oberon Posted December 21, 2004 Share Posted December 21, 2004 Check out the casting for 12/30, the 50th Anniversary performance of the Balanchine NUTCRACKER...something like 5 SPFs, 7 cavaliers, and 2 Dewdrops! How are they going to do this????? Will they all dance at once? Take turns? I thought I was Nutcrackered out but I might have to see this! Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted December 21, 2004 Share Posted December 21, 2004 Sounds like they're sanctifying the "New Years' Follies" tradition where things get sillier and sillier as we get closer and closer to New Year's Eve. Link to comment
oberon Posted December 21, 2004 Author Share Posted December 21, 2004 Well, do you recall when Domingo & Pavarotti both sang Manrico is the Act III scene from TROVATORE on a Met telecast? They sang "Di quella pira" together. How many ballerinas will get to ride on that metal plate that night? And why so many cavaliers? Yes, it's a gimmick but why shouldn't they have some fun at the end of their long NUTCRACKER run? I have visions of 400 girls in Waltz of the Flowers, with colliding Dewdrops...it would have been really fun to have Peter play Drosselmeyer that night, Merrill Ashley & Jean-Pierre Frohlich as the Stahlbaums... Link to comment
carbro Posted December 22, 2004 Share Posted December 22, 2004 They must have taken it down, because when I just went to check (on line), casting went only as far as this week. Still, sounds like quite a hoot! Come on, you guys at NYCB! Put it back up!!! Link to comment
Dale Posted December 22, 2004 Share Posted December 22, 2004 Here's the casting for the week: Program and Casting Subject to Change * First time in role + Guest Artist # SAB Student George Balanchine's The Nutcracker™ December 27, 2004 - JANUARY 2, 2005 MONDAY MATINEE, DECEMBER 27, 2:00 PM [Wachs] Sugarplum: ANSANELLI Cavalier: MILLEPIED Dewdrop: FAIRCHILD Drosselmeier: HENDRICKSON Marzipan: EDGE Hot Chocolate: BARAK, VEYETTE Coffee: GOLBIN* Tea: CARMENA Candy Cane: DE LUZ Mother Ginger: J. STAFFORD Demi-Flowers: BESKOW, RUTHERFORD Columbine Doll: HYLTIN Harlequin Doll: FLYNN Soldier: FROMAN Mouse King: ORZA Hostess: BAR Host: la COUR MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 27, 6:00 PM [Quinn] Sugarplum: WHELAN Cavalier: MARTINS Dewdrop: TAYLOR Drosselmeier: KRAMAREVSKY Marzipan: TINSLEY Hot Chocolate: BAR, la COUR Coffee: HANSON Tea: HENDRICKSON Candy Cane: GOLD Mother Ginger: TWORZYANSKI Demi-Flowers: KEENAN, WOLF Columbine Doll: ZUNGRE Harlequin Doll: PAZCOGUIN Soldier: PARADISO Mouse King: SETH Hostess: ABERGEL Host: J. STAFFORD TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 28, 6:00 PM [Kaplow] Sugarplum: WEESE Cavalier: HANNA Dewdrop: KOWROSKI Drosselmeier: La FOSSE+ Marzipan: FAIRCHILD Hot Chocolate: GOLBIN, SETH Coffee: ARTHURS Tea: ULBRICHT Candy Cane: SEVERINI Mother Ginger: RAMASAR Demi-Flowers: BARAK, HANSON Columbine Doll: PISKIN Harlequin Doll: PECK Soldier: LAURENT Mouse King: ORZA Hostess: BESKOW Host: FOWLER WEDNESDAY MATINEE, DECEMBER 29, 2:00 PM [Moredock] Sugarplum: TAYLOR Cavalier: MARCOVICI Dewdrop: BOUDER Drosselmeier: FAYETTE Marzipan: DRONOVA Hot Chocolate: BESKOW, J. STAFFORD Coffee: GOLBIN Tea: HALL Candy Cane: SUOZZI Mother Ginger: TWORZYANSKI Demi-Flowers: RUTHERFORD, TINSLEY Columbine Doll: HYLTIN Harlequin Doll: FLYNN Soldier: ULBRICHT Mouse King: RAMASAR Hostess: ABERGEL Host: SETH WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 29, 6:00 PM [Wachs] Sugarplum: KOWROSKI Cavalier: ASKEGARD Dewdrop: WEESE Drosselmeier: KRAMAREVSKY Marzipan: RIGGINS Hot Chocolate: ABERGEL, FOWLER Coffee: BARAK Tea: LAURENT Candy Cane: HENDRICKSON Mother Ginger: RAMASAR Demi-Flowers: BAR, MULLER Columbine Doll: ZUNGRE Harlequin Doll: PAZCOGUIN Soldier: CARMENA Mouse King: SETH Hostess: BESKOW Host: J. STAFFORD THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 30, 6:00 PM [Quinn] 50th Anniversary Year special performance with one-time-only casting featuring 15 principal dancers to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker™ Sugarplum: BORREE, KISTLER, RINGER, WEESE WHELAN Cavalier: ASKEGARD, DE LUZ, HÜBBE, MARCOVICI, MARTINS, MILLEPIED, NEAL, SOTO Dewdrop: ANSANELLI, KOWROSKI Drosselmeier: FAYETTE Marzipan: TINSLEY Hot Chocolate: HIGGINS, RUTHERFORD Coffee: HANSON Tea: ULBRICHT Candy Cane: GOLD Mother Ginger: J. STAFFORD Demi-Flowers: ABERGEL, GOLBIN Columbine Doll: PISKIN Harlequin Doll: PECK Soldier: FROMAN Mouse King: RAMASAR Hostess: BAR Host: SETH SUNDAY MATINEE, JANUARY 2, 1:00 PM [Moredock] Sugarplum: BORREE Cavalier: HÜBBE Dewdrop: REICHLEN Drosselmeier: HENDRICKSON Marzipan: RIGGINS Hot Chocolate: MULLER, ORZA Coffee: BAR Tea: LAURENT Candy Cane: HALL Mother Ginger: TWORZYANSKI Demi-Flowers: KEENAN, WOLF Columbine Doll: HYLTIN Harlequin Doll: FLYNN Soldier: SEVERINI Mouse King: RAMASAR Hostess: BESKOW Host: FOWLER SUNDAY EVENING, JANUARY 2, 5:00 PM [Quinn] Sugarplum: RINGER Cavalier: NEAL Dewdrop: ANSANELLI Drosselmeier: La FOSSE+ Marzipan: EDGE Hot Chocolate: KEENAN, RAMASAR Coffee: ABERGEL Tea: CARMENA Candy Cane: ULBRICHT Mother Ginger: J. STAFFORD Demi-Flowers: BARAK, HANSON Columbine Doll: ZUNGRE Harlequin Doll: PAZCOGUIN Soldier: PARADISO Mouse King: ORZA Hostess: BAR Host: la COUR Link to comment
