At the Ballet

The 46th Annual Production of

The Nutcracker

If the music sounds sweeter than sugarplums, the dancers seem lighter than air, and the snowflakes sparkle more brightly than ever before, you’re not dreaming. After all, experiencing the 46th annual production of this Austin holiday tradition in our shining new performing arts center is sure to be an exceptionally festive feast for the senses. Ballet Austin’s production of The Nutcracker is Texas’ longest running production of this classic and with a different “celebrity” playing the role of Mother Ginger in each performance, every show guarantees an extra bit of memory-making merriment.

Choreography by Stephen Mills
Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Musical Accompaniment by The Austin Symphony Orchestra

Tickets

Order online.

Mother Ginger Guest Stars

Radio Spot

The Nutcracker iMix

Ballet History

The Nutcracker ballet is based on the book called "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" written by E.T.A. Hoffman.

In 1891, the legendary choreographer Marius Petipa commissioned Tchaikovsky to write the music for The Nutcracker ballet.

In 1892, the first showing of the Nutcracker took place at the Mariinsky Theatre of Russia, home of the Kirov Ballet.

The Nutcracker made its way to Western Europe in the 1930's and to America by 1940, performed by Ballet Russe. The first American full length Nutcracker was performed by the San Francisco Ballet, choreographed by W. Christensen. The Nutcracker has since become an annual Holiday tradition.

A selection of eight of the more popular numbers from the ballet was made by the composer, forming The Nutcracker Suite, designed for concert performance. The titles of the ballet (simply The Nutcracker) and the suite (The Nutcracker Suite) are frequently confused.

The version that Ballet Austin puts on stage is a variation of the original that was choreographed by Stephen Mills.

Musical Notes

Ballet Austin's The Nutcracker - Music by Tchaikovsky

Act I

• Overture
  
• The Christmas Tree
  
• March
  
• Journey Through the Snow
  
• Waltz of the Snowflakes

Act II

• Chocolate (The Spanish Dance)
  
• Coffee (The Arabian Dance)
  
• Tea (The Chinese Dance)
  
• Trepak (The Russion Dance)
  
• Dance of the Mirlitons
  
• Mother Ginger and the Clowns
  
• Waltz of the Flowers
  
• Pas de Deux
  
• Tarantella
  
• Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
  
• Coda

Production Photos

Click image for larger version

Reviews

The Nutcracker 2008
Austin American-Statesman

By Jeanne Claire van Ryzin | Monday, December 8, 2008, 02:03 PM

Something magical happened to Ballet Austin’s production of ‘The Nutcracker’ now at the Long Center for the first time.

It glitters like never before.

After years in the University of Texas’ Bass Concert Hall — and last year spent at the Paramount Theatre while the Long Center finished construction and the Bass was under renovation — ‘The Nutcracker’ has landed in its new home with a re-invigorated splash of sugar and spice.

Maybe it’s the Long Center’s sharp acoustics that make Tchaikovsky’s romantic score sparkle. (The necessary use of recorded music last year at the Paramount gave the show a dreary feel.) Guest conductor Jeff Eckstein led the Austin Symphony Orchestra in an engaging performance.

Maybe it’s the excitement of performing in a new permanent venue built just for Austin’s top trio of performing arts groups (Ballet Austin, Austin Symphony Orchestra and Austin Lyric Opera). Across the cast Saturday night, the dancers projected verve and excitement. They have room to breathe on the Long Center stage and it showed Saturday night with bright, animated performances. Rebecca Johnson and Edward McPherson gave an as the pair of Arabian dancers. As the Sugar Plum Fairy, Aare Krumpe and Allisyn Paino’s Snow Queen was utter elegance.

Then again maybe it’s Tony Tucci’s refreshed lighting scheme that gives this ‘Nutcracker’ a pretty new shimmery look. Tucci washes the magical Land of Snow with soft violet shades and adds some fun special effects when Clara’s house morphs into a dreamlike world. And to the Land of the Sweets, Tucci adds nice touches of subtle motion and shifting mood.

Thanks to the Long Center’s superb sight lines, the pretty freshness of this ‘Nutcracker’ projects even up in the balcony where the budget-minded can find seats for $12 to $45. (The show runs about 2 hours and ten minutes including intermissions.)

And after a year’s hiatus, the guest Mother Ginger role is back. Who doesn’t enjoy watching a local personality goof it up while dressed in a giant red hoop skirt?

And who wouldn’t enjoy letting this ‘Nutcracker’ transport them away?

The Nutcracker Interactive

Want to learn more about The Nutcracker? Explore The Nutcracker interactive by clicking the icon below!