The Nutcracker
HOLIDAY ENCHANTMENT FOR ALL AGES
Every year around the Holiday season, we put on wonderful performances of the Nutcracker. Read more about The Nutcracker Story and become entranced with the magic.
A Merry Measure of Christmas Magic promises to Light up the Season
Dads with daughters, three generations of a family, a young hand-holding couple, a ladies social club - the audience for The Nutcracker, looking for Christmas magic and memories, is a mixed one always.
This holiday tradition is performed on hundreds of stages worldwide from Moscow, Beijing and Paris to New York and Houston. In Anniston, Knox Concert Series has presented The Nutcracker for twenty-seven Christmas seasons. On Sunday, December 6, Knox brings Alabama Ballet’s superb Nutcracker, choreographed by George Balanchine, to the Anniston Performing Arts Center for one show at 2:00 p.m.
The Balanchine production is among the best-loved versions of this seasonal favorite, and Alabama Ballet is one of only six companies nationwide to have the honor of performing it. This challenging production features the same choreography, sets and costumes as New York City Ballet which was founded by Balanchine and which presents over 40 performances each year at Lincoln Center.
From the arrival of little Marie's mysterious godfather with his gift of a Nutcracker to the battle against the Mouse King, the young and young-at-heart delight when Marie meets her prince and escapes to the Land of the Sweets.
Staging spectacles feature falling snow, a Christmas tree that grows to over thirty feet, and mice who do battle. A quickly changing flurry of dance scenes accompanied by familiar Tchaikovsky Christmas tunes includes highly acrobatic Russian dancing, whimsical Chinese duos and the crowd-pleasing Mother Ginger scene when a dozen children tumble from under the skirts of the 8-foot tall character.
Betsy Davis, chairman of the 2009 Nutcracker, is a long-time devotee whose daughter, Elli, was part of the local cast who audition for small parts each year. Mrs. Davis, whose responsibilities include drafting volunteers, commented “that the joy of bringing The Nutcracker to the families of our wide communities helps mobilize almost one-hundred volunteers at this busiest time of the year.”
From the audience perspective, she adds, “our beautiful hall is so cozy and intimate, we actually have people who live close to Birmingham choose to come to our performance.”
After the performance, a Sugar Plum Party will feature a visit on stage and photo with the cast, refreshments and a souvenir. This is a fundraising special event which costs $25 in addition to the door ticket. A bake sale and boutique featuring Nutcrackers of all shapes and sizes will be open before the show and at intermission.
The Nutcracker is based on an 1816, German fairy tale by E.T.A. Hoffman. Marius Petipa, chief ballet master of the Russian Imperial Ballet, decided to have it made into a ballet and commissioned Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky to write the music. Petipa’s assistant Lev Ivanov created the choreography. The production was first performed in December 1892 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Sunday, December 6, 2:00 p.m.
Learn more about this year's Nutcracker performance.Ticket Prices:
Adults: $20
Children: $12
Reserved Seating: $30
On sale now at Noble Bank and Couch’s Anniston Oxford, Rabbit Hutch, Think Toys, Golden Springs Pharmacy, Farmers and Merchants Bank (Jacksonville).
General admission and reserved seating may also be purchased by calling Pam McKenzie: 256-832-4554.