Leigh Witchel Posted December 22, 2004 Share Posted December 22, 2004 OK, five Sugar Plums and eight Cavaliers. You figure out the division. I think one guy gets a leg, the other a wing, the third a drumstick. . . Link to comment
Dale Posted December 22, 2004 Share Posted December 22, 2004 As it is, the one Cavalier doesn't really have much to do. I think they're going to have some couples enter phrase by phrase from the wings. It would be nice to have some former dancers on the stage as parents or the grandparents (like Ms. Tallchief, the original Sugar Plum Fairy). Link to comment
oberon Posted December 22, 2004 Author Share Posted December 22, 2004 Maybe they are all going to appear in the finale...they have 8 cavaliers for the 5 SPFs, 2 Dewdrops and the Marzipan...I get the feeling that somehow they will all be onstage together, though I can't imagine how it will be done. So...I have to go, if only out of curiosity. Also in the final NUTCRACKER week, Golbin has two Arabians...both at times that I can't go! Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted December 22, 2004 Share Posted December 22, 2004 I know! The SPFs will take on the Cavaliers as tag teams, best three falls out of five! Link to comment
sandik Posted December 22, 2004 Share Posted December 22, 2004 I know! The SPFs will take on the Cavaliers as tag teams, best three falls out of five! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> This is such a great image! As our president has said -- "bring it on." Link to comment
Dale Posted December 22, 2004 Share Posted December 22, 2004 From the company: NEW YORK CITY BALLET TO PRESENT A SPECIAL ONE-TIME-ONLY PERFORMANCE OF GEORGE BALANCHINE’S THE NUTCRACKER™ FEATURING 15 OF THE COMPANY’S PRINCIPAL DANCERS This Special Performance Will Take Place on Thursday, December 30, in Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Balanchine’s Holiday Classic New York City Ballet will present a special tribute to the 50th anniversary of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™ on Thursday, December 30, at 6 p.m., featuring 15 of the Company’s Principal Dancers in various roles. For this one-time-only performance, the role of the Sugarplum Fairy will be shared by Yvonne Borree, Darci Kistler, Jenifer Ringer, Miranda Weese, and Wendy Whelan. The role of her Cavalier will be shared by Principal Dancers Charles Askegard, Nikolaj Hübbe, Sebastién Marcovici, Nilas Martins, Benjamin Millepied, Philip Neal, and Jock Soto, as well as by Soloist Joaquin De Luz. The role of Dewdrop will be danced by Alexandra Ansanelli and Maria Kowroski, and James Fayette will perform the role of Herr Drosselmeier. The Nutcracker was chosen by choreographer and NYCB co-founder George Balanchine to be his first full-evening production for NYCB. At the time of its premiere, on February 2, 1954, at NYCB’s then-home, New York’s City Center of Music and Drama, the ballet was relatively unknown in this country. The success of Balanchine’s production for NYCB paved the way for The Nutcracker to become one of the most popular ballets in America, and for the music to become an essential part of the holiday season. The Nutcracker has been performed by NYCB in New York City every holiday season since its premiere. New York City Ballet welcomes Wachovia as the presentation sponsor of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™ this year. Performances of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™ continue at the New York State Theater through Sunday, January 2. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster at 212-307-4100, online at www.nycballet.com, or at the New York State Theater Box Office. The New York State Theater is located on the Lincoln Center Plaza at Columbus Avenue at 63rd Street. Link to comment
richard53dog Posted December 24, 2004 Share Posted December 24, 2004 I'm curious also about how this will be staged. I saw it today in the lobby of the NYST. Curiosity won out, I bought a ticket. Link to comment
carbro Posted December 24, 2004 Share Posted December 24, 2004 (edited) Here's my prediction: SPF's first entrance -- 1 woman SPF's variation -- 1 woman Adagio -- 1 woman supported by 4 men Coda -- 1 woman, 2 men Finale -- 1 woman, 2 men I'm not going to hazard a guess as to who gets which tidbits, but the arithmetic works. I'll be happy to take bets. Edited December 24, 2004 by carbro Link to comment
