ rehearsals in a studio setting and on the new stage at McCaw Hall.

Photographed for Cascade PBS.

Peter Boal is the Artistic Director of the Pacific Northwest Ballet, seen here in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Wed., Jan. 22, 2025.
Other dancers watch as corps de ballet dancer Lily Wills performs during a rehearsal of Act 1 of Pacific Northwest Ballet's upcoming production of "The Sleeping Beauty" in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Wed., Jan. 22, 2025. The production uses a modern interpretation of Marius Petipa's original 19th-century choreography.
Costumes hang on racks for Pacific Northwest Ballet's upcoming production of "The Sleeping Beauty" in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Wed., Jan. 22, 2025. Pacific Northwest Ballet has invested more than $4 million into this new production of "The Sleeping Beauty" including 268 new costumes designed by Paul Tazewell.
Company and student dancers at Pacific Northwest Ballet rehearse Act 1 of their upcoming production of "The Sleeping Beauty" in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Wed., Jan. 22, 2025. The production uses a modern interpretation of Marius Petipa's original 19th-century choreography.
Choreography notes fill a binder as the Pacific Northwest Ballet dancers rehearse Act 1 of their upcoming production of "The Sleeping Beauty" in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Wed., Jan. 22, 2025. The production uses a modern interpretation of Marius Petipa's original 19th-century choreography.
Emma Eisenmann makes button attachments for costumes for Pacific Northwest Ballet's upcoming production of "The Sleeping Beauty" in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Wed., Jan. 22, 2025. Pacific Northwest Ballet has invested more than $4 million into this new production of "The Sleeping Beauty" including 268 new costumes designed by Paul Tazewell.
Sewing tools rest on a table in the costume shop as workers make costumes for Pacific Northwest Ballet's upcoming production of "The Sleeping Beauty" in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Wed., Jan. 22, 2025. Pacific Northwest Ballet has invested more than $4 million into this new production of "The Sleeping Beauty" including 268 new costumes designed by Paul Tazewell.
Company and student dancers at Pacific Northwest Ballet rehearse Act 1 of their upcoming production of "The Sleeping Beauty" in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Wed., Jan. 22, 2025. The production uses a modern interpretation of Marius Petipa's original 19th-century choreography.
Forms used to make costumes are seen in the costume shop as workers make costumes for Pacific Northwest Ballet's upcoming production of "The Sleeping Beauty" in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Wed., Jan. 22, 2025. Pacific Northwest Ballet has invested more than $4 million into this new production of "The Sleeping Beauty" including 268 new costumes designed by Paul Tazewell.
Costume designer Paul Tazewell's sketches for costumes in Pacific Northwest Ballet's upcoming production of "The Sleeping Beauty" hang in PNB's costume shop in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Wed., Jan. 22, 2025. Pacific Northwest Ballet has invested more than $4 million into this new production of "The Sleeping Beauty" including 268 new costumes designed by Paul Tazewell.
Soloist Amanda Morgan (black dress) performs with Pacific Northwest Ballet company and student dancers as they rehearse Act 1 of their upcoming production of "The Sleeping Beauty" in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Wed., Jan. 22, 2025. The production uses a modern interpretation of Marius Petipa's original 19th-century choreography.
Principal dancer Lucien Postlewaite dances during a rehearsal of Act 5’s wedding scene in the Pacific Northwest Ballet’s upcoming performance of The Sleeping Beauty in McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Thu., Jan. 23, 2025. The Ballet has invested more than $4 million dollars in new costumes and a set by Preston Singletary that features elements of Native design.
Pacific Northwest Ballet company and students dance during a rehearsal of Act 5’s wedding scene in PNB’s upcoming performance of The Sleeping Beauty in McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Thu., Jan. 23, 2025. The Ballet has invested more than $4 million dollars in new costumes and a set by Preston Singletary that features elements of Native design.
Principal dancer Leta Biasucci dances during a rehearsal of Act 5’s wedding scene in the Pacific Northwest Ballet’s upcoming performance of The Sleeping Beauty in McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Thu., Jan. 23, 2025. The Ballet has invested more than $4 million dollars in new costumes and a set by Preston Singletary that features elements of Native design.
PNB School student Yui Kohno waits at the side of the stage before dancing as Red Riding Hood during a rehearsal of Act 5’s wedding scene in the Pacific Northwest Ballet’s upcoming performance of The Sleeping Beauty in McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Thu., Jan. 23, 2025. The Ballet has invested more than $4 million dollars in new costumes and a set by Preston Singletary that features elements of Native design.
Corps de ballet dancer Ryan Cardea (left) and PNB School student Yui Kohno dance as the wolf and Red Riding Hood during a rehearsal of Act 5Õs wedding scene in the Pacific Northwest BalletÕs upcoming performance of The Sleeping Beauty in McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Thu., Jan. 23, 2025. The Ballet has invested more than $4 million dollars in new costumes and a set by Preston Singletary that features elements of Native design.
Pacific Northwest Ballet company and students dance during a rehearsal of Act 5Õs wedding scene in PNBÕs upcoming performance of The Sleeping Beauty in McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington, USA, on Thu., Jan. 23, 2025. The Ballet has invested more than $4 million dollars in new costumes and a set by Preston Singletary that features elements of Native design.
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