State Theater New Jersey presents THE NUTCRACKER with American Repertory Ballet

State Theater New Jersey presents “The Nutcracker” with American Repertory Ballet in five performances on Friday, December 20, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, December 21st at 2 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, December 22nd at 1 and 5 p.m.

Families and friends can experience the joy and celebration of this holiday tradition and create unforgettable memories with exciting choreography, Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score, a cast of more than 100 dancers, and the American Repertory Ballet’s only regional performances with a live orchestra and choir! With musicians from the Nutcracker Orchestra under the direction of Kenneth T. Bean and singers from the Princeton GirlChoir. Tickets range from $29 to $69.

Featuring exciting choreography to Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score, the dynamic professional artists of the American Repertory Ballet take the stage alongside students from Princeton Ballet School (PBS), the official school of the American Repertory Ballet (ARB), to tell the story of Clara, a A young girl who attends a ballet receives a magical Christmas present and sets off on a magical journey. Clara and her Nutcracker Prince fight alongside toy soldiers against larger-than-life mice and travel through a whirlwind of dancing snowflakes to the land of sweets. Greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy and her cavalier, Clara enjoys a series of brilliant and joyful dances before setting her eyes on the familiar sights of home and wondering if it was all just a dream.

“The Nutcracker season at American Repertory Ballet and Princeton Ballet School is one of the most magical times of the year!” says Samantha Dunster, Director of Artistic Operations at ARB. “Company dancers explore new interpretations of roles in this timeless ballet and PBS students have the opportunity to perform alongside professional artists in major venues.” I often wonder how many children who watch the performances are inspired by the magic and want to take part in the wonderful journey that this art form offers.”

In fact, audiences of all ages will be amazed by the technical bravura and artistry of dancers in elegant sequin costumes as candy canes literally jump through hoops! ARB’s talented production team, including Rylee Berger (Production Manager), Janessa Cornell Urwin (Costume Designer and Wardrobe Manager), Devon Nicole Austin (Associate Wardrobe Manager) and Cheryl Mintz (Production Manager), worked tirelessly from the beginning of September to create all elements of the large-scale , one month of production to be put into operation. For example, a single tutu takes over 100 hours to make, including hand finishing, gluing and sewing on approximately 200 Swarovski crystals.

“Every costume in this production has been carefully considered, from the grand vision of the designs to the minute details of the fabrics and trimmings in each costume piece,” says Urwin. “Every button, crystal and sequin was intentionally placed to create the greatest artistic impact for both the audience and the performer. While the audience may not see many of these tiny details, the dancers wearing the costumes certainly do, and it is so important that they feel the character they are portraying so that the audience is captivated by the magic of the story gets carried away.”

For tickets, more information or group discounts, call State Theater Guest Services at 732-246-SHOW (7469) or visit online at STNJ.org. State Theater Guest Services is located at 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick, New Jersey and is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. by phone and email only. For on-site purchases, Guest Services is open Tuesday through Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Additional ticket and transaction fees may apply.

Comments

To post a comment you must register And Login.