Pauline Adamek
Delight in the storybook holiday fairytale that captures the spirit of the season through the magic of a child’s imagination. It is Christmas Eve. A blanket of snow covers the ground, a bright Christmas star glows in the sky, and Marie and her Nutcracker Prince are about to embark on an unexpected journey to a winter wonderland of enchantment!
The Music Center will bring a much beloved holiday tradition back to Los Angeles when it presents the iconic choreography of George Balanchine in an all-new world premiere production featuring a live orchestra of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® by Miami City Ballet. Performances will take place at The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion from December 7 – 10, 2017.
Part of the 15th season of Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center, this engagement is a Music Center co-commission that will feature the visionary designs of Cuban-American designers Isabel and Ruben Toledo, who are creating all-new sets and costumes for this production.
In addition, for the first time, the performances will feature student dancers from both the Colburn School and The Gabriella Foundation’s everybody dance! program, along with live choral music from the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus.
This distinctive collaboration will blend both the fashion design sensibilities of Isabel Toledo with the artistic and illustration expertise of Ruben Toledo. The couples’ designs will pay homage to the classic story ballet and add a sense of fantasy by incorporating their aesthetic into the production. The sets and costumes are based on the original designs from the 1954 ballet; they will invoke a sense of nostalgia for the holidays while creating a postcard perfect setting for the ultimate holiday experience. Isabel Toledo will bring couture to the stage with costume designs that are inspired by fashion from the early 1800s along with playful costumes that capture the whimsy of the characters. Projections by award-winning designer Wendall K. Harrington will expand and enhance the visual world of this new Nutcracker, as well as provide additional insight into the storyline through the eyes of a child. The costumes and the magical stage design will transport audiences to an enchanted kingdom where heroic toy soldiers battle giant mice and a glittering Sugarplum Fairy dwells in a magical Land of Sweets.
“The Music Center is excited to bring back the holiday tradition of enjoying an original Balanchine Nutcracker but in whole new way, one that is unique to Los Angeles,” said Rachel Moore, president and CEO of The Music Center. “Given the artistry of the Miami City Ballet, the Toledos’ genius visual interpretation of this beloved classic, and the addition of student performers from right here in Los Angeles, families will be in for a treat. The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion will be transformed into a winter wonderland that captures the spirit of the season through the magic of a child’s imagination,” she explained.
Continuing The Music Center’s tradition of collaborating with community organizations and providing a platform for local young artists, the performance will feature young dance students from the Colburn School and the Gabriella Foundation’s everybody dance! program, as well as members of the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus. Student dancers participated in a two-week summer workshop at the Colburn School where they learned the history of The Nutcracker along with choreography and long sequences prior to auditioning. The young dancers will rehearse with the Miami City Ballet when the company travels to Los Angeles in December.
“We wanted to give Los Angeles a Nutcracker beyond proportion, one that audiences will treasure,” said Michael Solomon, vice president of presentations and education for The Music Center. “With its commitment to artistic excellence and collaboration, both with The Music Center and local talent, Miami City Ballet was a critical piece of our plan to bring The Nutcracker back to Los Angeles for many years to come.”
Described by The New York Times as “exceptional,” Miami City Ballet is one of the few companies in the country to continuously perform George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, which it has done for almost 30 years. The Toledos’ artistic team includes Harrington, who is known as the godmother of modern projection design, and lighting designer James K. Ingalls, known for his work on Broadway and with international and national ballet and opera companies.
The Music Center is offering a Sugar Plum Fairy Brunch and the Waltz of the Flowers Tea provided by Patina Restaurant Group for ticket holders who attend the Sunday, December 10, 2017 matinee performances for an additional cost. Both the brunch and tea the will be held in Stern Grand Hall of The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and include live music, craft-making and photo opportunities.
Scroll down for more information.
Information and pricing for both events is available at musiccenter.org/nutcracker.
Performance tickets are sold separately.
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®
The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
135 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012
When:
Thursday, December 7 – 6:30 p.m.
Friday, December 8 – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 9 – 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 9 – 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 10 – 12:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 10 – 4:00 p.m.
