FOR RELEASE ON CONTACT: SHAUNA TYSOR
NOVEMBER 22, 2009 KIM ESPINOSA
713 535 3226
pr@houstonballet.org
HOUSTON BALLET CELEBRATES ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY
HOLIDAY SEASON WITH
THE NUTCRACKER
Dancer(s): Mireille Hassenboehler and Linnar Looris
Photographer: Amitava Sarkar
Princess Grace Award Winner
Joseph Walsh Debuts as the Prince
The Nutcracker’s First Ever Open Audition Nets Young Talent
Houston, TX – From November 27 – December 27, 2009, Houston Ballet will bring Texas its most joyous holiday gift, Ben Stevenson’s breathtaking production of The Nutcracker, seen by over 1,000,000 people since its premiere 22 years ago. The beloved ballet tells the story of a little girl named Clara who is given a magical nutcracker doll on Christmas Eve. She encounters the frightful King Rat before embarking on a wondrous journey through the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets. Young and old alike will experience the many special effects, including the Christmas tree which “grows” to 40 feet, 200 pounds of “snow” falling during the snow scene, and the firing of a cannon onstage. Houston Ballet will give 35 performances of The Nutcracker in the Brown Theater at Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston. Tickets may be purchased by calling 713-227-2787 or logging on to www.houstonballet.org.
Houston Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker has been hailed by the Houston Chronicle as “the crown jewel of holiday entertainment.” Lee Williams of the Houston Press called Houston Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker, “ Gorgeous . . . Desmond Heeley’s sets and costumes are reason enough to see this show . . . The Nutcracker reminds us that the holidays have always been a time of dreams, and with productions as yummy as this, sleeping never seemed so sweet.”
Houston Press dance critic Christie Taylor praised the production in 2003, “The ballet’s vibrantly colored costumes were captivating, and its choreographic nuances marvelous….This year’s show was as surprising as going to unwrap a sweater on Christmas morning and instead finding a box of diamond earrings.” A wonderful ballet for the entire family, The Nutcracker is the perfect way to ring in the holiday season and to introduce young children to the power and beauty of classical dance.
For over one hundred years, the story of the ballet has proven irresistible to both children and adults alike. Set in nineteenth-century Germany, the ballet opens at a Christmas party at which the mysterious Dr. Drosselmeyer gives his little niece Clara a magical toy that takes her on an unforgettable journey. From the battle scene between the Rat King and the Nutcracker in the first act to the cooks who fly magically through the air in the second act, The Nutcracker is sure to enchant audiences of all ages.
Tickets are available at a discount for select performances of The Nutcracker, including evening performances on opening night Friday, November 27; Saturday, November 28; Sunday, November 29; Sunday, December 6; Thursday, December 10; Sunday, December 13; Wednesday, December 16; Thursday, December 17; and Sunday, December 27. Matinee performances will also offer the discounted tickets on the following dates: Saturday, November 28 and Sunday, November 29.
Rising Young Star to Make First Appearance in Leading Role
Houston Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker showcases the depth and range of the company, from the young apprentices to the principal dancers. The Nutcracker is a time when promising young dancers are given a chance to shine. Houston Ballet Corps de Ballet Dancer Joseph Walsh will debut as the Prince. In July, Mr. Walsh was awarded a prestigious Princess Grace Award by the Princess Grace Foundation-USA. National in scope, the Princess Grace Foundation-USA is dedicated to identifying and assisting emerging talent in theater, dance, and film by awarding grants in the form of scholarships, apprenticeships and fellowships. Nancy Wozny, an arts critic for Houston Artsweek, reviewed Swan Lake in June 2009, and commented, “Other standouts include Joseph Walsh as one of the Prince’s friends. Walsh has had a great season and is most certainly one to watch.” (June 2009) Fellow corps de ballet dancer Hitomi Takeda will return to the role of Sugar Plum Fairy as Mr. Walsh’s partner.
The Nutcracker’s First Ever Open Audition Nets Young Talent
This season’s performances of The Nutcracker will have 107 children from Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy, who range in age from 7 to 19. Forty nine students between the ages of 7 and 12 are featured in four casts of party children in the first act and three casts of clowns in the second act. All the children are from the greater Houston area.
