American Ballet Theatre has announced a $1 million gift from Tara and John Milne to support the company's new production of The Sleeping Beauty. The four-act ballet, scheduled for its premiere on June 1 this year, is choreographed by artistic director Kevin McKenzie after Marius Petipa, and assisted by former ABT ballerina Gelsey Kirkland.

The ABT’s new production features sets by Tony Walton, costumes by Willa Kim and lighting by Richard Pilbrow and Dawn Chiang. ABT will present eleven performances of the ballet from June 1 through June 9 at the Metropolitan Opera House.

It will then travel to the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, California, for seven performances July 17-22.

“Ballet is my passion, and John and I are so pleased to help bring ABT’s very special production of The Sleeping Beauty to the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House this spring,” said Tara Milne.

“Rachel Moore, ABT executive director, said, “The Sleeping Beauty is one of the most important ballets in the classical dance canon. The Milnes’ gift helps us to bring this glorious ballet back to ABT's repertory and will allow us to share the beauty of this production with audiences across the globe.”