Arts & Entertainment New twist on Bainbridge Island
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Friday, December 13, 2013 • Bainbridge Island Review
an old
favorite OLYMPIC PERFORMANCE GROUP RETURNS ‘THE NUTCRACKER’ TO BAINBRIDGE ISLAND BY LUCIANO MARANO Bainbridge Island Review
There are some rituals and stories that are so much a part of the holiday season that to separate them from Christmas is all but impossible. They are everyone’s family traditions. Characters like Ebenezer Scrooge, Rudolph and the Grinch are as much a part of Christmas as are decorated trees and presents. One other such holiday staple is the much loved story of a little girl and her very special Christmas present, a nutcracker. This holiday season, the Olympic Performance Group will return its rendition of “The Nutcracker” to Bainbridge Island for its eighth annual performance. Directed by Bainbridge Ballet owner/lead instructor Sara Cramer, the show promises to continue the tradition of innovation that has marked the group’s previous productions. “We do fresh choreography every year,” Cramer said. “So our theme is fresh every year.” Past shows have given audiences surprise themes like masquerade balls and dancers from around the world. This year, the show will use a late 1700s French motif, with the costumes and set reflecting the twist. Also new this year is the character of a giant puppy, a costume that requires two dancers, played by Amber Powell, Oksana Sherbina and Claire Branley in teams. “It takes some creative doing,” Cramer said of the efforts required to reinvent the classic story every year. “We use a lot of dance forms, not just ballet. Ballet is a kind of central theme, but we also use hip hop, jazz and tap,” she said. While the idea of a hip-hop Nutcracker might alarm ballet purists, Cramer insists the show
Ted Leung Photography
The Olympic Performance Group will return their rendition of The Nutcracker to Bainbridge Island for their eighth annual performance Friday, Dec. 20. benefits from the occasional fresh lar pieces (known today as the interpretation. Nutcracker Suite) was very well “I grew up doing just ballet,” received, but the ballet itself did she said. “But I not become think it makes popular it more interuntil it came west in the esting for the early 1940s. general public What: Olympic Performance Today who may not Group’s 2013 production of “The “The know that much Nutcracker” Nutcracker” about dance When: Friday, Dec. 20 to Monday, is probanyway.” Dec. 23 The show ably the Where: The Island School (8553 features approxbest-known NE Day Road) ballet in imately 65 dancAdmission: Tickets are $23 for America, ers ranging in adults, $20 for students and aside age from seniors, available online at www. from pos7 to adult with olympicperformancegroup.org several handsibly “Swan or in person at Bainbridge Ballet picked younger Lake,” said and Winslow Drugs. dancers, some Cramer. as young as Kate 5, making Houmes, small appearwho plays the lead of Clara St. Laurent in ances. The tap performances are this year’s show, said most people choreographed by Kathy Dalessi, probably don’t appreciate how difan assistant coach at Bainbridge Ballet. The production manager is ficult ballet actually is. Alex Ung, the school’s jazz and hip “We have to make it look really hop dance coach. easy,” she said. “But it’s actually Considering the popularreally hard.” Physical trials aside, Houmes ity of the show today, it may said she loves ballet for many surprise some to learn that “The reasons. Nutcracker” was not an initial suc“It’s really fun and you get to be cess. around all of your friends while The ballet was adapted by doing something you love,” she Alexandre Dumas Père from a said. “And it’s another way to exerstory by E.T.A. Hoffmann, and first set to music by the comcise.” The cast also includes Scott poser Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Originally premiered in December Cole as Mr. St. Laurent and the mysterious Drosselmeyer, Brent 1892 at the Imperial Mariinsky Kehoe as the titular Nutcracker, Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, Maddie Cole as the Sugar Plum the music of the eight most popu-
‘The Nutcracker’
Fairy and Sarah Dalessi as the evil Rat Queen. For those who may be reticent to attend a ballet, possibly suffering from a boring school field trip flashback, Cramer advised giving the show another chance. “I love the comments from dads and grandfathers,” she said. “Because they’ll come up to be and say, ‘I didn’t want to come, but this was really good. I would come again.’ And that means a lot.” Despite the myriad of Nutcracker productions at this time of year, Cramer is confident that the continual reinvention of the show is what brings the audience back. “I’ve also had a couple who had season tickets to the Pacific Northwest Ballet for many, many years, and they loved our production every bit as much,” she said. “I think that’s probably one of the appeals,” Cramer added. “We do change things up a little bit. Each year is a little different. So even if you’ve seen it last year, you may see something that you didn’t see last year.” The Nutcracker will play for six performances at The Island School (8553 NE Day Road) with shows at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20 to Monday, Dec. 23, and additional matinees at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21 and Monday, Dec. 23. Tickets are $23 for adults and $20 for students and seniors. They can be purchased online at www. olympicperformancegroup.org or in person at Winslow Drugs and Bainbridge Ballet.
What’s happening TICKETS ON SALE
Annual ‘Sing Out!’ celebration is Jan. 25 Tickets for the annual community celebration “Sing Out!” are on sale now. The yearly gathering and fundraiser will begin with a workshop at 1 p.m. followed by dinner at 5 p.m. Saturday Jan. 25, at the Filipino American Hall. The event is led by Pastor Patrinell Wright and features music by the Total Experience Gospel Choir and a traditional soul food dinner. The celebration is held on the last Saturday in January in honor of Martin Luther King Day. Separate tickets will be required for the workshop, dinner and the concert. Dinner tickets must be purchased by Wednesday, Jan. 22. Concert tickets can be purchased at the door. The cost for each of the events is $12 for adults, or one pass to all three for $30. The cost for children (ages 10-18) is $12 for the workshop, $12 for dinner and $8 for the concert or a pass to all three for $20. Tickets can be purchased in person at Winslow Drugs or by phone at 206-201-3675. For more information visit www.singoutkitsap.org. OFF THE WALL
New art collective to host first exposition Off the Wall, an artist collective made up of regional talent in various mediums, will host its first Winter Art Exposition at the Bainbridge Island Grange Hall from 1 :30 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. The exhibit will feature live music as well as artistic works by collective members in a variety of disciplines including costume design, bronze and plaster casting, mixed media, sculpture, pyrography, jewelry, collage, painting, drawing and digital artwork. The exhibition will also feature live painting demonstrations and a silent auction, as well as a raffle drawing for original artwork. For more information, visit www.off thewallartistcollective.com or email offthewall artistcollective@gmail.com. turn to HAPPENING | A11