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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

To: ___________________________________________

From: Emily Webb, General Manager

Date: November 1, 2014

Information: (360) 714-1246, (360)421-4013 or info@northwestballet.org

 

The Magic of the Season Returns with NBT’s The Nutcracker Dec. 6-21

 

  Audiences of all ages continue to celebrate the month of December with its favorite 

holiday tradition. With the holidays just around the corner, families are making plans to experience  at least one performance of The Nutcracker. Artistic Director John Bishop’s production of this festive classic has set the bar high among  holiday entertainment options. Northwest Ballet Theater has performed a full-length version of The Nutcracker ballet since 1999.  In 2006, with growing community support,  the company was able to create an even more elaborate production than ever before with beautiful scenic backdrops made in Russia, classical tutus made by professional seamstresses in New York and exciting set pieces and technical effects that created an unforgettable theater experience. Now there is so much to experience in this holiday spectacle that audiences return year after year to see what they might have missed. This year the company has added a new Snow Kingdom scenic drop painted by professional artist Karen Bakke. Principal Dancers Josh Deininger and Shannon Behrens from Seattle will dance the roles of Cavalier Prince and Sugar Plum Fairy.

 In its humble beginnings, NBT began as a simple yet grand pas de deux.  Each year, fresh new

elements would be added to enhance the quality and visual beauty of the production.  Today,  it has

grown into the number one holiday experience in this part of Washington and what audiences know

and love today. The Nutcracker story is based on a family holiday celebration where neighborhood

friends gather for entertainment, festive dancing and gift giving.  When Clara’s(Julia Schwartz) mysterious uncle(John Bishop) appears and gives his young niece a nutcracker doll the adventure begins to take hold. At the end of the party, Clara falls asleep and transforms into a young woman who must save her Nutcracker from the evil Mouse King who wants his power and his kingdom. The Nutcracker, with Clara’s brave effort defeats the Mouse King and his army and Clara’s wooden doll is transformed into a handsome prince.  In gratitude, the prince takes Clara on a fantastic journey through the Land of Snow to his Kingdom of Sweets where he is greeted by the Dew Drop and her royal court. After celebratory dances the Cavalier and Sugar Plum Fairy dance an elegant  duet with exciting solos and coda. The ballet ends in a grand finale and Clara’s dream comes to an end. Or was it really a dream?

 

Nutcracker is our great repertory ballet. With multiple performances each season, Baby Mice can dream of one day being party girls and Chinese dancers, Snowflakes, and Flowers and, ultimately, the role of Clara, in which Company women make their debut as a ballerina.  As students and Company grow up through The Nutcracker, so the ballet grows with us, constantly renewing itself and offering challenges and insights about ballet, and life, to the next generation.

 

Nutcracker Show Times/Venue/Tickets($15-30), discounts for seniors, students, military with ID)
Pictures with Northwest Ballet Theater dancers available in the lobby after each performance!

 

Sat/Sun, Dec. 6 & 7,  7:30pm/2pm  @ Port Angeles Performing Arts Center   360-547-5511 or www.jffa.org

Sat/Sun, Dec. 13 & 14, 7:30pm/2pm , @ Mount Baker Theatre/ 734-6080 or www.mountbakertheatre.com
Sat/Sun, Dec. 20 & 21, 7:30pm/ 2pm  @ McIntyre Hall/ 416-7727 or www.mcintyrehall.org
 

Note to Editors: Interviews with Artistic Director,, NBT Board President, or company dancers, and high-resolution images are available upon request.