FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 7, 2007
CONTACT: Mark Fleisher:
Festival Ballet Providence, 401.353.1129
Festival Ballet Providence’s The Nutcracker
December 14-16 at PPAC
A Dreamy production at the elegant Performing Arts Center!
Good seats still available!
Providence, RI -
| Program: | The Nutcracker |
| Date: | December 14-16, 2007 |
| Time: | Friday at 7:30 Saturday at 2:00 and 7:00 Sunday at 1:00 pm and 6:30 pm |
| Place: | Providence Performing Arts Center, 222 Weybossett Street, Providence, RI |
| Cost: | $18-$60.00, price includes $3.00 Theater Restoration Fee. Discounts for Groups, children and seniors |
| Program: |
Full-length performance of The Nutcracker, with orchestra and chorus. Duration: 2 hours. |
| Information: | Vist www.festivalballet.com , for tickets contact 401.421.ARTS or visit www.ppacri.com |
Festival Ballet Providence celebrates the holidays and its 30th Anniversary Season with its annual holiday favorite, The NutcrackerFive performances will take place in the opulent Providence Performing Arts Center December 14 to 16, 2007, Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 2:00 and 7:00 pm and Sunday at 1:00 and 6:30 PM.
Ticket sales are already brisk for this magical production by the state’s premiere ballet company that brings an audience of over 15,000 to downtown Providence.
The Nutcracker brings the magic of the holidays to the stage with a production noted in Motif as “…a true Christmas gift not to be missed….”
This beloved holiday tale of a gift of a Nutcracker doll given to Clara by her beloved Uncle Drosselmeyer leads the young girl from a grand Christmas party, complete with puppet theater and dancing dolls and a tree that grows 25 feet in height, to a midnight battle of life-size toy soldiers vs. giant mice lead by the Mouse Queen. Clara survives the ordeal, only to find that her protector, a life-sized Nutcracker soldier, has been transformed into a human prince. He leads her through a dozen dancing snowflakes to the luscious Kingdom of Sweets, where the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier introduce the couple to brightly costumed dancers from round the world. They celebrate the victory over the Mouse Queen with cultural dances, culminating in a grand finale.
Under the baton of conductor Dr. Edward Markward, the Nutcracker orchestra brings the added luster of live music to the production. The Providence College Women’s Chorus under the direction of Dr. Michelle Holt will join the musicians for the “Snow” Scene, which also includes hundreds of glimmering Swarovski crystal snowflakes, dancers in sparkling white stone-studded costumes and a gentle snowfall to elegantly close Act I.
After the stunning world premiere of Viktor Plotnikov’s acclaimed contemporary Cinderella, Festival Ballet Providence Artistic Director Mihailo (“Misha”) Djuric is looking forward to a return to this more classical retelling. “I was thrilled to see how our audience embraced Viktor’s more modernistic, simplified Cinderella, but I am excited to return to our Nutcracker, a production we know people truly love for its freshness, humor and classicism. The performers are anxious to make this year’s production sparkle for everyone in the audience. Our new dancers, including those from China, Korea, Canada and Estonia, will add an international excitement to this sumptuous production. It’s a very magical production, and individuals who regularly attend NY City Ballet and Boston Ballet are always impressed with the freshness of our Providence production. I want everyone to have a magical experience for the holidays.”
Aside from the international troupe of 23 dancers, the production also features over 80 talented dancers as young as 7 years old, dancing the roles of Angels, Party Children, Candy Dolls, Mice, Soldiers and Russian dancers. These young performers were chosen from over 130 from throughout the region who auditioned for roles in this production on September 16th.
The central role of Clara will be performed by two young dancers in the Festival Ballet Providence Junior Company. Katie Paquin will reprise the role she also danced last year, and will alternate the role with Sophia Van Allsburg. Djuric noted “Casting this pivotal role is always a tough decision. I consider which young dancer is up to the challenge, and how she will use the role to grow artistically and technically. And stage presence, I never forget that. I can’t wait to see what the young dancers will bring to the role.”
Nutcracker Tickets: Performances take place at the Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset Street, in Providence, RI. Tickets priced from $18.00 to $60.00 are available by contacting the PPAC Box Office at 401.421-ARTS or visiting www.ppacri.com. Group discounts are available by calling PPAC at 401.421.2997 extension # 3162. (Paul Hiatt).
Sponsors. The 2007 production of Festival Ballet Providence’s production of The Nutcracker is made possible in part by sponsors Swarovski and David Yurman, with additional support from NBC10, The Providence Phoenix and the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts.
Clara’s Tea and Brunch: Festival Ballet Providence will offer Clara’s Tea and Brunch on Sunday December 16th from 11 am to 12:30 pm at the Federal Reserve Restaurant, 60 Dorrance Street, Providence, prior to the 1:00 matinee performance. This festive meal hosted by Bob and Anne Burke is complete with delightful seasonal decor, dozens of Nutcrackers, brunch favorites, pastries, tea and coffee. Guests are joined by costumed characters from The Nutcracker including Uncle Drosselmeyer, Clara, her friends, and Archie the Nutcracker dog. This event makes a visit to The Nutcracker an especially memorable event. Tickets for Clara’s Tea are $15.00 for children 3-5, $25.00 for children 6 to 12, and $35.00 for those older than 12, including tax and tip. To reserve seating for Clara’ Tea and Brunch call Festival Ballet Providence, 401.353.1129. Reservations and full payment must be received by December 13, 2007.