Box Office:
The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion,
135 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Ticket prices start at $34.00
Online:
Phone:
(213) 972-0711
For 10 tickets or more, call (213) 972-8555 or email mcgroupsales@musiccenter.org
About the new George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®*
Choreography: George Balanchine, The Balanchine Trust
Composer: Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky
Costume Design: Isabel Toledo
Visual Design: Ruben Toledo
Projection Design: Wendall K. Harrington
Lighting Design: James K. Ingalls
Tickets for George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® performances at The Music Center start at $34 and are available online at musiccenter.org/nutcracker; at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Box Office, 135 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90012; or by calling (213) 972-0711. For groups of 10 or more, call (213) 972-8555 or email mcgroupsales@musiccenter.org. Miami City Ballet will also perform the new George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® in Miami from December 15 – 24, 2017.
About Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center
Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center is one of the leading presenters of dance on the West Coast. The celebrated series offers significant works by prestigious ballet and contemporary dance artists from around the world. Now entering its 15th year, Dance at The Music Center is a powerful commissioning force, supporting new works and artists-in-residence projects by today’s most influential companies and choreographers. Performances take place throughout The Music Center, including the historic Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the distinctive Ahmanson Theatre and the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall, and in locations around the Los Angeles area.
About The Music Center
The Music Center is Los Angeles’ home to the world’s greatest artistic programs and events. With four iconic theaters and four renowned resident companies – Center Theatre Group, the LA Master Chorale, the LA Opera and the LA Philharmonic – The Music Center is recognized for its illustrious dance programming, Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center and is a destination where audiences find inspiration in the very best of live performance, as well as nationally recognized arts education and participatory arts experiences. With The Music Center On Location, the non-profit performing arts organization brings events and activities to locations outside of its Downtown Los Angeles campus. The Music Center also programs and manages Grand Park, a 12-acre adjacent greenspace, with year-round free programming. For more information, visit musiccenter.org Follow The Music Center on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (@MusicCenterLA).
SUGAR PLUM FAIRY BRUNCH
Stern Grand Hall, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Sunday, December 10, 2017
10:30 a.m. Seating
Adults: $55
Children (12 and under): $30
View the menu
Indulge your senses in a winter wonderland of enchantment as The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is transformed for the holiday season. Delight in the magic of the storybook fairytale with an elegant buffet brunch before you take your seat for an all-new George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. Enjoy live music, crafts and photo opportunities while savoring delicious brunch favorites provided by Patina Restaurant Group.
To add the SUGAR PLUM FAIRY BRUNCH to your performance ticket purchase, please select December 10, 2017 | 12:00 PM in the drop down in the top right corner of this page and click BUY TICKETS. Once you have your performance tickets added to your cart and proceed to checkout, you will have the option of adding the brunch to your purchase. The Sugar Plum Fairy Brunch is only available to patrons with tickets to the Sunday, December 10, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. performance of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®.
Do you already have performance tickets to the December 10, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. performance and want to add the Sugar Plum Fairy Brunch? Please call the box office at (213) 972-0711 to add this holiday treat to your order.
*Performance tickets to George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker are sold separately.
WALTZ OF THE FLOWERS TEA
Stern Grand Hall, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Sunday, December 10, 2017
2:30 p.m. Seating
Adults: $42
Children (12 and under): $26
View the menu
Indulge your senses in a winter wonderland of enchantment as The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is transformed for the holiday season. Delight in the magic of the storybook fairytale with an elegant tea before you take your seat for an all-new George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. Enjoy live music, crafts and photo opportunities while sipping on tea and other beverages and nibbling on an assortment of delicious savories and sweets provided by Patina Restaurant Group.
To add the WALTZ OF THE FLOWERS TEA to your performance ticket purchase, please select December 10, 2017 | 4:00 PM in the drop down in the top right corner of this page and click BUY TICKETS. Once you have your performance tickets added to your cart and proceed to checkout, you will have the option of adding the tea to your purchase. The Waltz of the Flowers Tea is only available to patrons with tickets to the Sunday, December 10, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. performance of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®.
Do you already have performance tickets to the December 10, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. performance and want to add the Waltz of the Flowers Tea? Please call the box office at (213) 972-0711 to add this holiday treat to your order.
*Performance tickets to George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker are sold separately.
SWEET SEATS
DECEMBER 9 at 2:00 p.m.
Enjoy an exclusive opportunity to the best seats at the Saturday Matinee, a backstage photo opportunity with a dancer, dancer-signed Nutcracker poster and Nutcracker goodie bag. Sweet Seats only available with support of The Music Center’s Winter Soirée. For more information, please call (213) 972-4322 or email Soiree@MusicCenter.org.
Brian Sonia-Wallace
