Filling Station (ballet) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Filling Station
Virgil Thomson photographed by Carl Van Vechten, June 4, 1947
Choreographed by	Lew Christensen
Composed by	Virgil Thomson
Based on	Newspaper report
Date of premiere	November 1937
Place of premiere	Hartford, Connecticut
Original ballet company	Ballet Caravan
Characters	Mac, station attendant Ray, truck driver Roy, truck driver The State Trooper The Motorist The Motorist's Wife The Motorist's Child The Rich Boy The Rich Girl The Gangster
Designs by	Paul Cadmus
Setting	Filling Station contemporary with the date of the ballet's creation
Genre	Ballet document

Filling Station is a one-act ballet that tells a story through dance. A libretto is the story or script of a ballet, and for Filling Station, the story was inspired by a newspaper report. The music for this ballet was written by Virgil Thomson. The dances were designed by Lew Christensen, who is known as the choreographer. Christensen also performed in the ballet, playing the main character, Mac, who works at a filling station. The look of the ballet, including the sets and costumes, was created by Paul Cadmus.

Filling Station first premiered in November 1937 in Hartford, Connecticut. It was performed by a dance group called Ballet Caravan. Later, on May 18, 1939, the ballet was performed in New York City at the Martin Beck Theater. Lew Christensen again danced the role of the station attendant in that performance.

What is Filling Station?

Filling Station is a special kind of ballet. It is sometimes called a "ballet document" because it shows everyday life. The ballet captures a moment in time at a busy American gas station. It mixes humor with some serious moments. The story unfolds as different characters arrive at the station.

The Story at the Station

The ballet's story is simple and easy to follow. It takes place at a gas station, which was a common sight in America during the 1930s. The main character is Mac, the friendly station attendant. He helps all sorts of people who stop by.

The action starts when two truck drivers, Ray and Roy, arrive. They are followed by a State Trooper, who is a police officer. Then, a family pulls up: a Motorist, his Wife, and their Child. Two wealthy young people, a Rich Boy and a Rich Girl, also make an appearance. The story gets exciting when a Gangster shows up, causing some trouble. The ballet shows how these different people interact at the station.

Who Created This Ballet?

Many talented artists worked together to bring Filling Station to life. Each person played a key role in making the ballet a success.

The Composer: Virgil Thomson

Virgil Thomson was an important American composer. He was known for his unique musical style. Thomson often used American themes in his music. For Filling Station, he created music that fit the busy, everyday setting of a gas station. His music helps tell the story and sets the mood for each scene.

The Choreographer: Lew Christensen

Lew Christensen was a famous American dancer and choreographer. A choreographer is the person who creates the dance steps and movements for a ballet. Christensen not only designed all the dances for Filling Station, but he also performed in it. He danced the main role of Mac, the station attendant. His choreography brought the characters and their interactions to life on stage.

The Designer: Paul Cadmus

Paul Cadmus was an American artist. He was responsible for designing the look of Filling Station. This included the sets, which showed the gas station, and the costumes worn by the dancers. Cadmus's designs helped create the right atmosphere for the ballet. His work made the world of the gas station feel real to the audience.

First Performances

Filling Station had its very first performance in November 1937. This premiere took place in Hartford, Connecticut. The ballet was performed by a group called Ballet Caravan. This company was known for performing new American ballets.

The ballet was popular and later moved to New York City. It was performed there on May 18, 1939, at the Martin Beck Theater. These early performances helped Filling Station become a well-known ballet. It showed that everyday American life could be a great subject for dance.