Fall River Legend

"Fall River Legend" is a ballet based on the life of Lizzie Borden. One of choreographer Agnes de Mille's best-known works, it featured an original score by Morton Gould and scenic design by Oliver Smith.

The ballet premiered at American Ballet Theatre on April 22, 1948, with Alicia Alonso as Lizzie (called simply "the Accused"). Other notable performers in the role included Nora Kaye and Sallie Wilson. The Dance Theatre of Harlem's production, with Virginia Johnson as the Accused, is available on DVD, although a kinescope also exists of a televised version with Kaye.

ABT will be performing the ballet during the 2007 fall season at New York City Center, with Julie Kent and Gillian Murphy in the lead role [http://www.abt.org/performances/performance_display.asp?Event_ID=435] .

De Mille famously altered the historical record by finding Lizzie Borden guilty as charged.

Further reading

* de Mille, Agnes. "Lizzie Borden: A Dance of Death." New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 1968.
* Easton, Carole. "No Intermissions: The Life of Agnes de Mille." New York: Little, Brown, & Co., 1996.

External links

* [http://lizzieandrewborden.com/Galleries/FallRiverLegend.htm Photographs of Nora Kaye as Lizzie Borden]
* [http://www.abt.org/education/archive/ballets/fall_river_legend.html Opening night credits]
* [http://www.abt.org/images/db_images/layout/home/frlparkzhurbmurph1lg.jpgGillian Murphy as Lizzy Borden] (from the 2007 Fall Season promotion)