2018 Nutcracker

[Helene]

I thought I'd already posted the press release for Nutcracker, but I can't find it, so here it is:

 

PACIFIC NORTHWEST BALLET PRESENTS

 

November 23 – December 28, 2018

Marion Oliver McCaw Hall

321 Mercer Street at Seattle Center

Seattle, WA 98109

“PNB's production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker is the perfect blend of masterful choreography, visual splendor, and orchestral triumph. Balanchine’s choreography is considered the gold standard, and Falconer’s whimsical and witty designs feel freshly minted. Everyone has their personal favorite moments: Whether it’s meddlesome mice, floating angels, swirling snowflakes seen through blue-tinted birches, or a gigantic glass star, we’re guessing you’ll leave the theater filled with wonder and joy. You might even dance up the aisles.”

-- PNB Artistic Director Peter Boal

SEATTLE, WA – Pacific Northwest Ballet’s sparkling production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker^®returns to Seattle Center’s McCaw Hall for 33 performances November 23 through December 28, 2018. Featuring eye-popping colorful sets and costumes by Ian Falconer (creator of Olivia the Pig), Tchaikovsky’s timeless score performed live by the mighty PNB Orchestra, and the beloved story of Clara and her Nutcracker prince, PNB’s production is a delight for audiences young and old. Tickets to this year’s run may be purchased through the PNB Box Office at 206.441.2424, online at PNB.org, or in person at 301 Mercer St. (Be mindful of unauthorized third-party online ticket resellers! When purchasing tickets for PNB’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker^®, order directly through PNB for peace of mind.)

 

2018 NUTCRACKER PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Day	Date	Times
Friday	Nov. 23	7:30pm* *Opening night/benefit performance – see “Special Events,” below
Saturday	Nov. 24	2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday	Nov. 25	12:30 pm
Saturday	Dec. 1	2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday	Dec. 2	12:30 pm & 5:30 pm
Friday	Dec. 7	7:30pm
Saturday	Dec. 8	2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday	Dec. 9	12:30 pm & 5:30 pm
Friday	Dec. 14	7:30 pm
Saturday	Dec. 15	2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday	Dec. 16	12:30 pm & 5:30 pm
Wednesday	Dec. 19	7:30 pm
Thursday	Dec. 20	2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Friday	Dec. 21	2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Saturday	Dec. 22	2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday	Dec. 23	12:30 pm & 5:30 pm
Monday	Dec. 24	12:30 pm
Wednesday Thursday	Dec. 26 Dec. 27	12:30 pm & 5:30 pm 12:30 pm & 5:30 pm
Friday	Dec. 28	12:30 pm

 

[Helene]

SPECIAL EVENTS:

Nutcracker Opening Night Benefit Performance

Friday, November 23, 7:30 pm

Give thanks and give back when you join PNB for opening night of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker^®. Each Nutcracker season, nearly 200 PNB School students, from Party Guests to Snowflakes, perform in The Nutcracker. PNB provides almost $750,000 annually in scholarship support for students like these, and this is your opportunity to applaud the hard work of PNB School students on-stage and in the studios by attending this very special benefit performance while raising much-needed funds for PNB School and The Seattle Times Fund For The Needy. Enjoy the opening night performance of The Nutcracker with lobby entertainment and crafts, and a keepsake souvenir Nutcracker memento to cherish for years. All tickets for the November 23 performance include a nominal, tax-deductible donation to Fund For The Needy and Pacific Northwest Ballet School. Visit PNB.org/season/events/Nutcracker-Benefit for more information.

Opening Weekend Festivities

Celebrate opening weekend of The Nutcracker (Nov. 23-25) and kick off the start of the holiday season with crafts and activities, magicians, dance classes, and more. On Sunday, November 25, Seattle Girls Choir will serenade attendees in the McCaw Hall lobby. Free with admission.

See the Ballet…and Play the Instruments

Classical KING FM, in collaboration with Music Center Northwest, will host their ever-popular Instrument Petting Zoo at The Nutcracker matinees on December 2, 8, and 9. Stop by and get a feel for the instruments that make Tchaikovsky’s music come to life! Free with admission.

 Nutcracker Suites at McCaw

Skip the lines and bustle of the lobby at half-time! Treat you and yours to an enchanted intermission experience in the Nutcracker Suite. The Nutcracker Suite takes the stress out of intermission and adds to the memorable wonder of your trip to the ballet, with a private buffet of savory and sweet snacks, plus beverages for both youngsters and adults. Nutcracker Suites are $35 per person (includes applicable tax and service charge); performance tickets sold separately. To purchase, visit PNB.org/NutcrackerSuites.

Listen to the Ballet

PNB partners with Classical KING FM 98.1 to bring listeners some of the world’s most popular ballet scores, featuring the world famous Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra. Tune in for a broadcast of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker^® on Sunday, December 23. Exclusively on KING FM, 98.1 fm or online at KING.org/listen.

FAQs for PNB Kids

Visit PNB.org/Community/PNB-Kids for helpful hints and frequently asked questions about attending the ballet with children.

 

Nutcracker 2018_11_15.xlsx

[Helene]

Casting is up for the four performances of first weekend, including the Opening Night benefit performance on Friday, November 23 (scroll):

https://www.pnb.org/nutcracker/

 

Here's a link to the downloadable spreadsheet:

Nutcracker 2018_11_15.xlsx

[tutu]

Noelani Pantastico announced in a public Facebook post that she is out with an injury: 

So we should expect a change to the November 25 casting, at least.

