Principality of Monaco to Celebrate New Orleans Tricentennial

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Almost 70 years before Philadelphia's Academy-Award® winning icon, Grace Kelly, married Prince Rainier III to become Princess Grace, a beautiful heiress from the French Quarter, born in 1857, wed Prince Albert I of Monaco. In 1889, Miss Marie Alice Heine married the great-great grandfather of the Principality's current Sovereign - Prince Albert II - becoming Her Serene Highness Princess Alice of Monaco. 

In advance of the return tour by Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, presented by New Orleans Ballet Association and sponsored by the Hyatt Regency Hotel New Orleans, and to mark the city's 300th birthday, the Embassy of Monaco — with the support of its Consulate General in New York and Honorary Consul in New Orleans — is organizing the inaugural Monaco Takes New Orleans (MonacoEventsUSA.com) series of events and activities in the birthplace of the first American-born Princess of Monaco.

"To celebrate our historic connections with the City of New Orleans on this momentous anniversary, we are very proud to showcase some of the wonderful facets of the Principality of Monaco over a week-long festival. From February 19 through February 25, the Principality of Monaco will be the toast of the town with two fascinating exhibitions — both free and open to the public — and a Monégasque culinary week at the NOPSI Hotel leading up to the acclaimed Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo's performance of the ever-romantic tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, presented by New Orleans Ballet Association," said Monaco's Ambassador to the United States, Maguy Maccario Doyle. 

"We are thrilled to have the Principality of Monaco participating in the New Orleans Tricentennial," said New Orleans Mayor Mitchell Landrieu. As we celebrate 300 years of New Orleans, we will be remembering the cultural ties between our City and Monaco.  I would especially like to thank Ambassador Maccario Doyle and the New Orleans Ballet Association for organizing this week of activities, and I encourage everyone to experience these outstanding events.

MONTE-CARLO LEGENDS
Setting the tone for the week-long celebrations is Monte-Carlo Legends, a photographic tribute of black and white vintage stills featuring iconic personalities from the past who have helped write the Monte-Carlo story and shaped its enduring appeal. This exhibition will be displayed in the lobby of the NOPSI Hotel, 317 Baronne St., New Orleans, from Monday, February 19 through Sunday, February 25.

FLAVORS OF MONACO
From Monday, February 19 through Sunday, February 25, NOPSI Hotel and its Executive Chef Pete Page will partner with Monte-Carlo SBM to host Michelin-starred Executive Chef Benoit Witz of the Hotel Hermitage Monte-Carlo on a series of prix-fixe daily lunch menus with a Monegasque flair (nopsi.com and montecarlosbm.com). 

INSIDE LES BALLETS DE MONTE-CARLO
On exhibition for the first time in New Orleans - in the city's premier contemporary art space, the Angela King Gallery - 16 dramatic black and white photographs by Monaco-born Alice Blangero transport us behind-the-scenes and inside Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo as she captures the most intimate moments of the company's work, on view at 241 Royal St., in New Orleans from Tuesday, February 20 through Sunday, February 25, from 11 am to 5 pm.

ROMEO AND JULIET
The New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) will present for the first time since 2005 the internationally renowned Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo in a spectacular performance of Roméo et Juliette. Shakespeare's tale of the famous star-crossed lovers gets an exotic French twist in this "gorgeously original" (The London Telegraph), stunningly imaginative interpretation by renowned choreographer and director Jean-Christophe Maillot. Flawlessly performed with impeccable artistry by this exquisite company of 50 dancers and set to the romantic Prokofiev score, this innovative staging is a must-see event at the Mahalia Jackson Theater on Saturday, February 24 at 8 pm.

"NOBA is honored to bring Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo back to New Orleans to celebrate New Orleans' Tricentennial – our gift to the City. We are grateful to presenting sponsors Hyatt Regency New Orleans and Pam and Warner Williams for their extraordinary support," said New Orleans Ballet Association Executive Director Jenny Hamilton. "The company's unique staging of this timeless masterpiece is guaranteed to be the pinnacle moment of Monaco's visit to our great city."

"It is an honor for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo to return to New Orleans to perform Romeo and Juliet. We have developed strong ties with the American ballet tradition over the years, and have wonderful memories of every meeting we've had with audiences in this city. This tour in the United States fills us with joy. We are particularly grateful to the New Orleans Ballet Association for making it possible to present this mainstage performance, which has a very special place in our repertoire," said Maillot.

Tickets for Roméo et Juliette begin at $40 and may be purchased through the NOBA's Box Office at (504) 522-0996, online at www.nobadance.com or through Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com.

In other related events:

UNE AFFAIRE D'AVANT GARDE: EN BLANC ET NOIR
BRAVO, the Ballet Resource And Volunteer Organization of the New Orleans Ballet Association, and Honorary Chair, Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, extend an invitation to join the artists of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo for a chic black-and-white masquerade ball. This glamorous evening will feature a spectacular, French-inspired menu, open bar, dancing, a fabulous silent auction, a raffle for a $3,000 shopping spree at Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry, and more. The VIP Gala Experience Weekend Package includes tickets to the Gala Patron Party and Dinner on February 23, and the performance of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, VIP Intermission Reception and Post Performance Reception at the Mahalia Jackson Theater on February 24. Through this event, BRAVO contributes to NOBA's programs, including the presentation of world class performances in New Orleans and more than 5,500 dance classes, workshops, and activities each year, all tuition-free. For tickets and sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.nobadance.com, call (504) 522-0996, ext. 208, or email [email protected].

PRINCESS GRACE FOUNDATION-USA
Members of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA will participate in the activities organized by the Embassy by highlighting award winners whose work in theater, dance, and film ignite a cultural conversation. Much like the enriched city of New Orleans, award winners create thought-provoking pieces with an homage to history, diversity and current events. Toby Boshak, Executive Director says, "We are proud to highlight the work of Jon-Sesrie Goff during the Monaco Takes New Orleans celebration, whose powerful short film Site of Reckoning: Battlefield 2016 is part of the Prospect 4: The Lotus in Spite of the Swamp exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans." On through February 25, open Wednesday through Monday, 11am–5pm.

Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans, 900 Camp St, New Orleans, LA 70130 http://cacno.org

The 2018 Monaco Takes New Orleans series of events are organized and presented by the Embassy of Monaco in Washington, D.C., and the Consulate General of Monaco in New York, with the support of the Honorary Consulate in New Orleans. With special thanks to Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, the New Orleans Ballet Association, Hyatt Regency Hotel New Orleans, NOPSI Hotel New Orleans, Angela King of Angela King Gallery, Monte-Carlo SBM, New Orleans Convention Company (NOCCI), the office of the Mayor of New Orleans, Alex Soldier Jewelry, and the Princess Grace Foundation-USA.

For updates and more information, please visit www.MonacoEventsUSA.com.

SOURCE Embassy of Monaco

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