“Scheherazade,” premiered by State Street Ballet in 2014, and “The Firebird,” premiered in 2013, return to The Granada Theatre for two performances to open State Street Ballet’s 2024/25 season, which celebrates the company’s 30-year anniversary.

The ballets will be accompanied by the Santa Barbara Symphony.

The two timeless tales transport audiences to mystical realms inhabited by intrepid female protagonists, the ballet company said.

The ballet “Scheherazade,” with choreography by Autumn Eckman and music by Nikolai
Rimsky-Korsakov, was first envisioned by State Street Ballet managing director Tim Mikel, who wrote the libretto.

Performers will be Saori Yamashita as Queen of the Sirens; Ryan Lenkey as The
Traveler; Harold Mendez as Hamid; and Amara Galloway as Fatima.

“The Firebird” features choreography by William Soleau, music by Igor Stravinsky,
and the company’s cast of international artists, joined by guest artist Rachel Hutsell, formerly of New York City Ballet, in the lead role.

The ballet tells the story of the magical Firebird and the ogre Kashchei, who captures maidens and turns men to stone if they enter his domain.

The plot centers on a prince, danced by Ethan Ahuero, who wanders into the ogre’s garden in pursuit of the Firebird, and falls in love with a captive maiden.

In this fable of good and evil, the prince is captured by the ogre’s monsters, and rescued by
the Firebird, who helps him destroy the ogre’s soul, and free the captives.

Performances are 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27. For tickets, visit granadasb.org.

For more about State Street Ballet, visit statestreetballet.com.