Eight strikes on the clock as mysterious Drosselmeier presents young Clara with her Nutcracker, and the time-honored, much-beloved holiday story begins. And lucky us, because last week we got a peek behind the scenes of the new PNB Nutcracker with sets designed by Ian Falconer of Olivia the Pig fame and classic choreography by George […]
Nutcracker
Backstage at PNB’s Nutcracker
2014 is the swan song for PNB’s distinctive Nutcracker. After 31 years, the brainchild of Founding Director Kent Stowell and beloved children’s author and illustrator Maurice Sendak, bids adieu to northwest audiences. Next year there will be a new take on Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Nutcracker. I hadn’t been to a performance for many years, and […]
Who’s afraid of the big bad…Nutcracker
Who’s afraid of the big, bad…Nutcracker? My daughter, that’s who. But, after a bit of cajoling, she decided to give him a chance. “The nutcracker sits under the holiday tree, a guardian of childhood stories. Feed him walnuts and he will crack open a tale…” ~Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration Take the road […]
Nutcracker for kids: It’s all about the bed
“Where the bed go?” “I want to see bed.” “What happened to bed?” I’ve seen the Nutcracker countless times, and I must confess that the whereabouts of the bed never crossed my mind. But this was my little sugar plum’s primary concern at the Evergreen City Ballet’s performance. It was her very first Nutcracker experience, […]