This September Houston Ballet held its first ever open audition for the role of Madame Bonbonaire’s clowns. Nineteen aspiring dancers between the ages of 10 and 12 auditioned for the role and four were selected to perform opening weekend of The Nutcracker, November 28 and 29. In years past, performers were selected only from the company’s school, Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy. “Houston Ballet was excited to involve children from the greater Houston area,” commented Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy Associate Director Shelly Power. “This is one more way we can make Houston Ballet accessible to the community. Performing with professionals in Houston’s greatest holiday tradition The Nutcracker is a wonderful opportunity for these young dancers.”
Enchanting Houston Audiences for Four Decades
The Nutcracker has a special place in Houston Ballet’s history over the last four decades. It was the first full-length work to enter Houston Ballet’s repertoire in a staging by Frederic Franklin, featuring scenery and costumes by the English designer Peter Farmer. It was also the first Houston Ballet performance to use a live orchestra. The company gave six performances of The Nutcracker in 1972 at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, and has danced the work each December without fail for the following 37 years. In 1976, Houston Ballet presented the production with revised choreography by the company's new artistic director Ben Stevenson. In 1987, the current production with designs by Desmond Heeley, lighting by Duane Schuler, and choreography by Mr. Stevenson was unveiled to a glowing critical response.
Today, the company gives 35 performances of The Nutcracker at Wortham Theater Center. As the company celebrates its 40th anniversary season, the production has played – and continues to play -- a key role in Houston Ballet’s financial picture, drawing 70,000 theatergoers to Houston’s Theater District and bringing in over $3.4 million revenues in 2008, the company’s highest grossing series of performances.
The Story of The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker tells the story of Clara and her magical nutcracker doll. One Christmas Eve, the mysterious Dr. Drosselmeyer arrives at the Stahlbaum family’s Christmas party and presents Clara with a special gift: a wooden nutcracker. After the party, as the clock strikes midnight, Clara awakens to find the room filled with giant mice. The nutcracker comes to her rescue and a fierce battle ensues as the nutcracker leads the toy soldiers against the mice and their leader, King Rat. The nutcracker overcomes King Rat, and then is transformed into a handsome prince who takes Clara on a magical journey.
To the delight of Clara and the audience, the evening is filled with dance. The Snow Queen leads eighteen snowflakes in a brilliant waltz in the Land of Snow, where the trees are laden with icicles. Then the Nutcracker Prince takes Clara on a boat ride across the Lemonade Sea to the Kingdom of Sweets where they are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy. The Sugar Plum Fairy treats Clara to sweets and entertainment provided by the inhabitants of the kingdom: chocolate, a Spanish dance; coffee, an Arabian dance; and tea, a Chinese dance. Next comes the comical Madame Bonbonaire whose huge skirt is filled with tiny clowns. Then there is the Russian dance and the Waltz of the Flowers. Finally, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Nutcracker Prince dance a grand pas de deux. As the celebration draws to a close, Clara becomes sleepy. She awakens back in her bed, as the nutcracker salutes his little princess Clara.
Houston Ballet's performances of The Nutcracker are generously underwritten by Continental Airlines and Shell Oil Company Foundation.
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HOUSTON BALLET’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY
THE NUTCRACKER
FACT SHEET
WHAT: THE NUTCRACKER (1987)
Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) Choreography by Ben Stevenson, O.B.E.
Designs by Desmond Heeley
Lighting by Duane Schuler
Generously underwritten by:
Continental Airlines
Shell Oil Company Foundation.
ABOUT THE
PROGRAM:
A little girl named Clara receives a magical nutcracker on Christmas Eve, and sets out on a wondrous journey to the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets. Featuring breathtaking scenery and costumes by Tony Award-winning designer Desmond Heeley, The Nutcracker is the perfect yuletide gift: the ideal means of introducing children to the power and beauty of classical dance, and a delightful way for the entire family to ring in the holiday season.
WHEN: November 27 – December 27, 2009
At 7:30 PM November 27*, 28*, 29*,
and December 5, 6*, 10*, 11, 12, 13*, 16*, 17*, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27*, 2009
At 2:00 PM on November 28*, 29*,
and December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 2009
* Indicates discounted performance.
WHERE: Brown Theater, Wortham Theater Center
501 Texas Avenue in downtown Houston
TICKETS: $17 - $125. For tickets call (713) 227 2787 or 1 800 828 ARTS.
Tickets are also available at www.houstonballet.org, Houston Ballet Box Office at Wortham Theater Center and all Ticketmaster outlets, Macy's, Fiesta, Wherehouse Music and select FYE, H-E-B and Ritmo Latino stores.
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Toni Valle, Project Director
713-224-3262 / toni@houstondance.org
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