The Nutcracker Ballet

Ballet San Antonio and San Antonio Symphony collaborate to present The Nutcracker

When:             November 25, 26 & 27 and December 2, 3 & 4, 2011: Friday & Saturday at 7 p.m., Saturday & Sunday at 2 p.m. with an additional matinee performance on Nov. 25 at 2 p.m.

Where:           Majestic Theatre

Tickets:          Tickets from $16.75 to $61.75 for adults. Children under 12 are half-price. Visit the Symphony Box Office or call (210) 554.1010 or online www.sasymphony.org or www.balletsantonio.org. Patrons can also visit any Ticketmaster location, www.ticketmaster.com or call (800) 745-3000 for tickets.
                                      Special savings for FUNd card members.

Ballet San Antonio and the San Antonio Symphony collaborate again for 9 performances of Tchaikovsky’s beloved holiday ballet, The Nutcracker. Two additional performances will be performed as part of Ballet San Antonio’s educational concerts held during the school day. All the concerts take place in the beautiful and historic Majestic Theatre.   Ken-David Masur will conduct and principal dancers Sarah Aujon and Carlos Hopuy will perform the roles of Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier. They will be joined by new principal dancer, Ian Morris and soloist Saki Yabumoto. The choreography is by Mayra Worthen. The production will feature more than 80 children performers. Every year there are new surprises, but the production always stays true to the tradition of this holiday classic.

The Nutcracker story begins at a Christmas Eve party given by Dr. Stahlbaum and his wife for their children, Clara and Fritz, their playmates and their parents. There is lively dancing around a brilliantly decorated Christmas tree with an exchange of gifts for all. Amid the excitement, Herr Drosselmeyer, an artist-inventor of mechanical toys and godfather to Clara, gives her a nutcracker. Fritz, her brother, a mischief-maker, is jealous, and a quarrel follows. Fritz snatches the nutcracker from Clara and hurls it to the floor. Clara picks up her toy and Herr Drosselmeyer mends the toy with his handkerchief, as the guests dance one more dance before departing. Clara, Fritz, and their parents then trundle off to bed.

Clara, however, cannot sleep for thinking about her nutcracker; so before midnight she tiptoes downstairs to see about her toy. She falls asleep and begins to dream that the familiar room becomes a battlefield and the Christmas tree grows to giant proportions as the toys come to life under the command of Herr Drosselmeyer. They wage a war against an invading horde of mice led by the Mouse King, distract him, and allow the nutcracker to subdue him.  At that moment the nutcracker becomes a young prince and invites Clara to join him on an enchanting journey.

The Nutcracker Prince takes Clara through the Land of Snowflakes to the Kingdom of Sweets, where they tell the tale to the Sugar Plum Fairy. The Fairy orders a celebration to begin. All the delicacies of the Kingdom are brought forward. The room is filled with dancing confections from every land; hot chocolate (Spanish), tea (Chinese), coffee (Arabian), candy canes (Trepak), and marzipan (Merlitons). The entertainment draws to a close and the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier come forward to dance. Farewells are said as Clara and her Prince thank everyone for the wonderful time, as they wave goodbye to the Kingdom of the Sweets. After all, it was just a dream…or was it?

Both the Ballet San Antonio and San Antonio Symphony are affiliates of theFund.