The Australian Ballet will tour Christopher Wheeldon’s Oscar© to the United States later this year, marking the company’s first full-length engagement in the US in more than a decade.
The work will make its international debut at Cal Performances in Berkeley, California, from 25 to 27 September, with the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra. It will then travel to New York City Center from 8 to 11 October, where it will be performed with the Orchestra of St Luke’s.
The tour represents a significant international moment for The Australian Ballet, taking one of its major new full-length commissions to two prominent American stages. It will also be the company’s first visit to the United States under Artistic Director David Hallberg, who is American-born.
Created by Tony Award-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, Oscar© is a full-length narrative ballet inspired by the life and writing of Oscar Wilde. The production draws on Wilde’s biography, as well as works including The Nightingale and the Rose and The Picture of Dorian Gray, to explore identity, desire, artistic brilliance and public ruin.
The ballet premiered in Melbourne on 13 September 2024 and was later presented in Sydney. It is a rare large-scale narrative ballet centred on queer identity, and one of the most substantial new story ballets commissioned by the company in recent years.
The production is Wheeldon’s third full-length collaboration with The Australian Ballet, following Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland© and An American in Paris. Wheeldon has created works for major companies around the world, including New York City Ballet, The Royal Ballet and Paris Opera Ballet.
Hallberg said the tour reflects both the company’s artistic ambition and the international profile of the work.
“Taking Oscar© to the United States marks an important moment for our company and for this work,” Hallberg said. “As Australia’s national ballet company, performing on major international stages is central to who we are, it strengthens our global standing and reflects the reach and ambition of our artists.”
“It is especially meaningful to share Oscar© with audiences internationally. This is a story that speaks to identity, love and vulnerability, themes that reach far beyond the stage, and I’m incredibly proud that we are able to bring it to new audiences around the world.”
For Hallberg, the tour also carries personal resonance.
“As an American-born Artistic Director, it means a great deal to me personally bringing The Australian Ballet back to the United States during my time with the company,” he said. “This tour has been made possible through the generous support of our philanthropic community and partners, whose commitment allows us to share our work on the global scale.”
The Australian Ballet first performed in Los Angeles in 1966 and has appeared in New York since 1971. Its most recent US season was in 2019. The forthcoming tour will involve a touring party of more than 100 people, including dancers, wardrobe, medical, technical and administration staff.
Alongside Oscar©, The Australian Ballet will also present Resident Choreographer Stephanie Lake’s Seven Days at New York City Center’s Fall for Dance Festival on 2 and 3 October. Lake, who is also director of Stephanie Lake Company, is one of Australia’s leading contemporary choreographers. Seven Days premiered in The Australian Ballet’s 2025 season and will appear as part of a program featuring international companies.
The tour has been supported by philanthropy, including The Australian Ballet’s International Touring Fund, established in 2005 to support the company’s global presence. The creation of Oscar© was made possible through The David Hallberg Fund for Artistic Aspiration, with support also acknowledged from Lady Potter AC CMRI and The Robert and Elizabeth Albert Music Fund.
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer and Macquarie Group are Presenting Partners for the US tour.
Justin D’Agostino, Global CEO of Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, said the firm was proud to extend its long-standing relationship with The Australian Ballet.
“For more than a decade we have seen first-hand, through our legal support and sponsorship, the extraordinary creativity, excellence and ambition that defines Australia’s national ballet company,” he said. “As a global law firm with our own bold ambition in the United States, we are thrilled to play our part in supporting The Australian Ballet to bring its artistry to the international stage.”
Miki Edelman, Head of the Americas at Macquarie Group, said: “As a global organisation with Australian heritage, we are pleased to champion one of Australia’s leading cultural institutions as it continues to engage audiences around the world.”
The production’s creative team includes choreography by Christopher Wheeldon, a synopsis by Wheeldon and Joby Talbot based on an original idea by Alexander Wise and Wheeldon, music by Joby Talbot, stage and costume design by Jean-Marc Puissant, lighting design by Jon Goldman and video design by David Bergman.
Oscar© will be performed at Cal Performances, Berkeley, from 25 to 27 September, and at New York City Center from 8 to 11 October. Tickets for New York City Center go on sale to members on 7 May and to the general public on 21 May. Cal Performances subscriptions go on sale on 5 May, with general public single tickets available from 11 August.