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Festive BO ‘Nutcracker’ DY & SO UL Unites Town and EE Gown ONSCR N By KARIN A. NOBILE
“T
is the season” …
It’s time for the quintessential holiday show, the Nutcracker, to be presented by the New Haven Ballet (NHB) at the recently-renovated Shubert Theater. Starting December 19, Clara’s magical dream world 48 D ECEMBER 2014
will be brought to life again as she and the Nutcracker Prince take us through the Land of the Snow and the Fantasy Land of Sweets. There they’ll meet colorful characters like Arabian Coffee, comical mother Ginger, Russian Trepak and many others. While this year’s production will remain true to Tchaikovsky’s score and the ballet’s traditional storyline, New Haven Ballet Artistic Director Lisa Sanborn promises many surprises. This will be Sanborn’s first full production of the classical ballet since she was named Artistic Director of the NHB earlier this year, having previously served as interim director. For the past year, Sanborn has been evolving new choreography she created in entirety for the Nutcracker; choreography she characterizes as “challenging.” She has been continually modifying it to play to the strengths of students’ abilities and to the composition of the 2014 NHB Class. This is no small feat considering that this year’s Nutcracker will include 213 NHB dancers – ages 4 to 70 – a total
of 275 performers when counting musicians and singers. In addition to the all-time high performer count since the New Haven Ballet began presenting the Nutcracker in 1991, this year’s production will incorporate new costumes, set designs, props and special guest artists. The Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier will showcase the artistry of Savannah Lowery and Adrian Danchig-Waring of the New York City Ballet. Also, Brad Roth who directs the New Haven Ballet’s “Shared Ability Dance Program,” inclusive of dancers with disabilities, will play the dual roles of Drosselmeyer and the Big Bad Wolf. Roth adds another layer of local talent to the mix, having received a master’s degree in dance from Wesleyan University in Middletown. “Every pipe in the Shubert will sound,” Sanborn promises, as she describes the magnitude and majesty of this year’s Nutcracker. Once again, through a special partnership with the Yale School of Music, the Nutcracker will feature the NEWHAVENMAGAZINE.COM