The perennial holiday family classic the "Nutcracker" will be presented by the Nashville Ballet begining Dec. 14-16 and Dec. 21-23. This perennial family classic is beloved for its story, its dancing, its magical scenery and costumes, and a surprise celebrity cast of Mother Gingers, and the joyous Tchaikovsky score, and is accompanied by the magnificent Nashville Symphony.
Ballet members have been preparing for the show since Oct., which has more than 100 cast members.
The Nashville Ballet first presented Nutcracker in 1989. It was in that rendention that current artistic director Paul Vasterling, danced Father, Russian and Spanish. Sharyn Wood, a ballet masters, danced Columbine, Marzipan and Waltz of the Flowers. When Vasterling retired from dancing, he played Drosselmeyer for seven years.
More than 2,200 dancers have performed in Nashville Ballet's Nutcracker in the last 18 years. Every city that presents Nutcracker has its own version.
In this year's performance, Scott Hamilton, a former olympic figure skater, will dance in the role of Mother Ginger. Hamilton will perform the 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, December 15, 2007 at TPAC’s Jackson Hall.
Known for his artistic talent and technical proficiency, Hamilton will glide across the stage with eight “Polichinelles” (baby clowns) hiding under the large colorful skirt. Once onstage, the “pollies” will scamper about with Hamilton moving smoothly and gracefully tracing a figure eight pattern to capture the gold-costumed clowns.
Hamilton is now a network TV skating commentator, an actor, performer, producer, best-selling author, inspirational speaker, role model, humanitarian, philanthropist, and a cancer and brain tumor survivor. He recently starred in the mega box office hit motion picture comedy Blades of Glory with Will Ferrell and Jon Heder.
Performance times:
Friday, December 14, 2007 at 7 PM
Saturday, December 15, 2007 at 2 PM
Saturday, December 15, 2007 at 7 PM
Sunday, December 16, 2007 at 2 PM
Friday, December 21, 2007 at 2 PM
Friday, December 21, 2007 at 7 PM
Saturday, December 22, 2007 at 2 PM
Saturday, December 22, 2007 at 7 PM
Sunday, December 23, 2007 at 2 PM
Season Subscription Tickets and Group Sales
Group discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. Family Series and Ballet Buddy Subscriptions are also available. Subscriptions for the remaining season begin at $32.00. The Buddy Ballet Buddies’ price of $142.00 per person includes matinee shows to Nutcracker and Romeo & Juliet, special goodies, photo opportunities, complimentary valet parking and lunch at the prestigious Hermitage Hotel. Please call 615-297-2966 ext. 10 to order your season subscription and /or group sales tickets.
Single Ticket Sales
Single tickets range from $19.00 to $59.00. All tickets will be subject to an additional $2.50 TPAC facility fee. Tickets can be purchased at the TPAC or Davis-Kidd box offices, at any Ticketmaster location, by phone at 615-255-ARTS, or at www.ticketmaster.com