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| Piotr Ostaltsov as Uncle Drosselmeyer captivates the children from Festival Ballet's 2002 Nutcracker Photo: Thomas Nola-Rion |
The Nutcracker
Festival Ballet Providence celebrates the holidays and its 30th Anniversary Season with its annual holiday favorite, The Nutcracker. Five performances will take place in the opulent Providence Performing Arts Center December 14 to 16, 2007, Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 2:00 and 7:00 pm and Sunday at 1:00 and 6:30 PM.
Ticket sales are already brisk for this magical production by the state's premiere ballet company that brings an audience of over 15,000 to downtown Providence.
The Nutcracker brings the magic of the holidays to the stage with a production noted in Motif as "...a true Christmas gift not to be missed..."
Under the baton of conductor Dr. Edward Markward, the Nutcracker orchestra brings the added luster of live music to the production. The Providence College Women's Chorus under the direction of Dr. Michelle Holt will join the musicians for the Snow Scene, which also includes hundreds of glimmering Swarovski crystal snowflakes, dancers in sparkling white stone-studded costumes and a gentle snowfall to elegantly close Act I.
Festival Ballet Providence Artistic Director Mihailo Djuric is looking forward to many new audience members this year, noting "Our new dancers, including those from China, Korea, Canada and Estonia, will add an international excitement to this sumptuous production. It's a very magical production, and individuals who regularly attend NY City Ballet and Boston Ballet are always impressed with the freshness of our Providence production. I want everyone to have a magical experience for the holidays".
Aside from the international troupe of 23 dancers, the production also features over 80 talented dancers as young as 7 years old, dancing the roles of Angels, Party Children, Candy Dolls, Mice, Soldiers and Russian dancers. These young performers were chosen from over 130 from throughout the region who auditioned for roles in this production on September 16th.
The central role of Clara will be performed by two young dancers in the Festival Ballet Providence Junior Company. Katie Paquin will reprise the role she also danced last year, and will alternate the role with Sophia Van Allsburg.
Synopsis
This story ballet follows a young girl, Clara, whose gift of a Nutcracker doll from her beloved Uncle Drosselmeyer leads her from a joyous family Christmas party complete with dancing dolls and a tree that grows 30 feet in height, to a midnight battle pitting life-size toy soldiers against giant mice lead by the Mouse Queen.
Protected by her gallant Nutcracker, Clara survives the ordeal, finding that her Nutcracker doll has been transformed into a human prince. He leads her through a whirlwind of dancing snowflakes to the delectable Kingdom of Sweets, where the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier reign over a colorful troupe of dancers from round the world.
They celebrate the victory over the Mouse Queen with brilliant dances that culminate in a grand finale.
When, Where and How Much
The Nutcracker runs for five shows from December 14 to 16, 2007, Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 2:00 and 7:00 pm and Sunday at 1:00 and 6:30 PM.
Performances take place at the Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset Street, in Providence, RI. Tickets priced from $18.00 to $60.00 are available by contacting the PPAC Box Office at 401.421-ARTS or visiting www.ppacri.com. Group discounts are available by calling PPAC at 401.421.2997 extension # 3162. (Paul Hiatt).
Clara's High Tea and Brunch
Festival Ballet Providence will offer Clara's Tea and Brunch on Sunday December 16th from 11 am to 12:30 pm at the Federal Reserve Restaurant, 60 Dorrance Street, Providence, prior to the 1:00 matinee performance. This festive meal hosted by Bob and Anne Burke is complete with delightful seasonal decor, dozens of Nutcrackers, brunch favorites, pastries, tea and coffee. Guests are joined by costumed characters from The Nutcracker including Uncle Drosselmeyer, Clara, her friends, and Archie the Nutcracker dog. This event makes a visit to The Nutcracker an especially memorable event. Tickets for Clara's Tea are $15.00 for children 3-5, $25.00 for children 6 to 12, and $35.00 for those older than 12, including tax and tip. To reserve seating for Clara' Tea and Brunch call Festival Ballet Providence, 401.353.1129. Reservations and full payment must be received by December 13, 2007. Click here to find out more
Tentative Cast
Clara Sophia Van Allsburg / Katie Paquin
Fritz Cavan Conley
Frau Silberhaus Erica Chipp/Vilia Putrius
Judge Silberhaus Mark Harootian
Herr Drosselmeyer Petr Ostaltsov
Columbine Doll Ashley Andries / Jennifer Ricci
Harlequin Doll Ilya Burov / Henry Montilla
The Nutcracker Ilya Burov / Henry Montilla
Mouse Queen Courtney Fraga / Lauren Menger
Snow Queen Jennifer Ricci / Vilia Putrius
Snow King Gleb Lyamenkoff / Davide Vittorino
Sugar Plum Fairy Leticia Guerrero / Vilia Putrius
Her Cavalier Davide Vittorino / Gleb Lyamenkoff / Alexander Akulov
Spanish Leticia Guerrero & Alexander Akulov / Vilia Putrius & Gleb Lyamenkoff
Arabian Jennifer Ricci & Eivar Martinez / Joo-Hee Baek & Henry Montilla
Marzipan Ashley Andries / Joo-Hee Baek
Elizabeth Jessee / Christine Blanck
with Roger Fonnegra/Fan Shi
Russian Ilya Burov / Raemon Kilfoil
Chinese Jarvi Raudsepp / Courtney Fraga with Mark Harootian / Raemon Kilfoil
Dew Drop Fairy Erica Chipp / Lauren Menger
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Performance Details
Festival Ballet Providence
Providence Performing Arts Center
222 Weybossett Street
Providence, RI
December 14-16, 2007
Friday at 7:30, Saturday at 2:00 and 7:00
Sunday at 1:00 pm and 6:30 pm
Price: $18-$60.00, price includes $3.00 Theater Restoration Fee. Discounts for Groups, children and seniors
Reservations: 401.421.ARTS
Or visit http://www.ppacri.org
Website: http://www.festivalballet.com
Tentative Casting
Related
Clara's Tea & Brunch
Clara's Tea and Brunch is an elegant meal complete with costumed characters from The Nutcracker, dozens of Nutcrackers adorning the lavish, holiday-themed dining room, breakfast & brunch items, pastries, desserts, and teas from around the world.
Archie, the Nutcracker Dog
For the past seven years, Archie, Festival Ballet's resident dog, has played a part in the Nutcracker written just for him. He has appeared in over 60 performances. Byran Rourke wrote all about Archie in the December 15, 2005 Providence Journal
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Festival Ballet Providence