San Francisco Ballet (SF Ballet) has announced details for its upcoming production of Frankenstein, an adaptation of the literary sci-fi classic.
Based on the 1818 novel by British author Mary Shelley, this program—returning to San Francisco for the first time since 2018—delves deep into themes of creation, identity, the pursuit of knowledge, and the consequences of unchecked ambition.
In addition to its run in March, the production will close the 2025 Repertory Season at the War Memorial Opera House with an encore run of performances from April 26 to May 4.
Choreographed by Liam Scarlett, an artist renowned for his innovative approach to classical ballet, this chilling rendition of Shelley’s gothic masterpiece transports audiences to the heart of 18th-century Geneva, where Victor Frankenstein’s quest for scientific discovery unleashes a chain of events that challenge the very essence of humanity. Set against a backdrop of atmospheric sets and evocative lighting, every scene is meticulously crafted to immerse audiences in Frankenstein’s tumultuous journey, from eerie laboratories to majestic ballrooms.
The ballet also features a powerful score by Composer Lowell Liebermann, whose haunting melodies underscore the narrative’s visceral intensity. The timeless music for Frankenstein will be performed live by the Grammy Award-winning San Francisco Ballet Orchestra under Music Director & Principal Conductor Martin West. In 2021, SF Ballet Orchestra released a premiere live audio recording of the complete Liebermann score, the Orchestra’s fifth release with Reference Recordings that was lauded by critics as “a symphonic masterpiece.”
Principal casting for the March run of Frankenstein includes Max Cauthorn, Esteban Hernández, Aaron Robison, and Joseph Walsh as Victor Frankenstein; Cavan Conley, Joshua Jack Price, Victor Prigent, and Wei Wang as the Creature; and Dores André, Frances Chung, Sasha De Sola, and Jasmine Jimison as Elizabeth Lavenza. Hernández, Conley, Price, Prigent, and Jimison will be debuting their respective roles in this production. Casting for the encore performances will be announced later this spring.