Get well soon, Ms. Pantastico! 

[Helene]

Yikes, six months goes back to the end of last season and before Paris.  I hope her ankle heals with rest and that she doesn't have to have surgery.

[Helene]

An article on the Nutcracker costumes:

https://www.seattletimes.com/sponsored/peek-inside-a-nutcracker-costume-bible/

with the statement that "Though the show is only onstage for five weeks, PNB’s “Nutcracker” accounts for over half of the organization’s ticket revenue."  Wow, I didn't realize it was that much.  

But for those wondering about Balanchine Trust input into redesigns, in this case,

Quote

The sketches were then approved (or sent back to the designer) by the George Balanchine Trust, an organization which facilitates the licensing of Balanchine’s works while protecting their integrity. You’ll notice their influence especially in the Waltz of the Flowers scene. While Falconer originally sketched green tights for the Dewdrop costume, the Trust required that they remain traditionally pink. And where Falconer envisioned short, pancake tutus for the Flowers, the Trust mandated that the tutus remained long and lush, like the original Romantic tutus.

The resulting flowers costumes are stunning, and the skirts made of petals move really beautifully.

[sandik]

On 11/20/2018 at 11:29 PM, Helene said:

An article on the Nutcracker costumes:

https://www.seattletimes.com/sponsored/peek-inside-a-nutcracker-costume-bible/

with the statement that "Though the show is only onstage for five weeks, PNB’s “Nutcracker” accounts for over half of the organization’s ticket revenue."  Wow, I didn't realize it was that much.  

But for those wondering about Balanchine Trust input into redesigns, in this case,

The resulting flowers costumes are stunning, and the skirts made of petals move really beautifully.

The article is primarily about the costumes, but I think it's pretty clear from looking at the second act set that the Trust doesn't want anyone straying too far from their original designs.  I've seen a couple other works designed by Falconer that were much more innovative than this, which is primarily a loving homage to the Ter Arutunian set.

[Helene]

The Black Friday Nutcracker ticket sale is ongoing through December 5 PT; there should be a sale pop-up when you go to the pnb site.

Casting is up for second weekend (scroll):

https://www.pnb.org/nutcracker/

 

Here's the link to the downloadable spreadsheet:

Nutcracker 2018_11_26.xlsx

 

Noelani Pantastico posted about her injury, so it wasn't surprising when she was replaced, but Benjamin Griffiths, who was originally cast as Leta Biasucci's opening night partner and then later for Candy Cane was replaced by Lucien Postlewaite (Pantastico's original partner) and Kyle Davis.  I hope he's back soon.

Here's a lovely picture from PNB's FB page of Leta Biasucci as Sugar Plum Fairy:

 

[Helene]

The quote in the FB post leads to local critic Melody Datz Hansen's blog post on the production, which includes a link to a PNB instagram post with a short film clip of the end of the Grand Pas de Deux'

 

[Helene]

Two weeks down already?  How did that happen?

Casting is up for Week 3 (scroll):

https://www.pnb.org/nutcracker/

Here's the link to the updated downloadable spreadsheet:

Nutcracker 2018_12_03.xlsx

 

The Black Friday sales for selected dates, including all five of this coming weekend's performances, is on through December 5, 11:59pm PST.  The promo code by phone is "BLACKFRIDAY" (206 441-2424"), and the link, with embedded promo code and a list of dates, including which are 20% off and which are 30% off) is here:

https://www.pnb.org/mypromo/?promo=BlackFriday&uid=6077%3D16573

[Helene]

The Seattle Times just published an article about Nutcracker schedule for the dancers, and it includes quotes from Madison Rayn Abeo and Cecilia Iliesiu.

https://www.seattletimes.com/sponsored/from-snowflake-to-sugar-plum-fairy-how-dancers-handle-nutcracker-time/

This reminds me of college, when we only had the extended Thanksgiving weekend off, and families from New York to Boston hosted friends who couldn't get home to the rest of the country for Thanksgiving:

Quote

 

Those lucky enough to have family nearby, like Abeo, invite them to see their “Nutcracker” performances – and share the holidays with Seattle transplants.

“Since my parents live nearby, every year we have a big dinner for all the dancers who don’t have somewhere to spend the holiday,” says Abeo.

 

 

[Helene]

Week 4 casting is up (scroll):'

https://www.pnb.org/nutcracker/

Here's the link to the downloadable spreadsheet (past weeks underneath the current week):

Nutcracker 2018_12_09.xlsx

Madison Ryan Abeo is getting her wish:  she will dance Sugar Plum Fairy with Kyle Davis on Sunday, December 16 at 12:30pm.  It's not marked as a debut, and Davis was listed as Rachel Foster's partner on December 1, although it isn't clear when she and Cecilia Iliesiu, her Dewdrop, were interviewed for the article linked above, which is dated December 3.  In the interview, she said she was practicing with Christian Poppe, who is cast as Tea. I hope Rachel Foster is okay.

[Helene]

Elle Macy gives a backstage tour before her performance of Dewdrop; in it we learn that Noelani Pantastico has performed Grandmother!

 

 

[Helene]

And an endorsement from Jinkx Monsoon, with PNB Concertmaster Michael Jinsoo Lim:

 

[Helene]

Casting is up through Christmas Eve (scroll):

https://www.pnb.org/nutcracker/

Link to the downloadable spreadsheet:

Nutcracker 2018_12_15.xlsx