Seasonal Stages
NUTS FOR THE NUTCRACKER
It’s difficult to believe that the original production of The Nutcracker was kind of a dud; however, a glance at the roster of upcoming performances in the area confirms the seasonal ballet has come a long way since 1892 and its uninspiring debut in the Russian city of St. Petersburg.
So what is it about the tale of a young girl who attends a fancy Christmas party where she’s given a wooden nutcracker that is actually a handsome prince in disguise that makes for such an enduring holiday classic?
Northwest Ballet Theater’s John Bishop, who’s been either directing or performing versions of The Nutcracker since the late 1990s, says he’s motivated to produce the ballet every December by the “total joy” it brings to both the cast members and the audiences who flock to see it every year.
“Having danced this ballet for most of my life and staging it for the past 16 years, it still surprises me that I never grow tired of it,” Bishop says. “Of course, there are hundreds of hours in preparations and rehearsals that can really tire one out, but the work is never really work—it’s fun.”
Because he knows coming to see The Nutcracker is a holiday tradition for many people, Bishop says he and his crew work long and hard to ensure that those who purchase tickets are satisfied with the final product. Professional dancers rehearse and perform alongside less experienced students and community members, and the result is a show everyone can love.
“I know that the production we bring to the community each year is going to make many families happy and that it will be a professional-level production that the community can be proud of and support,” he says.
When NBT’s first showings of The Nutcracker take the stage Dec. 6-7 at the Port Angeles PAC (additional performances happen Dec. 13-14 at the Mount Baker Theatre and Dec. 20-21 at McIntyre Hall in Mount Vernon) highlights will include new backdrops painted by local artist Karen Bakke, the impressive work of principal dancers Josh Deininger and Shannan Behrens, and 12-year-old Julia Schwartz dancing the role of Clara (pictured on this page).
“She dances with the maturity of someone much older, and was so impressive at the audition that I decided to let her perform a difficult duet with Josh in the Act I dream scene, which is usually danced by a much older dancer because it is en pointe and has many big lifts and turning combinations,” Bishop says of Schwartz.
If you can’t make it to one of NBT’s six performances, don’t despair. Ballet Bellingham will also be offering a one-night-only showing of The Nutcracker Sat., Dec. 6 at the Mount Baker Theatre, the Skagit Valley Academy of Dance will be sharing their version of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece at silver anniversary performances Dec. 5-7 at Mount Vernon’s McIntyre Hall, and Fidalgo Dance Works will feature more than 70 dancers of all ages at their rendition Dec. 6-7 at Brodniak Hall in Anacortes.
With careful time management, it’s feasible you could see all four area performances and compare their strengths and subtleties. For that feat of endurance, however, you might need a little bit of magic—something The Nutcracker has, in spades.
Link to Original Article: http://www.cascadiaweekly.com/currents/nuts_for_the_nutcracker