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He admits that “Dracula” has a special place in his heart, and has long resonated with the LGBT community. “There’s something so sensual and sexual about vampires,” he says. “This is such a piece of theater. Everyone seems to know the Atlanta Ballet for ‘Dracula.’ The show has so many homoerotic moments in it. The vampires are just looking to feed but it seems so sexual.”
The Atlanta Ballet hosted the North America debut of the show in 1998. It’s been five years since they last staged it.
Wallenberg will perform three times during the two week run, and his final performance will be at 8 p.m. on February 16th. That performance will be the company’s NiteOUT at the Ballet. (Discounted tickets (up to four) are available at tickets.atlantaballet.com, using the promo code OUT.)
The NiteOUT evening materialized after Wallenberg approached the company’s marketing department about inviting his gay friends to a performance and they all decided to make a special night out of it. He is hopeful that the company will have more similar nights in the future.
Top photo: Top: Openly gay dancer Brian Wallenberg plays Harker, seen here with Dracula, played by Jonah Hooper. The Feb. 16 NiteOut performance marks Wallenberg’s last with the Atlanta Ballet. (Photos by C. McCullers courtsey the Atlanta Ballet)