Chesbrough has been at the center of controversy about the New York City Ballet's annual performances at SPAC. In February, he announced that the summer residency, which loses hundreds of thousands of dollars, would end this year. After protests, he said that NYCB would return at least through 2005.
Earlier this fall, Chesbrough told board members that he would step down before his contract expires in 2006, and has now signed a separation agreement under which he will leave by October 31, 2005. He may depart earlier if a replacement can be found before the 2005 summer season, SPAC spokesperson Helen Edelman told the Record.
"Herb's going to be a very hard act to follow," Edelman said.
