Segerstrom Hall
5 Performances, October 2 – 5, 2025
Tickets at scfta.org
Segerstrom Center for the Arts presents San Francisco Ballet’s Frankenstein, choreographer Liam Scarlett’s critically acclaimed and popular interpretation of the world’s most famous work of horror fiction, Mary Shelley’s 19th-century novel-turned-pop culture classic, for five performances only, October 2 to 5, 2025. This production—a thrilling adaptation of the literary sci-fi classic that continues to resonate with audiences across generations—is one of the most innovative works of dance today.
Frankenstein is set to an original sweeping score by Lowell Liebermann, whose haunting melodies underscore the narrative’s visceral intensity. Music will be performed live by the Pacific Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Martin West.
In this chilling rendition of Shelley’s gothic masterpiece, Scarlett, a choreographer renowned for his innovative approach to classical ballet, has created a blend of sensational choreography, haunting music, electrifying pyrotechnics, and dramatic storytelling. Frankenstein transports audiences to the heart of early 19th-century Geneva, where Victor Frankenstein’s quest for discovery at the dawn of modern science unleashes a chain of events that challenge the very essence of humanity: a captivating journey through scientist Victor’s ambitious plan to animate a patchwork of lifeless body parts, setting in motion a detrimental chain of fateful events —a visceral, emotionally charged journey into creation, identity, the pursuit of knowledge, and the consequences of unchecked ambition.
Against the atmospheric and striking stage design by world-renowned ballet and opera artist John Macfarlane, every scene is meticulously crafted to immerse audiences in Frankenstein’s tumultuous journey, from eerie laboratories to majestic ballrooms.
San Francisco Ballet, led by Artistic Director Tamara Rojo, is a world-leading ballet company and a trailblazing commissioner, collaborator, and presenter in dance. With a deep commitment to new and contemporary works and the classical repertoire, SF Ballet is a catalyst for the future of ballet, investing in commissions and acquisition presenting established and emerging choreographers with a breadth of viewpoints.
“Frankenstein is a monumental piece, melding classical technique with demanding dramatic acting roles and a cinematic, immersive visual approach,” says Rojo. “In bringing Mary Shelley’s classic to the stage, the work explores fundamental questions of humanity and hubris, amplifying the existential, gothic drama in the way only ballet can.”
SF Ballet Orchestra released a premiere live audio recording of the complete Liebermann score in 2021, the Orchestra’s fifth release with Reference Recordings that was lauded by critics as “a symphonic masterpiece.”
Rachel Howard in the San Francisco Chronicle says “Passionate standing ovations have greeted this three-act play ever since its North American premier…. Audiences love the special effects, bold scenery, and familiar gothic story. Each scene goes to unexpected places.”
Steven Winn in SF Classical Voice says, “Frankenstein has a lot of story [and] an abundance of other things including set changes, flashbacks, pirouette-driven corps dances, a cinematically supercharged score, and special effects. [Mary Shelley] the novelist herself signaled the mythical and moral implications of her tale by appending a second title: The Modern Prometheus, invoking the Greek Titan who was punished in eternity for stealing fire from the gods and giving it to humans. It’s no mystery why the story has remained so durable. While Shelley couldn’t have envisioned AI, her cautionary narrative about hubris and possibly heedless technological invention remains all too current.”
Terez Rose in Bachtrack said, “Scenic designer John Macfarlane’s anatomy-theater classroom is spectacular with its period-specific elements that include a late 18th century electrostatic machine, tubes and wires emitting staticky pops and snaps. Here, Victor’s professor demonstrates and poses the question the story revolves around: can dead matter, employing the scientific theory of galvanism, be reanimated?”
