Nutcracker

[Alexandra]

A press release from the company:

Excitement is running high every hour of every every day as the 130 dancers -- including 95 children -- of OBT's Nutcracker company prepare to debut the first West Coast production of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker.

From the tiniest angels to the magnificent Sugar Plum Fairy, these dancers will steal our hearts for 21 performances beginning December 11 at Keller Auditorium.

Opening night is Thursday, December 11 at 7:30 PM. Please let me know when you'd like to see the production. You are most encouraged to see it more than once, as the cast will change frequently.

There are lots of fascinating facts in the history of the Nutcracker, including these about the current OBT production:

All in the family

Christopher Stowell’s mother, Francia Russell, a former New York City Ballet dancer and now co-artistic director (with Kent Stowell) of Pacific Northwest Ballet, trained the children’s Nutcracker corps at NYCB for many years. OBT Artistic Director Christopher Stowell’s first dance role was the Nutcracker/Prince at Pacific Northwest Ballet, before he’d taken a single dance lesson. He was 11. Alexander Poe (party child) is following in the footsteps of his father, Kevin (Drosselmeier) and mother, Nicole Cuevas, a former OBT dancer. Emily Locke’s (soldier) father, Frederic, is also a former OBT dancer and three sets of sisters grace this OBT production: Jadyn and Kylan Meyer (party children/soldiers), Dalia (polichinelle) and Marissa (soldier) Taylor, and Genevieve Boutelle (candy cane) and Kjirstin Wodtli (soldier/polichinelle).

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Events Associated with OREGON BALLET THEATRE’s Production of

George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker

Friday, November 28 9 - 11 AM Free

Meier & Frank Holiday Parade

Through Downtown Portland

Toy Soldiers escort a carriage with the Sugar Plum Fairy, Nutcracker, and Mice

Saturday, November 29 1:30 – 2:30 PM Free, with Museum Admission

Children’s Museum, Washington Park

Meet the Sugar Plum Fairy, Nutcracker and Toy Soldiers

Monday, December 1 4 – 5 PM

Nutcracker Tea

Heathman Hotel, SW Broadway at Salmon

Fremont & Morrison Rooms

Tickets: 503-227-0977, ext. 208

Dance Talk 7 – 8 PM Free

Dancing Balanchine/Watching Balanchine

Winningstad Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway at Main

Former NYCB principal dancer Merrill Ashley and dance scholar Nancy Goldner discuss Balanchine, in general, and The Nutcracker, in particular. Ms. Goldner was in the first, 1954 performance of Balanchine’s Nutcracker and Ms. Ashley’s repertory of Balanchine’s works includes more than 50 ballets, spanning two decades. An extraordinary opportunity to learn about Balanchine from one of his principal ballerinas as well as a critic steeped in his tradition. Reservations: 503-227-0977, ext. 213.

Sunday, December 7 3 – 3:30 PM Free

Providence Festival of Trees

Oregon Convention Center, Exhibit Hall A

Nancy Killough provides a brief introduction to the ballet. Polichinelles (small clowns) perform.

Saturday, December 13 4:15 PM

Saturday, December 20 4:15 PM

Sugar Plum Party

First Balcony, Keller Auditorium, immediately following the 2 PM matinee

Refreshments, party favors and photos with your favorite Nutcracker characters.

$25, in addition to a performance ticket. Reservations required: 503-222-5538.