The ballet that inaugurated Wortham Theater Center in 1987 is back in this, our inaugural season rehearsing in the new Center for Dance.

Houston Ballet will revive its lavish production of Romeo and Juliet, choreographed by Ben Stevenson. In the ballet, two teenagers from warring families meet, fall in love and rush headlong towards their romantic destiny. With its magnificent evocation of Renaissance Italy by David Walker and Prokofiev's gorgeous score, the flagship production brings this classic love story thrillingly to life.

Houston Ballet's production of Romeo and Juliet has played a key role in the history of the company. In September 1987, the ballet's world premiere inaugurated the opening of Houston Ballet's opulent new home theater, the $72 million Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston ? a milestone in the company's development.

In July 1995, Houston Ballet was the first full American company to be invited by the Chinese government to tour the People's Republic of China. A performance of Romeo and Juliet at Beijing's Exhibition Theater launched the two-and-half-week tour to Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. The opening night performance of Romeo and Juliet was broadcast live on Chinese television, with officials estimating that an audience of 500 million viewed the telecast.