THE NUTCRACKER

12/10/2016 – 12/24/2016

Family-Friendly, Traditional, Warmth of the Holiday Season

 

A cherished holiday classic, Orange County’s premier ballet company, Festival Ballet Theatre presents the traditional full-length production of The Nutcracker. This family-friendly classical ballet dazzles audiences of all ages.   Children, adults and the young at heart will enjoy The Nutcracker’s colorful scenery, magnificent costumes and sensational dancing.

From the warmth of the Stahlbaum home to the magical Land of the Sweets, homegrown talented company dancers, children from across Southern California and famed guest artists such as Yuan Yuan Tan, Tiit Helimets, Maria Kochetkova and Vitor Luiz from San Francisco Ballet, Sara Mearns and Jared Angle from New York City Ballet and former American Ballet Theatre principals Irina Dvorovenko and Maxim Beloserkovsky are sure to create sweet holiday memories for your family.

Action, adventure, excitement, and grandeur combine to make this a charming, swiftly paced entertainment as the Sugar Plum Fairy, heroine Clara, and a cast of hundreds take you and your family on a magical journey.

This holiday celebration features dancing toys, mischievous mice, sparkling snowflakes and waltzing flowers.  The beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier are a highlight of Clara’s adventure – FBT’s spectacular guest artists will dance this bravura pas de deux:

Yuan Yuan Tan – San Francisco Ballet
Tiit Helimets – San Francisco Ballet

Saturday, December 10, 2016 @ 2:00 PM
Saturday, December 10, 2016 @ 7:00 PM
Sunday, December 11, 2016 @ 1:00 PM
Sunday, December 11, 2016 @ 6:00 PM

Maria Kochetkova – San Francisco Ballet
Vitor Luiz – San Francisco Ballet
Friday, December 16, 2016 @ 7:00 PM
Saturday, December 17, 2016 @ 2:00 PM

Sara Mearns – New York City Ballet
Jared Angle – New York City Ballet
Saturday, December 17, 2016 @ 7:00 PM
Sunday, December 18, 2016 @ 6:00 PM
Sunday, December 18, 2016 @ 1:00 PM

Irina Dvorovenko – Former American Ballet Theatre Principal
Maxim Beloserkovsky – Former American Ballet Theatre Principal
Tuesday, December 20, 2016 @ 6:00 PM
Wednesday, December 21, 2016 @ 6:00 PM
Thursday, December 22, 2016 @ 6:00 PM
Friday, December 23, 2016 @ 1:00 PM
Friday, December 23, 2016 @ 6:00 PM
Saturday, December 24, 2016 @ 11:00 AM

Tickets: $42 – $55
For group discounts, please call the box office.

Join Us For Our Family Friendly, Fundraiser To Kick-Off The Nutcracker Season

Nutcracker Luncheon and Sugar Plum Tea
Sunday, December 4, 2016
Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort

Festival Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker

  • Set to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s iconic (traditional) score
  • Features world-renowned guest artists, FBT’s professional company dancers, exceptional young talent from across the Southland, and a cast of more than 200 Southern California children
  • Full-length, traditional production choreographed and directed by Festival Ballet Theatre’s Artistic Director Salwa Rizkalla
  • Family-friendly, fast-paced production perfect for all ages
  • Colorful scenery and dazzling costumes by Simon Pastukh and Galina Solovyeva

Synopsis

 Act I

At the home of Dr. and Mrs. Stahlbaum, guests attending the Stahlbaum family’s holiday party arrive and are graciously greeted by the hosts and their children, Fritz and Clara.

Scene I: The Party

At the party, parents and children dance, visit and exchange gifts. Clara’s godfather, the mysterious Dr. Drosselmeyer, arrives with festive, awe-inspiring boxes from which a life-sized Porcelain Doll,

Harlequinette and Toy Soldier come to life and dance. The children can hardly believe their eyes. After an argument arises between Fritz and Clara, Dr. Drosselmeyer comforts his goddaughter with the gift of a wooden nutcracker soldier. The new toy enchants Clara but, out of jealousy, Fritz grabs the toy and breaks it. Coming to the rescue once again, Dr. Drosselmeyer mends the nutcracker. All the girls join Clara in a lullaby dance with their new dolls – protecting them from Fritz and his fellow mischief-makers.

As the party winds down and the guests begin to leave, the Stahlbaums retire for the evening. Clara wants to take her injured nutcracker to her room, but her mother has her place the toy under the tree with the other gifts.

Scene II: The Battle

During the night, a worried Clara checks on her beloved nutcracker. While in the parlor, she is frightened by large mice and their gruesome leader, the Mouse King. Dr. Drosselmeyer appears, and using his magical powers, commands the Christmas tree to grow and brings the nutcracker to life. Now a life-size soldier, the Nutcracker leads an army of toy soldiers in a battle against the ferocious Mouse King and his minions. When the Mouse King wounds the Nutcracker, Clara runs to his rescue and distracts the evil beast. The Nutcracker protects Clara by slaying the Mouse King and is transformed into a handsome Prince. As a show of gratitude, he takes Clara on a magical journey.

Scene III: The Land of Snow

The Nutcracker Prince and Clara travel through the Land of Snow, presided over by the graceful Snow Queen. The delicate Snowflakes whirl to the delight of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince, and with the help of their gracious Snow Queen, send them off to the Kingdom of Sweets.

Act II

Clara and the Nutcracker Prince arrive in the Kingdom of Sweets where they are welcomed by the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. In the Palace of the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Nutcracker Prince reenacts the fearsome battle with the Mouse King and credits Clara’s courage for saving his life. An immediate celebration in honor of our heroine is proclaimed. One after another, Spanish dancers, Chinese dancers, Arabian dancers, Russian dancers, Merlitons, Mother Ginger and her Gingersnaps, as well as the elegant Dew Drop and her delicate flowers dance in honor of Clara. As a final tribute to Clara and her Prince, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier perform a special pas de deux. At the close of the ballet, Clara is left wondering if this incredible journey was real or just an exciting, wonderful dream.

 

Festival Ballet Theatre’s Nutcracker history

  • Performances began in 1989
  • Presented at various Orange County venues throughout the years:
    – Historic Huntington Beach High School Auditorium
    – Orange Coast College’s Robert B. Moore Theatre
    – Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach
  • Performed annually since 2007 at the beautiful 754-seat Irvine Barclay Theatre on the University of California, Irvine campus