Interview with Adam Goldthwaite, narrator for Ballet Fantastique’s Pride & Prejudice
/This Valentine’s Day weekend Ballet Fantastique’s Cinematic Dance Season continues with a playful foray into Jane Austen's classic romance from resident choreographer-producers Donna Marisa and Hannah Bontrager. And true to Ballet Fantastique form, there’s a twist: Pride & Prejudice: A Parisian Jazz Ballet brings Austen's spirited women, nosy neighbors, embarrassing relatives, determined bachelors, and smarmy cads to life—in 1920's Paris.
Adam goldthwaite as parson collins / pride & prejudice 2016 / pc stephanie urso
Most people know ballet as a silent art form, but BFan’s never shy about straying from tradition. Live or recorded spoken word in the form of a character-narrator who helps guide the story has become a BFan signature.
“We’re creating immersive new dance theater,” says BFan choreographer-producer Hannah. “So…for audiences familiar with the book that inspires our story, our narration is rooted in this original but always with a fresh take. And for those new to a story, spoken word can make it more accessible. You never have to know the original to enjoy the drama (and jokes) on our stage.”
The twist? BFan’s Pride & Prejudice: A Parisian Jazz Ballet is narrated as a wedding homily, delivered with pomp from a pulpit by regular BFan guest actor Adam Goldthwaite, starring as the hilarious, self-important (and very not self-aware) Parson Collins.
We sat down with Adam to learn about his acting career and get the inside scoop on what it’s like to step into the unique role of narrating…a ballet.
—Interview with Isabelle Bloodgood
First, please tell us a little bit more about yourself and your acting career? Where did you get started?
Well I’m from Eugene originally, and I was heavily involved in community theater during high school and throughout my formative years. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with incredible local companies like Actors Cabaret, Lord Leebrick Theatre, and the Willamette Repertory Theater back when they were still around. I’ve been collaborating with Ballet Fantastique for a really long time now. I think about 12 years!
Adam goldthwaite / as you like it 2012 / pc greg burns
How did you first get involved with Ballet Fantastique and what was the first performance you narrated?
I’m trying to recall my very first performance with BFan—it might have been their Western-inspired take on William Shakespeare’s As You Like It. I’ve actually known Hannah since high school, and she originally approached me to narrate that show. Ever since then, I’ve been fortunate to keep collaborating with Ballet Fantastique, and it’s been great. [Note: As You Like It was BFan’s first story ballet, premiering in 2012!]
We are so excited to have you back as Parson Collins for our upcoming performance of Pride & Prejudice. Tell us a little bit more about this character.
Parson Collins is an overly eager and self-assured pastor with high hopes of winning the hand of one of the beautiful Bennet sisters. In this adaptation, the Bennet sisters’ father owns this cabaret, which Parson Collins stands to inherit after his passing. Believing himself to be benevolent, Collins devises a plan to marry one of the sisters—thinking it’s a generous gesture that would allow the family to retain some connection to the cabaret, albeit under his control.
What are some of the other characters you have played for Ballet Fantastique? Do you have a favorite?
I like playing Parson Collins quite a bit—this character gets to dance in the performance as well. I don’t normally get a chance to dance on stage, so it’s a really nice, fun, rare opportunity to be playful physically. Another favorite role of mine is Marley’s Ghost in BFan’s Christmas Carol. Performing that character is always an absolute joy. That show has become a personal favorite over the years; we’ve performed it so many times, and it has such a magical holiday vibe. Plus, singing alongside Halie Loren is an incredible honor. The production feels so well-rounded and heartwarming—it’s a treat to be part of.
Of course, there’s also the characters I narrated in As You Like It and Robin Hood.
Adam goldthwaite / robin hood 2023/ pc chapell miller
Robin Hood was such an incredible show with you as our medieval bard! I think that was my first show performing with you, so it really stands out in my mind.
Yes, Robin Hood was truly something special. That production came together so beautifully—it had this energy and depth that really made it stand out. I got to do some accent work, which was a lot of fun, and it was such a satisfying show to perform in. It’s definitely a standout in my mind as well.
Each of these characters are so unique. Do you get to come up with these personas?
Donna and Hannah usually place a lot of trust in my character work, which is something I really appreciate. Of course, they always have the final say in the direction they want me to take, and sometimes I’ll give them a couple of options.
For example, back in 2016, when we performed Pride & Prejudice for the second time, I thought it would be hilarious to give Parson Collins a French accent. I even read them a monologue in my over-the-top, phony French accent—I thought it was absolutely hilarious! While it got a few laughs, they decided it might be too hard for the audience to understand, so we stuck with my original character choice.
Hannah and Donna trust me quite a bit to bring what I can bring to the table. It’s a real treat to have that trust and to be able to really experiment with different character choices.
Adam Goldthwaite / american christmas carol 2024 / pc jeremy bronson
Incorporating narration into a ballet sounds like it can be difficult at times. What are some of the challenges you and the artistic staff have faced?
I think one of the challenges for me is to fill the space in the best way that I can for the show. That means being very intentional with my tone, pace, and physicality—everything I do has to serve the flow and energy of the show. It’s a unique experience to be the only voice in an otherwise voiceless performance. While that can be a challenge, it can also be really, really fun because they give me a lot of license to play. The trickiest part is striking the right balance with tone and energy.
When a piece finishes and the audience is clapping, is it hard to know when to start your monologues?
Not anymore—it’s become second nature at this point. There’s a natural rhythm to the applause, and you learn to recognize the arc. You don’t want to wait until the applause dies out completely, but you also have to time it so your line comes in clearly just as the clapping crests. I’m a big believer in avoiding dead air on stage unless it’s an intentional choice, so I’m always mindful of keeping my cues tight to maintain the momentum.
Adam Goldthwaite / american christmas carol 2024 / pc jeremy bronson
I think having the live narration really helps with those transitions, especially when we have live music and the band needs a moment between pieces.
These three styles I like to think of as the BFan trifecta. Having dancers, live music, and narration is a very unique way to perform ballet. Ballet Fantastique does some really unique special stuff with ballet such as choosing stories that are not traditional to ballet and using live music, which most companies don’t have the luxury of doing.
Any thoughts on what you would want to narrate next for BFan?
I would love to narrate Robin Hood again, I think that show was a huge success. But thinking of shows I want to narrate I’d say Princess Bride. It would be a lot of fun to do a Peter Falk impression.
What do you think audiences love about this show?
I think the show has a really fun heart. It weaves together romance, joy, and a sense of playfulness, all set to approachable, lively music with a distinctly Parisian flair. It’s truly charming.
