For children, there can be few better initiations into the world of classical ballet than a lavish production of The Nutcracker. But what is most surprising about the audiences that flock to the various local theaters each year to see one of the many Nutcracker productions North Texas has to offer is just how many adults, unaccompanied by children, treat themselves to a performance. From Dallas to Fort Worth, Richardson to Irving, there is a Nutcracker performance just waiting to transport you and your family into the holiday season with an enormous Christmas tree, toy soldiers battling giant mice, a sugar plum fairy and her Nutcracker prince, snow queens and marzipan candies all dancing about in festive delight.
Selecting a Nutcracker performance to attend can be a daunting task. In an attempt to simplify the process we have compiled a general overview of each of the upcoming productions in the 2010 Nutcracker season.
Texas Ballet Theater: Bass Hall & Winspear Opera House (includes “The Nutty Nutcracker” spoof Dec 19 @ Bass Hall)
Based in Fort Worth, Texas Ballet Theater will perform their Nutcracker at home in Bass Hall and in Dallas at the Winspear Opera House. This Nutcracker is by far the most professional production of the season. It is so much more than just a lavish spectacle with delights for audiences of all ages and levels of experience. Famed artistic director Ben Stevenson serves up a fresh, lavish, dance-filled feast, infused with unbeatable seasonal charm.
November 27 – December 5, 2010, at the Winspear Opera House. December 10 – 24, 2010 at Bass Performance Hall. $19-$99. More info here.
Moscow Ballet: Fair Park
November 19-21 at Music Hall at Fair Park. $27.50 and up. More info here.
Chamberlain Ballet: Eisemann Center
Based in Plano, Chamberlain Ballet has delighted audiences for two decades with its annual Nutcracker performances. For the production, Kathy Chamberlain brings in the most celebrated principal dancers from New York City Ballet. This year’s guest artists are principal dancer and Dance Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award honoree, Wendy Whelan, and former New York City Ballet Principal, Philip Neal, returning in the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Clara’s Cavalier. In addition, this world-class production features pre-professional young dancers, respectable choreography, spectacular costumes, and dynamic stage lighting that brings fantasy to life. Chamberlain also partners with WFAA-TV Santa’s Helpers Toy Drive again this year. Each patron is encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped gift or toy to each Nutcracker performance they attend.
November 26-28 at the Eisemann Center. $7.50-$60. More info here.
Tuzer Ballet: Eisemann Center
Based in Richardson, Tanju Tuzer packs a lot of dancing into the first half of the ballet, which is a nice change from productions that spend most of their time plodding through the story. In addition there are wonderful moments of unexpected humor throughout act one. The larger ensemble pieces, kingdom of the snow and waltz of the flowers, are somewhat under choreographed, however. Those weaknesses aside, this is a Nutcracker that leaves you warm and fuzzy, with lots of holiday good cheer.
December 18 and 19 at the Eisemann Center. $15 – $35. More info here.
Ballet Frontier: Will Rogers Auditorium
This is a good pre-professional production. It’s handsome to look at and features some fine dancing. But to those who have seen lots and lots of Nutcrackers — and admittedly, that’s not the majority of the audience — this is an ordinary show not at all enhanced by the rather drab venue. Perhaps as the company develops a larger following, they will have the opportunity to present their work in a more substantial theater space.
November 20 at Will Rogers Auditorium. General Admission $20. Reserved $30. More info here.
Collin County Ballet Theater: Eisemann Center
Based in Frisco, Collin County Ballet Theater has been presenting The Nutcracker for more than 10 years under the collaborative directorship of Kirt and Linda Hathaway. Unfortunately the story gets a bit of a short shrift in this production, and Kirt Hathaway’s choreography is musically unsatisfying. The Nutcracker ballet is one of few works in the repertoire that is truly aimed at a children’s audience, but CCBT doesn’t seem to have the magic that grabs the children’s attention. Regrettably, it’s not just the audience that is shortchanged — the cast is too. An upside: Collin County does feature a live orchestra.
December 18 at the Heritage High School Theater. $20-$25 and December 22, and 23 at the Eisemann Center. $15-$75. More info here.
Lake Cities Ballet: Stuver Auditorium, Lewisville
Lake Cities features lavish costumes, set design, and the rare opportunity to hear a Nutcracker in North Texas that features a live orchestra, the Lewisville Lake Symphony led by Maestro Adron Ming. Special guest artist Julie Kent joins the production from the American Ballet Theatre.
November 27 and 28 at Stuver Auditorium. $17/$32/$42. More info here.
Other Productions
Ballet Ensemble of Texas: Irving Arts Center
November 27 and 28 at Coppell High School Auditorium. $25 adults, $20 children/seniors. 972-252-ARTS
Momentum Dance Company: Irving Arts Center
November 26-28 at Irving Arts Center, Carpenter Hall. $12-$20 with group rates and discounts available for any Irving School District employee or scouts. 972-252-ARTS.
Dallas Repertory Ballet: Eiseman Center
December 10-12 at the Eiseman Center. $15-$55. More info here.
Festival Ballet of North Texas: Margo Jones Auditorium
December 11-12 at the Margo Jones Auditorium at Texas Christian University. $10-$25. More info here.
Main image: From Ballet Frontier’s 2009 production.