oberon Posted December 24, 2004 Author Share Posted December 24, 2004 carbro, I had basically the same idea...like richard, curiosity as to how it will be done is prompting me to go... Link to comment
charlieloki Posted December 24, 2004 Share Posted December 24, 2004 Here's my prediction:SPF's first entrance -- 1 woman SPF's variation -- 1 woman Adagio -- 1 woman supported by 4 men Coda -- 1 woman, 2 men Finale -- 1 woman, 2 men I'm not going to hazard a guess as to who gets which tidbits, but the arithmetic works. I'll be happy to take bets. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> only if farrell was cast (and p. martins, too) -- i'd go they'll probably need one of new york's finest to direct traffic and how will they handle all the necessary costuming maybe i'll go anyway - could be fun Link to comment
harpergroup Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 Well, the original broadcast of The Nutcracker on Playhouse 90 had Diana Adams as SPF, partnered by Candy Cane, Tea, Coffee (as played then by Arthur Mitchell, who smoked what looked like an opium pipe during his own variation - and then took a nap on stage), and lead Hot Chocolate. So my guess would be that they can lift at least some part of the choreography from Mr. B's own TV choreography. How they'll change off the ballerinas? I think carbro's pretty close. Link to comment
oberon Posted December 31, 2004 Author Share Posted December 31, 2004 For the most part, this was a "normal" NUTCRACKER. Act I was traditional, and highlighted by James Fayette's much-improved Drosselmeyer...more animated & theatrical in his presentation than even a couple of weeks ago. Henry Seth made an aristocratic Stahlbaum...Seth is one of the best actors in the company; his Rotbart was the best of all I have seen in Peter's production. Ellen Bar was the beauteous Frau. Andrea Quinn entered the pit for Act II wearing a silvery New Year's crown and brandishing an illuminated sceptre. Jenifer Ringer danced the entire opening solo (beautifully). Then the various dancers for the divertissement appeared, including both Dewdrops. Things then proceeded normally up to the Waltz of the Flowers... we had Rutherford & Higgins in Spanish, Dana Hanson's Arabian, Ulbricht's Tea, Tom Gold's Candy Cane, and a magnificent Marzipan from Ashley Bouder (replacing Tinsley)...I think Bouder may have added a few flourishes; her dancing was truly brilliant. Kowroski led off as Dewdrop, her extension driving me mad, and then Alexandra danced the next solo passage, her bejewelled eyelids accentuating her dazzling performance. She and Maria traded off on the solos and both appeared at the climax....and won enthusiastic applause. Darci & Jock danced the entire adagio...Jock's peerless partnering (to say nothing of his incredible charisma) will be sorely missed when he retires. Darci danced very nicely, though she leaned perilously forward while "floating" on the metal plate and then stepped quickly off. Her turns and hands are so beautiful. Then the cavaliers began to appear (Millepied having cancelled) for the coda, first Hubbe with Sebastian & Charles Askegard and later Nilas and Philip Neal did entrechats while Joaquin de Luz spun off about 1,000 pirouettes. Wendy, Yvonne Borree & Miranda Weese chased each other in a circle of pique turns. The finale brought a counter-melody of "Auld lange syne" played by the brass, while Wendy - tongue firmly in cheek - tossed handfuls of silver confetti whenever Jock lifted her into the air. All the SPFs, cavaliers & both Dewdrops then converged onstage to watch the children lift off in the sleigh. There was a warm ovation but I had a feeling that alot of people in the audience thought NUTCRACKER is always done this way. Happy New Year, everyone! And now, let the season begin... Link to comment
richard53dog Posted January 1, 2005 Share Posted January 1, 2005 and a magnificent Marzipan from Ashley Bouder (replacing Tinsley)...I think Bouder may have added a few flourishes; her dancing was truly brilliant. ....... ...Jock's peerless partnering (to say nothing of his incredible charisma) will be sorely missed when he retires. Darci danced very nicely, though she leaned perilously forward while "floating" on the metal plate and then stepped quickly off. Her turns and hands are so beautiful. Happy New Year to all! I have to say I wasn't too happy with a number of things with the Super Nutcracker, but I HAVE to agree on Bouder's stunning Marizipan. Wow. And also on the Adagio of the Sugar Plum. What gorgeous partnering. Kistler's dancing, particularly her arms were SO beautiful . richard Link to comment
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