“A storm outside brews as Victor cranks up the electrostatic machine, Lowell Lieberman’s excellent score reaching a fever crescendo, Victor in a delirium of excitement, spinning and leaping as lightning flashes, sparks explode, and it’s as vivid and cinematic as ballet gets, aided by David Finn’s lighting and Finn Ross’s projections. The Creature is reanimated, a feat that terrifies Victor as well as the creature himself. The closing moments are desperately sad and somehow, just how they needed to be … seeing Frankenstein in its 2025 incarnation feels worthy and redemptive.”
Frankenstein is a co-production of San Francisco Ballet and The Royal Ballet. The world premiere of the work was May 4, 2016 by The Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House, London, England. The San Francisco Ballet premiere took place on February 17, 2017 at the War Memorial Opera House. San Francisco Ballet again performed Frankenstein in 2018, and it returned to the repertoire for two engagements this spring, March 2-26, and again, April 26-May 4.
About San Francisco Ballet
Since its founding in 1933 and as the oldest professional ballet company in the United States, San Francisco Ballet has been an innovator in the art form and an originator of beloved cultural traditions, from staging the first American production of Swan Lake to bringing an annual holiday Nutcracker to U.S. audiences. Following five decades of leadership by William, Lew, and Harold Christensen, Helgi Tomasson became artistic director in 1985 and led the company for 37 years, choreographing more than 50 ballets, commissioning renowned choreographers, and creating several festivals for the company.
In 2022, Tamara Rojo was appointed artistic director, the first woman and only the fifth overall artistic director in the company’s 91-year history. Her inaugural season in 2024 featured world and North American premieres, company firsts, and works rarely seen in the United States, including the cutting-edge commission Mere Mortals and a double bill of Latina choreographers. During the same season, San Francisco Ballet received a historic $60 million gift endowing the creation and acquisition of new work in perpetuity.
Tickets for San Francisco Ballet’s Frankenstein start at $59.00 and are available for purchase online at scfta.org, in person at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, and by phone at 714.556.2787. For inquiries about group ticket discounts of 10 or more, call the Group Services offices at 714.755.0236.
San Francisco Ballet’s Frankenstein
Segerstrom Hall
Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Production Details
Choreographer: Liam Scarlett
Composer: Lowell Liebermann
Staged by: Lauren Strongin and Joseph Walsh
Scenic and Costume Design: John Macfarlane
Lighting by: David Finn
Projection Design: Finn Ross
Novel by: Mary Shelley
Thursday, October 2 to Sunday, October 5
Thursday, October 2 at 7:30 PM
Friday, October 3 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, October 5 at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM
Sunday, October 5 at 1:00 PM
Tickets start at $59.00
Box Office
In person –
600 Town Center Drive Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Monday 10am to 2pm; Tuesday through Friday 12pm to 5pm; Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Phone – Monday – Friday 10am to 5pm 714.556.2787
Online – scfta.org
Group Sales – 714.755.0236
Segerstrom Center for the Arts® is an innovative nonprofit organization that champions artistic excellence and fosters a vibrant, inclusive community in Orange County through the transformative power of live performance. As the region’s leading cultural hub, the Center offers a diverse array of programming, featuring international dance companies, Broadway national tours, jazz and cabaret musicians, and an engaging speaker series. Its Education and Community Engagement departments present family-friendly events on the picturesque Julianne and George Argyros Plaza, including outdoor movie screenings, concerts, and lively festivals.
With six stunning venues nestled within a beautiful multi-disciplinary campus, the Center is home to the region’s most esteemed performing arts organizations, including the Pacific Symphony, Philharmonic Society of Orange County and Pacific Chorale as well as two independently acclaimed organizations: Tony Award®-winning South Coast Repertory and Orange County Museum of Art. Segerstrom Center is also home to the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School and Studio D: Arts School for All Abilities.
The Center continues to uphold the vision of its founder, Henry Segerstrom, remaining true to its mission as the premier arts in Orange County since its inception in 1986 as Orange County Performing Arts Center®.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts applauds its corporate partner Kaiser Permanente, Official Health Care Partner, and Riviera Magazine as the official media partner for the Dance Series.
