Mick Jagger, Katie Holmes, and Prabal Gurung Fêted The ABT Summer Gala

On Thursday evening, a chic group of New Yorkers, clad in colorful ensembles reminiscent of summer blooms, gathered at the Metropolitan Opera House to celebrate the American Ballet Theatre Summer Gala with the New York Premiere of Christopher Wheeldon’s Like Water For Chocolate.

Wheeldon, who was deeply moved by the 1992 film adaptation (itself inspired by Laura Esquivel’s celebrated 1989 novel), brought the story to life with spellbinding choreography. The performance weaves together an emotional tapestry of romance, family drama, and folklore set in early 20th-century Mexico. At the core of the story lies Tita de la Garza, performed by Cassandra Trenary, a young woman bound by social conventions, whose emotional journey is embodied through the art of cooking. In a mesmerizing blend of magical realism and storytelling, the performance conveyed a myriad of emotions, intertwining grace and passion that resonated deeply with the audience.

Vibrant costumes designed by Bob Crowley took the audience back to 1910 Mexico, and at the end of the performance came the on-stage appearance of Laura Esquivel herself, who sparked an electrifying standing ovation with the entire audience holding their phones up in the sky to capture the momentous occasion.

At the end of the three-part ballet, guests made their way to the grand reception hall, decorated in warm summer florals. The evening honored founding member of ABT’s global council and founder of Ballet de Monterrey, Yolanda Santos, as well as Esquivel herself. Before guests could even finish their second course, a sudden wave of groove swept the air (perhaps the presence of Rolling Stones legend Mick Jagger was responsible for this), and everyone eagerly converged around the dancefloor before dessert had even arrived, drawn by the magnetic pull of a magical evening.