George Balanchine’s

The Nutcracker®

December 7 – 26, 2019 | Keller Auditorium

This show has passed.

222 SW Clay Street, Portland, Oregon 97201

OBT’s season would not be complete without Portland’s Favorite Holiday Tradition, the 17th annual production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker ®. Filled with swirling snowflakes, glorious scenery, and lavish costumes, this production gets better and better with each passing year. Join Marie, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and the Prince on their adventure through the Land of Sweets – all set to Tchaikovsky’s joyous score! Immerse yourself in this magical journey for children of all ages.

Choreography by George Balanchine | Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

 

Performance Times

Featuring 12 performances with the OBT Orchestra

= indicates a performance with live music featuring the OBT Orchestra

= indicates performances with Audio Description

 

Matinee Shows

Evening Shows

Saturday, December 7 – 2:00 PM Saturday, December 7 – 7:30 PM
Sunday, December 8 – 2:00 PM Friday, December 13 – 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 14 – 2:00 PM Saturday, December 14 – 7:30 PM
Sunday, December 15 – 2:00 PM Thursday, December 19 – 7:30 PM
Friday, December 20 – 2:00 PM Friday, December 20 – 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 21 – 2:00 PM Saturday, December 21 – 7:30 PM
Sunday, December 22 – 2:00 PM Sunday, December 22 – 7:30 PM
Monday, December 23 – 2:00 PM Monday, December 23 – 7:30 PM
Tuesday, December 24 – 12:00 PM
Thursday, December 26 – 2:00 PM


Video


Photos

Click image below to view full gallery of 2019 images.

The Nutcracker


Casting

Week 3, Dec. 19-26

Thursday, Dec. 19 Friday, Dec. 20 Friday, Dec. 20 Saturday, Dec. 21 Saturday, Dec. 21 Sunday, Dec. 22 Sunday, Dec. 22 Monday, Dec. 23 Monday, Dec. 23 Tuesday, Dec. 24 Thursday, Dec. 26
7:30 PM 2:00 PM 7:30 PM 2:00 PM 7:30 PM 2:00 PM 7:30 PM 2:00 PM 7:30 PM 12:00 PM 2:00 PM
Orchestra Orchestra Orchestra Orchestra Orchestra Orchestra
SUGAR PLUM FAIRY Xuan Cheng Ansa Capizzi Kimberly Fromm Kelsie Nobriga Eva Burton Jessica Lind Ansa Capizzi Eva Burton Kimberly Fromm Kelsie Nobriga Xuan Cheng
CAVALIER Brian Simcoe Matthew Pawlicki-Sinclair Brian Simcoe Theodore Watler Peter Franc Thomas Baker Matthew Pawlicki-Sinclair Peter Franc Brian Simcoe Theodore Watler Brian Simcoe
DEWDROP Ansa Capizzi Jessica Lind Kelsie Nobriga Eva Burton Ansa Capizzi Emily Parker Jessica Lind Kelsie Nobriga Ansa Capizzi Eva Burton Emily Parker
DROSSELMEIER Colby Parsons Michael Linsmeier Adam Hartley Christopher Kaiser Brian Simcoe Peter Franc Colby Parsons Adam Hartley Michael Linsmeier Colby Parsons Christopher Kaiser
MARIE Madeleine Brooks Madeleine Brooks Annika Sheridan Kaitlyn O’Neill Annika Sheridan Kaitlyn O’Neill Annika Sheridan Madeleine Brooks Kaitlyn O’Neill Madeleine Brooks Annika Sheridan
THE PRINCE Samuel Coté Samuel Coté Luke Hanifan Troy Hartwig Luke Hanifan Troy Hartwig Luke Hanifan Samuel Coté Troy Hartwig Samuel Coté Luke Hanifan
CANDY CANE Peter Franc Thomas Baker Christopher Kaiser Michael Linsmeier Christopher Kaiser Peter Franc Thomas Baker Christopher Kaiser Peter Franc Michael Linsmeier Thomas Baker
MOTHER GINGER Colby Parsons Jacob Brein Colby Parsons Jacob Brein Poison Waters Poison Waters Poison Waters Poison Waters Poison Waters Poison Waters Poison Waters

