FOR RELEASE:  November 7, 2012

PRESS CONTACT:  Susan Heffren, Public Relations and Publications Manager

202.362.3606 x 115 or sheffren@washingtonballet.org

High-Resolution Press Images: https://washingtonballet.box.com/s/702dbf56f84a93dd5d72

THE WASHINGTON BALLET PRESENTS DC’S ANNUAL HOLIDAY CELEBRATION

THE NUTCRACKER

NOVEMBER 30- DECEMBER 23 AT THE WARNER THEATRE

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  The Washington Ballet (TWB) celebrates the holiday season by bringing DC’s favorite  The Nutcracker  to Washington-area audiences  November 30 through December 23 at the historic  Warner Theatre. The production will preview at the  THEARC Theater on  November 24-25.

Septime Webre’s critically acclaimed  The Nutcracker transports audiences back in time to historic Washington, DC in a one-of-a-kind production set in 1882 Georgetown and starring  George Washington as the  heroic Nutcracker,  King George III as the  villainous Rat King, Anacostia Indians, frontiersmen, and many other all-American delights. Set to the iconic music of  Pytor Ilych Tchaikovsky, this vibrant ballet features scenic designs by  Peter Horne, costume designs by Judanna Lynn and lighting design by  Tony Tucci. The Washington Ballet’s  The Nutcracker has been hailed by  The Washington Post as,  “SIMPLY GORGEOUS! The Washington Ballet dazzles with a capital  Nutcracker .”

The Story

Christmas Eve, 1882 Georgetown, Clara and her family prepare for a holiday celebration. As the guests arrive, Clara’s mysterious godfather, Mr. Drosselmeyer, enters with his handsome young nephew, who greets Clara with a kiss on her hand. Drosselmeyer entertains the guests with a puppet show and dancing dolls and presents Clara with a special gift—a nutcracker. Jealous of his sister’s present, Fritz seizes the nutcracker and breaks it. As the party ends, Clara sadly places the nutcracker under the Christmas tree.

                Later that night, after everyone has gone to bed, Clara tiptoes downstairs to retrieve her nutcracker. Suddenly, the room fills with scurrying mice. Eventually, Clara falls asleep and begins to dream. When the clock strikes midnight, Drosselmeyer’s magic begins. The Christmas tree grows and a battle ensues between a brigade of toy soldiers led by a life-sized nutcracker (George Washington) against the Rat King (King George III) and his menacing rats. As the Rat King nears victory, Clara distracts him, enabling the nutcracker to kill him. Suddenly, the nutcracker is turned into a handsome prince. He leads Clara through the

enchanted winter to a glorious springtime.

       Clara and her Nutcracker Prince travel to springtime, where the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. They are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy, her Cavalier and attendants: butterflies, mushrooms and other woodland creatures. When the Prince tells them how Clara saved his life, the Sugar Plum Fairy summons her subjects to entertain them with wonderful dances—Spanish and Chinese dances, a duet for an Anacostian brave and maiden, brilliant red cardinals; an American frontiersman dances with frontier girls; Mother Barnum dances with her circus clowns; and the waltz of the Cherry Blossoms is led by the Dew Drop Fairy. The celebration comes to a spectacular climax when the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier perform a grand pas de deux.

Audience favorite,  Maki Onuki, will return as the Sugar Plum Fairy in many casts.  Ms. Onuki has been hailed by T he Washington Post as “a petite dynamo with titanium technique — so light and quick — and a sparkling disposition”.   Jonathan Jordan returns as Cavalier, and  Emily Ellis and  Jared Nelson will be featured as Snow Queen and King .  According to  The Washington Post, “Jared Nelson’s Snow King could melt hearts with his sweet attention to [the] Snow Queen.”   Other audience favorite performances include:   Brooklyn Mack as Frontiersman,  Morgann Rose as Lead Cardinal, and  Andile Ndlovu as John Paul Jones.    The Nutcracker also features students from The Washington School of Ballet performing as clowns, mice, party children and more. 

At each performance, theatre-goers will be able to purchase unique gifts  from TWB’s renowned  Sugar Plum Shoppe. Merchandise includes a large variety of specialty TWB and  Nutcracker items and apparel.

TWB will also host the annual Nutcracker Tea Party at the Willard InterContinental Hotel onDecember 9.  For more information on this event, please call TWB Manager of Special Events, Liz Sizer at 202.362.3606 x123

Tickets for the Warner Theatre  The Nutcracker, priced from  $34* to $99*, are now on sale and can be purchased at  washingtonballet.org,  202.397.SEAT (7328) or the  Warner Theatre Box Office. The Warner Theatre is located at 513 13 ^th Street NW, Washington, DC. *Ticket prices include a $2 Warner Theatre preservation fee.

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Septime Webre’s critically acclaimed  The Nutcracker transports us back in time to historic Washington, DC and stars George Washington as the heroic Nutcracker. Full of swirling snowflakes, magnificent sets and costumes and Tchaikovsky’s beloved score, the curtain rises and the stage bursts with waltzing cherry blossoms, dancing sugar plums and other enchanting adaptations that have made Webre’s  Nutcracker a Washington tradition with raves from critics and sold-out crowds.

Thursday, November 29 at 7PM (Preview)

Friday, November 30 at 7PM (Opening)

Saturday, December 1 at 2PM & 7PM

Sunday, December 2 at 1PM

Wednesday, December 5 at 7PM

Thursday, December 6 at 7PM

Friday, December 7 at 7PM

Saturday, December 8 at 2PM & 7PM

Sunday, December 9 at 1PM & 5:30PM

Wednesday, December 12 at 7PM

Thursday, December 13 at 7PM

Friday, December 14 at 7PM

Saturday, December 15 at 2PM & 7PM

Sunday, December 16 at 1PM & 5:30PM

Tuesday, December 18 at 7PM

Wednesday, December 19 at 7PM

Thursday, December 20 at 7PM

Friday, December 21 at 2PM & 7PM

Saturday, December 22 at 2PM & 7PM

Sunday, December 23 at 1PM & 5:30PM

Music by Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky

Choreography by Septime Webre

Scenic Design by Peter Horne

Costume Design by Judanna Lynn

Lighting Design by Tony Tucci

ABOUT THE WASHINGTON BALLET

Originally founded as The Washington School of Ballet in 1944 by legendary ballet pioneer Mary Day and incorporated as a professional company in 1976, The Washington Ballet (TWB) is one of the pre-eminent ballet organizations in the United States.  TWB built an international reputation presenting bold works by choreographers from around the world, including Choo-San Goh, Christopher Wheeldon, Mark Morris, Twyla Tharp and Nacho Duato, as well as Neoclassical masterworks and fresh stagings of 19^th century classics. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Septime Webre and Executive Director Peter M. Branch, TWB embraces a three-part mission: ensuring excellence in its professional performance company; growing the next generation of dancers through its Washington School of Ballet; and serving the community in which it resides through robust community engagement programs.  For more information, visitwww.washingtonballet.org.