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At the Ballet

The 47th 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 47th annual production of Austin's holiday tradition 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 Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky

Musical Accompaniment by The Austin Symphony Orchestra

Tickets $15 - $73

The Nutcracker

 

Get TicketsThe Long Center
7:30pm | Dec 5, 11, 12Audio description available for visually impaired, 18Audio description available for visually impaired, 19Audio description available for visually impaired, 21, 22
2pm | Dec 6, 13, 19, 20Audio description available for visually impaired, 23

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Sponsored by:
        
          

Mother Ginger Guest Stars

December 5, 7:30 pm Art Acevedo, Chief of Police
December 6, 2:00 pm Lucy C. Nazro, Head of School St. Andrew’s Episcopal School
December 11, 7:30 pm Terri Gruca, KVUE News Anchor
December 12, 7:30 pm Marc Ott, Austin City Manager
December 13, 2:00 pm Gail Goestenkors, Head Coach of UT Women’s Basketball
December 18, 7:30 pm Pam LeBlanc, Fitness Writer Austin American-Statesman
December 19, 2:00 pm Col. Donald M. MacWillie, Fort Hood Commander of the United States Army Operational Test Command
December 19, 7:30 pm Lee Leffingwell, Mayor of Austin
December 20, 2:00 pm Terri McCormick, Majic 95 DJ
December 21, 7:30 pm Sara Hickman, Musician
December 22, 7:30 pm Robert Barnhart, Film Producer
December 23, 2:00 pm Rich Segal, News 8 Austin Meteorologist

 


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


The Nutcracker Interactive

The Nutcracker
Ballet Austin's 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 gaurantees an extra bit of memory-making merriment. Learn more about Ballet Austin's The Nutcracker: Launch interactive micro-site.


The Nutcracker
Cast List

Act I  
 
Herr Silberhaus Frank Shott (December 5, 11, 13, 19 @ 2pm, 20, 22)  
Paul Michael Bloodgood (December 6, 12, 18, 19 @ 7:30pm, 21, 23)
Frau Silberhaus Aara Krumpe
Clara Rachel Fresques (December 5, 11, 13, 19 @ 2pm, 20, 22)
Macrina Butler (December 6, 12, 18, 19 @7:30pm, 21, 23)
Fritz Kyle Zemborain (December 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18)
Ian Blake (December 19 @ 2pm & 7:30pm, 20, 21, 22, 23)
Drosselmeyer Edward Carr
Governess Michelle Thompson (December 5, 11, 13, 19 @ 2pm, 20, 22)
Anne Marie Melendez (December 6, 12, 18, 19 @ 7:30pm, 21, 23)
Guests Chelsea Renner, Brittany Strickland, Oren Porterfield, Kirby Wallis
Ian Bethany, Orlando Canova, Jordan Moser, David van Ligon
(December 5, 11, 13, 19 @ 2pm, 20, 22)
Chelsea Renner, Brittany Strickland, Beth Terwilleger, Kirby Wallis
Ian Bethany, Matthew Cotter, Jordan Moser, David van Ligon
(December 6, 12, 18, 19 @ 7:30pm, 21, 23)  
Dresden Doll Beth Terwilleger (December 5, 11, 13, 19 @ 2pm, 20, 22)
Oren Porterfield (December 6, 12, 18, 19 @ 7:30pm, 21, 23)
Pierrot Doll Matthew Cotter (December 5, 11, 13, 19 @ 2pm, 20, 22)
Orlando Canova (December 6, 12, 18, 19 @ 7:30pm, 21, 23)
Nutcracker Prince Michael Villella (December 5, 11, 13, 19 @ 2pm, 20, 22)
Dylan Duke (December 6, 12, 18, 19 @ 7:30pm, 21, 23)
Rat King Phillip Ollenburg
Snow Queen Rebecca Johnson (December 5, 11, 13, 19 @ 2pm, 20, 22)
Jaime Lynn Witts (December 6, 12, 18, 19 @ 7:30pm, 21, 23)
Snow King Joseph Hernandez (December 5, 11, 13, 19 @ 2pm, 20, 22)
Christopher Swaim (December 6, 12, 18, 19 @ 7:30pm, 21, 23)
Snow Flakes Emily Cloyd, Kelsey Davis, Kristin Jones, Gwenyth Kelley, Emily McLaughlin, Anne Marie Melendez, Elise Pekarek, Oren Porterfield, Gidget Redmon, Chelsea Renner, Brittany Strickland, Beth Terwilleger, Michelle Thompson, Kirby Wallis
Act II
Sugar Plum Fairy Ashley Lynn Gilfix (December 5, 11, 13, 19 @ 2pm, 20, 22)
Michelle Thompson (December 6, 12, 18, 19 @ 7:30pm, 21, 23)
Cavalier Paul Michael Bloodgood (December 5, 11, 13, 19 @ 2pm, 20, 22)
Frank Shott (December 6, 12, 18, 19 @ 7:30pm, 21, 23)
Spanish Chelsea Renner, Orlando Julius Canova
(December 5, 11, 13, 19 @ 2pm, 20, 22)
Kirby Wallis, Matthew Cotter (December 6, 12, 18, 19 @ 7:30pm, 21, 23)
Arabian Anne Marie Melendez, David van Ligon
(December 5, 11, 13, 19 @ 2pm, 20, 22)
Rebecca Johnson, Edward Carr
(December 6, 12, 18, 19 @ 7:30pm, 21, 23)
Chinese Ian Bethany (December 5, 11, 13, 19 @ 2pm, 20, 22)
Orlando Julius Canova (December 6, 12, 18, 19 @ 7:30pm, 21, 23)
Russian Christopher Swaim (December 5, 11, 13, 19 @ 2pm, 20, 22)
Ian Bethany (December 6, 12, 18, 19 @ 7:30pm, 21, 23)
French Oren Porterfield, Jordan Moser (December 5, 11, 13, 19 @ 2pm, 20, 22)
Beth Terwilleger, Joseph Hernandez
(December 6, 12, 18, 19 @ 7:30pm, 21, 23)
Waltz of the Flowers Jaime Lynn Witts (December 5, 11, 13, 19 @ 2pm, 20, 22)
Anne Marie Melendez (December 6, 12, 18, 19 @ 7:30pm, 21, 23)

*Subject to change

Upcoming Events

Enjoy an entire day of magic with pre-ballet dinner or brunch at TRIO prior to performances of The Nutcracker. Specially priced at $39 per person, pre-ballet dinner includes an appetizer, entree and dessert as well as valet parking at the Hotel. Widely referred to as Austin's best brunch, TRIO's special pre-ballet brunch is priced at $48 per person ($20 children) and includes free valet parking at the Hotel. Make you reservation today!

Click here to make your reservation.

   
 
 
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