TribLIVE: Some Christmas traditions date back many centuries, most originated in the Victorian era, but “The Nutcracker” ballet became a fixture of American Christmas celebrations only in the 1950s and '60s.
Now it would be hard to find a city that doesn't offer live performances of “The Nutcracker.” The ballet's popularity has made it the most lucrative production of the year for ballet companies. It also has provided the opportunity for many choreographers to try their hand at telling the story of a girl's magical Christmas Eve.
1 comment:
This rendition of The Nutcracker is very much designed for the local community of Pittsburgh. I think this is great; Orr seems to care very much about the community here and making the production feel more personal. Most of the production looks great, but it could use a bit of polish. For example, several of the drops are wrinkled in certain places, including the portal and the cyc. One of my favorite parts of the show was the showcase of many different cultural Christmas traditions. I loved how Orr highlighted Pittsburgh's cultural diversity, and I was completely ok with such a departure from the "traditional" Nutcracker. The costumes were beautiful all around and the lighting did a great job enhancing the world and the magic of the piece. I completely agree with Orr's idea to cast Marie as a woman rather than a young girl. It allows for both a more complex story and much more technically advanced dancing. Overall, the I think it's a great take on the quintessential holiday ballet classic.
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