TribLIVE: For many families, “The Nutcracker” is a holiday tradition, and, for five years, folks have been enjoying The Dance Company for the Performing Arts' production of the classic ballet at the Grand Theatre in Elizabeth.
Director Pat McKeown said this year's performance — Dec. 6 and 7 — has a few new elements while remaining geared toward children.
2 comments:
Going to the PNB Nutcracker in Seattle has always been one of my favorite traditions. However, this year will be the last year they perform the Maurice Sendak version, ending the longstanding tradition. The Nutcracker has become such a fun event for younger children that I know it will be missed. What the production in Elizabeth is doing sounds like a good way to change things and make it new and fun for younger generations, without ending the tradition. Though I am not sure how the change will effect the performance, I'm sure that kids will enjoy it and it will continue to spread holiday cheer.
This might be an unpopular opinion, but I think very much so that, like opera, ballet is long overdue for a serious upgrade when it comes to classics such as The Nutcracker. Although The Nutcracker has always been one of my all time favorite holiday traditions growing up, and even though I dreamed of being the Sugarplum Fairy as a little tiny ballerina in the snow flurry group of the show, and as a little kid party guest the year after, I cannot deny that I would absolutely love to see this show done with some different types of dance forms other than just ballet. I'd love to see a really high action and surprising Nutcracker, and I don't doubt that some parents who have seen the Nutcracker approximately 50 times would love to see their kids do a jazz number instead of the classical ballet every other holiday.
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