PROGRAM
II - THE NUTCRACKER
December 8 and 9, 7:00 and 3:00 pm, at the Parker Playhouse Performing Arts Theatre
707 NE 8th Street (also known as Sandy Nininger Drive) - Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
For Tickets
www.parkerplayhouse.com
or
954 462 0222
Information: 305 935 3232
December 15 and 16, 7:00 and 3:00 pm, at the
Julius Littman North Miami Beach Performing Arts Theatre. 17011 NE 19th Ave - North Miami Beach
For Tickets
www.boxofficetickets.com
or 800 494 8497
Information: 305 935 3232
The Nutcracker Ballet
 is
based on the book called ``The Nutcracker and
the Mouse King" written by E.T.A. Hoffman.
In 1891, the legendary choreographer Marius
Petipa commissioned Tchaikovsky to write the
music for the Nutcracker Ballet. In 1892, the
first showing of the Nutcracker took place at
the Mariinsky Theatre of Russia, home of the
Kirov Ballet What is seen on the stage today
has changed much from the original story of
a little girl named Marie in a loveless household
fighting bloody battles against a mouse king
with seven heads.
|
| |
 When
Marius Petipa had the idea to choreograph the
story into a play, it was actually based on
the book that had been revised by Alexander
Dumas. His version reflects more of what we
have come to love as the Nutcracker Ballet.
|
| |
It is Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum house --
A large and grand house with the most beautiful
tree imaginable. The Stahlbaums are having their
annual Christmas party and everyone is arriving.
The children, Fritz and Clara, are so excited
and welcome their friends to come join in play
and dancing. As the party begins to get going,
Fritz and Clara's godfather Herr Drosselmeyer
arrives. He is always full of surprises.
Drosselmeyer presents two life-size dancing
dolls to the delight of the party, adults included.
|
| |
 The
children begin to open gifts and Drosselmeyer
presents his to Fritz and Clara. Although his
gift to Fritz is quite nice, his gift to Clara,
a beautiful Nutcracker is the hit of the party.
Fritz, being a bit jealous and with a bit more
spunk than a boy should have, grabs the nutcracker
from Clara and promptly breaks it. Clara is
heartbroken and Drosselmeyer knows it. He attempts
to repair the Nutcracker and hands it back to
Clara.
Soon the guests depart and the family goes
to bed. But Clara, worried about her beloved
Nutcracker, sneaks back to the tree to check
on him, where strange things begin to happen. |
| |
|
| |
The
Battle Scene
The clock strikes 12:00 (midnight) and as Clara
goes to fetch the Nutcracker, pandemonium breaks
loose; toy soldiers come to life and so do the
mice. A great battle takes place as Clara huddles
in her chair. The Mouse King fights with the
nutcracker. Clara helps the Nutcracker, by hitting
the Mouse King’s head with her shoe. The
battle is over and Clara is now transported
to the Kingdom of Snow where she meets the Nutcracker,
transformed into a Prince.
The Nutcracker turns into a prince and sets
Clara out on a journey to a land of snow and
enchanted forests where she is welcomed by dancing
Snowflakes. |
| |
|
| |
The Nutcracker turns into a
prince and sets Clara out on a journey to a
land of snow and enchanted forests where she
is welcomed by dancing Snowflakes.
The Land of
Sweets
In the land of sweets, Clara receives
a celebration of dances:
The Spanish Dance, The Arabian Dance, The Chinese
Dance, The Marzipan Dance, The Waltz of Flowers.
As a finale the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier
dance a Pas De Deux. |
| |
|
The music of the Nutcracker Ballet was composed by
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Born in the Ural Mountains
of Russia, he dedicated his life to music. From 1850
to 1859, he attended the school of Jurisprudence and
studied piano. In 1861, he attended classes with the
Russian Music Society. In 1862, he entered the Saint
Petersburg Conservatory. Beginning in 1866, Tchaikovsky
taught at the Moscow Conservatory while composing
many of his concertos and symphonies. In 1892, Tchaikovsky
composed the Nutcracker.