Festival Ballet Providence’s signature sterling silver Nutcracker Charm Bracelet is available for purchase, as the original 5-charm version for $100, or as the updated 8-charm bracelet for $180. This year’s new charm, available for purchase separately, will depict the Sugar Plum Fairy.
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The Festival Ballet Providence and the Festival Ballet Providence Center for Dance Education are together a not-for-profit arts organization whose EIN is 05-0377245 and whose Rhode Island Corporate ID number is ND-27-137.
For additional information about Festival Ballet Providence and the production visit www.festivalballet.com. For photos or interviews contact Mark Fleisher, 401.353.1129.
Quotes:
“You expect spectacle and splendor… and Festival Ballet Providence delivers”. ProJo
As noted by the Providence Journal, it is a production full of “spectacle and splendor”.
“…a true Christmas gift not to be missed….” Motif
“A delve-into-the-dream, 2 hour production” ProJo
“Enchantment is the key element to a successful Nutcracker. If the pace lags or a phrase is forgotten the spell can be broken. But Festival Ballet Providence’s presentation has nary a pause nor a clunk, moving swiftly and smoothly to it’s wonderful conclusion. The audience will be left, as it should, quite starry-eyed and glowing” Johnette Rodriquez.
Story Ideas:
1. Kids attending the Ballet.Introduction for young audiences how to attend The Nutcracker. For many children, this is the first exposure to a dance performance and the theater. Notes would include how to dress, how to behave, preparing for the performance by reading the synopsis, explaining to children that there is no speaking, in this ballet, all the story is told through the movements and actions of the characters onstage. How to show your appreciation of what you have seen performed, and when you may show that appreciation
2. Follow a performer in the production from your town through the rehearsal and performance process. Rehearsals, costume fittings, make-up, hair, dress rehearsal, and the first show. Dancing as Clara, Katie Paquin is a 17 year old Senior at LaSalle Academy, and Sophia Van Allsburg, a 16 year old Junior at Lincoln School.
3. Interview the veteran Company dancers to see how they keep their performances fresh and exciting, year after year. Check in with the new dancers in the company (from the US, Canada, Estonia, Korea and China) to see how this Nutcracker compares to the ones they have previously performed. Back stage laughs and giggles abound from past experiences during the Nutcracker, eg the Arabian top that came unsewn during the performance and had to be held in place by the hands of the performer, the pants that split, etc….
5. Interview new audience members: why they are trying out the show this year. Why return audiences come back to see the production year after year, why it makes the holidays so special. What else do they do to make the visit to The Nutcracker a special event.
Archibald, FBP Mascot to perform again!
Archie, the Festival Ballet Mascot, has appeared annually in the company’s production of The Nutcracker since 2000. This will be his seventh year opening the show for Festival Ballet. Archie has over 60 performances under his belt, and is thrilled to work toward the next 50! He also looks forward to seeing all his friends at PPAC, and at Clara’s Brunch. He also has a book in the works, watch for more news! Archie, as many of the company’s dancers including Gleb, Sasha, Henry and Ilya, is recovering from an injury. Like them, he is healing and set to recover for the PPAC performances!
Textron Discover Dance performances:
Festival Ballet Providence also offers two additional performances of The Nutcracker as part of its Textron “Discover Dance” program, specifically marketed to school groups, nursing homes, retirement groups, and social service agencies. These school day performances take place at 10 am Friday December 14 and Monday December 17. These performances provide valuable exposure to dance to over 4,000 children and seniors annually from throughout the region. Schools and agencies interested in information about this program should contact Mark at Festival Ballet Providence, 401.353.1129.
Experience the magic for yourself!
Discover the magic of The Nutcracker and
Begin your own holiday tradition!
Tentative Casting of principal and soloist roles includes:
| Clara | Sophia Van Allsburg / Katie Paquin |
| Fritz | Cavan Conley |
| Frau Silberhaus | Erica Chipp/Vilia Putrius |
| Judge Silberhaus | Mark Harootian |
| Herr Drosselmeyer | Petr Ostaltsov |
| Columbine Doll | Ashley Andries / Jennifer Ricci |
| Harlequin Doll | Ilya Burov / Henry Montilla |
| The Nutcracker | Ilya Burov / Henry Montilla |
| Mouse Queen | Courtney Fraga / Lauren Menger |
| Snow Queen | Jennifer Ricci / Vilia Putrius |
| Snow King | Gleb Lyamenkoff / Davide Vittorino |
| Sugar Plum Fairy | Leticia Guerrero / Vilia Putrius |
| Her Cavalier | Davide Vittorino / Gleb Lyamenkoff / Alexander Akulov |
| Spanish | Leticia Guerrero & Alexander Akulov / Vilia Putrius & Gleb Lyamenkoff |
| Arabian | Jennifer Ricci & Eivar Martinez / Joo-Hee Baek & Henry Montilla |
| Marzipan | Ashley Andries / Joo-Hee Baek Elizabeth Jessee / Christine Blanck with Roger Fonnegra/Fan Shi |
| Russian | Ilya Burov / Raemon Kilfoil |
| Chinese | Jarvi Raudsepp / Courtney Fraga with Mark Harootian / Raemon Kilfoil |
| Dew Drop Fairy | Erica Chipp / Lauren Menger |
