In its own way, the joffrey ballets highly original reimagining of the nutcracker which debuted in 2016, and is now in its fourth, monthlong, holiday season run at the auditorium theatre was a transformative event as well the joffrey ballet production of the nutcracker. And then, in the second act, in maries imagination, its in her dream that her mom becomes a golden statue herself. Entering the auditorium theatre about 20 minutes before the performance should give you time to get to your seat and to have a look at your program book before the curtain goes up. And the worlds fair setting seems a natural fit for the second act with the magical drosselmeyer character, here called the impresario, takes young marie on a tour of the fair. The nutcracker is an 1892 twoact ballet originally choreographed by marius petipa and lev. Wheeldon says the worlds fair was a natural fit for the nutcrackers second act. Check out the official second act trailer starring jennifer lopez. The house grows dark, and clara steals back into the room to look at her precious nutcracker. The second act continues the fantasy as the story moves to the. The chicago sinfonietta will provide live musical accompaniment of tchaikovskys classic score. The second act, he said, was a childs fantasy of the worlds fair rather than of the land of the sweets, filled with pavilions. Some found the transition between the mundane world of the first scene and the fantasy world of the second act too abrupt. Not saying there is no chance for enjoyment, in my opinion ballet is just an acquired taste.
Mikhail baryshnikovs production is the most famous television version, although it too originated onstage. Choreographer george balanchines production of tchaikovskys ballet the nutcracker has become the most famous stage production of the ballet performed in the u. Hoffmanns tale, the nutcracker and the mouse king 1816. Dripping with superfluous plot in the first act, the whole narrative is lost in the second for divertissements that, in 1893 when the ballet premiered, probably didnt seem as riddled with. Treat yourself to chicago festival ballets the nutcracker. The story of the nutcracker ballet scene descriptions. History of nutcracker moscow ballets great russian nutcracker. W hen ashley wheater took over as artistic director at the joffrey ballet in 2007, he was shocked to discover the state of sets for the companys longrunning production of the nutcracker. In the second act of the nutcracker, the main characters, clara and prince, arrive at the land of sweets where they are welcomed by the sugar plum fairy. Joffrey cofounder gerald arpino choreographed the land of the snow scene, which closes act i, and the waltz of the flowers in act ii.
The nutcracker at the arie crown theatre december 79, 1216, 1823, 2630 in times as uncertain and threatening as ours, we must be doubly grateful for that most comforting standby, the nutcracker. The nutcracker performing arts sidebar chicago reader. With gratitude to the nutcracker commissioning sponsors. If youre approaching a night at the ballet with a sense of dread or ennui. Click here to view the nutcracker calendar of performance dates. Choreographer christopher wheeldon set the joffrey ballets nutcracker in chicago, as the city prepares for the opening of the 1893 worlds fair. It uses the plot of the alexandre dumas, pere, version of e.
Hoffmanns tale contains a long flashback story within its main plot titled the tale of the hard nut. The second act focuses much more on the dancing rather than the story. The room is filled with the magical christmas spirit. The joffrey ballets the nutcracker magic brings the joy. And the second acts land of sweets sequence where the ballet features dances from arabia, china and spain is transformed into a showcase for global styles of percussive dance. When joffrey ballets nutcracker was revised for chicago, artistic director. You can also hear his knack for arranging, particularly in the dances in the second act. Houston ballets 2014 holiday season to debut with the nutcracker by. Second act is a comedy in the vein of working girl and maid in manhattan. The nut tapper transforms nutcracker ballet into a. A radiant moment in chicago history key to magic of. The origin of the nutcracker, a classic christmas story, is a fairy tale ballet in two. The second act of the nutcracker, originally conceived for marius.
How the joffreys new nutcracker chose chicagos worlds fair for. This ones set at the worlds fair choreographer christopher wheeldon has a fresh take on the classic christmas. The nutcracker tells a story about a girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life on christmas eve and wages a battle against the evil mouse king. Photo by cheryl mann choreographed by the tony awardwinning christopher wheeldon, and set to the. Inside christopher wheeldons workingclass nutcracker. Neighbor news the joffrey ballets the nutcracker magic. Houston ballets 2014 holiday season to debut with the. The second act of the nutcracker is a series of vignettes where various dance styles, cultures, and sweets are synthesized into a single aesthetic metaphor. Jeraldine mendoza of the joffrey ballet performs christopher wheeldons.
In february, chicagos joffrey ballet presents an evening of works. Shchelkunchik listen help info is an 1892 two act ballet fairy ballet. Chicagos joffrey ballet looks to citys immigrant history. As she falls back asleep on the couch, her thoughts are filled with exciting, happy memories of the christmas eve party and the dancing dolls. General director of the mariinsky theatre, where the nutcracker had its. The last of his three ballets, it was first performed in december 1892. If your tickets are at will call, it is best to be at the box office 45 minutes prior to the performance because the lines to pick up tickets can be long. The nutcracker runs approximately 2 hours including one 20minute intermission. Hoffmanns tale contains a long flashback story within its main plot entitled the tale of the hard nut, which explains how the. The second act focuses on the international specialty acts. Wheeldons nutcracker was envisioned specifically with chicago viewers in mind. The nutcracker at arie crown theatre december 830 its sort of funnyif one stops to think of itthat the nutcracker should be a treasured allamerican christmas entertainment for the entire.
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