John Cranko

Stuttgart, Germany, 1960. Prosecuted for homosexual activity in London, up-and-coming choreographer John Cranko seeks refuge in the rather sleepy yet sympathetic city. With his charming demeanor, the manic workaholic swiftly revitalizes the local ballet company. After a controversial replacement of the prima donna and a series of new additions, Cranko’s first production of Romeo and Juliet is a sensational success. Cranko becomes the darling of the public, with a soon globally renowned ensemble, invited to perform at prestigious venues such as New York’s Metropolitan Opera. Driven by a quest for perfection in both art and love, Cranko grapples with destructive private setbacks, plunging into periods of profound loneliness and depression. However, as long as his devoted dancers stand by him, he sees no reason to alter his intoxicating lifestyle.

Presented by the Goethe-Institut San Francisco, with Premiere Sponsors Grants for the Arts and the Excelsior German Center