Casting

Week 2, Dec. 13-15

Friday, Dec. 13 Saturday, Dec. 14 Saturday, Dec. 14 Sunday, Dec. 15
7:30 PM 2:00 PM 7:30 PM 2:00 PM
Orchestra Orchestra Orchestra
SUGAR PLUM FAIRY Kelsie Nobriga Ansa Capizzi Eva Burton Jessica Lind
CAVALIER Theodore Watler Matthew Pawlicki-Sinclair Peter Franc Thomas Baker
DEWDROP Jessica Lind Emily Parker Kelsie Nobriga Eva Burton
DROSSELMEIER Christopher Kaiser Colby Parsons Adam Hartley Peter Franc
MARIE Kaitlyn O’Neill Annika Sheridan Madeleine Brooks Kaitlyn O’Neill
THE PRINCE Troy Hartwig Luke Hanifan Samuel Coté Troy Hartwig
CANDY CANE Thomas Baker Christopher Kaiser Christopher Kaiser Michael Linsmeier
MOTHER GINGER Poison Waters Poison Waters Colby Parsons Poison Waters

Casting

Week 1, Dec. 7-8

Saturday, Dec. 7 Saturday, Dec. 7 Sunday, Dec. 8
2:00 PM 7:30 PM 2:00 PM
Orchestra Orchestra Orchestra
SUGAR PLUM FAIRY Xuan Cheng Eva Burton Jessica Lind
CAVALIER Brian Simcoe Peter Franc Thomas Baker
DEWDROP Ansa Capizzi Kelsie Nobriga Emily Parker
DROSSELMEIER Christopher Kaiser Brian Simcoe Peter Franc
MARIE Annika Sheridan Madeleine Brooks Kaitlyn O’Neill
THE PRINCE Luke Hanifan Samuel Coté Troy Hartwig
CANDY CANE Peter Franc Michael Linsmeier Brian Simcoe
MOTHER GINGER Poison Waters Jacob Brein Poison Waters

Summary

ACT ONE
It is Christmas Eve in Germany 150 years ago: Doctor and Frau Stahlbaum, along with their children Marie and Fritz, are hosting an elegant holiday party. In a festive parlor with a splendid Christmas tree, they entertain friends and relatives with games, dances, and gifts. At the stroke of eight, an owl suddenly flaps its wings over the grandfather clock in the corner of the room; the lights flicker and fail. The party is swept up in a sense of wonder as Marie’s godfather, the mysterious Herr Drosselmeier, makes a dramatic entrance with his young nephew. They have brought life-sized dancing toys that they unveil to the delight of the assembled guests. Drosselmeier then presents Marie with a special gift: a Nutcracker.

Marie proudly shows off her new toy until Fritz, in a jealous tantrum, seizes the doll and breaks it. Drosselmeier mends the Nutcracker with his handkerchief and gives the doll to Marie, who tucks it into a toy bed beneath the Christmas tree. After a final dance, which Marie shares with the nephew, the guests say goodnight and the family goes to bed. At midnight, Marie sneaks back to look for her Nutcracker. She soon falls asleep; the room begins to change.

Giant mice scurry through the shadows while the Christmas tree and the toys beneath it grow bigger and bigger. Under a now-towering tree, the mice, led by their fierce King, do battle with the Nutcracker and his army of toy soldiers. It seems the mice will be triumphant until, at the very last moment, Marie throws her slipper at the King, distracting him long enough for the Nutcracker to run him through with his sword and seize victory. Exhausted, Marie falls onto her bed and is magically transported to the Land of Snow. There, where snowflakes dance, she is reunited with the Nutcracker, now transformed into a handsome young Prince.

ACT TWO
The Nutcracker Prince leads Marie on a journey to the Palace of the Land of Sweets, where the Sugar Plum Fairy reigns. There, the Prince tells the court how Marie saved him in his battle with the Mouse King. As a reward, the Sugar Plum Fairy seats them both upon a special throne to enjoy the dancing of Spanish Hot Chocolate, Arabian Coffee, and Tea from China. Candy Canes also perform for the two, along with Marzipan Shepherdesses, Mother Ginger and her Polichinelles, and the beautiful Dew Drop Fairy and her Flowers. As a final honor, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier dance a majestic pas de deux. Marie and the Nutcracker Prince thank the Sugar Plum Fairy for her grand entertainment. Everyone in the Land of Sweets gathers to bid them farewell.

Run Time

Approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes with one 25 minute intermission


Audio Described

OBT offers audio-described performances for patrons with blindness or low vision, or anyone interested in listening to a live narration of select performances.

Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) will be available for patron use during two performances of December’s run of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. Patrons wanting to experience the performance through verbal description of the action on stage, including choreography, story line, scenery and costumes, will be able to pick up a hand-held device on a first-come, first-served basis from the coat check area before the Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m. performance and the Dec. 15, 2:00 p.m. performance. Neck loops for use with hearing aids and cochlear implants with a “T” switch (telecoil) are also available. Please bring ID when checking out a hearing device. Supplies are limited.

 

 

 


Header Image Yi Yin