Kansas City Ballet Celebrates 36th Annual Production of The Nutcracker
Performances runs Dec. 6 - 28 at the Music Hall

KANSAS CITY, MO (October 21, 2008) – Kansas City Ballet will present its million-dollar production of The Nutcracker from Dec. 6 through Dec. 28 in the Music Hall in downtown Kansas City. This enchanting production’s vibrant costumes, stunning sets, choreography by Artistic Director Emeritus Todd Bolender, and Peter Tchaikovsky’s memorable score, tell the unforgettable story of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince as they journey to the Kingdom of the Sweets. It is an enduring tale of childhood innocence, the magic and power of dreams and those who dream them. Kansas City Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker is the one of the largest productions in an eight state region. An estimated 200 area children, who are students in the Kansas City Ballet School, also appear in the production along with the 25 professional dancers of Kansas City Ballet. Conducted by Kansas City Ballet Music Director Ramona Pansegrau, the Kansas City Ballet Orchestra will perform Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable score.

The Nutcracker is more than just a holiday tradition for many Kansas City families. This production provides a rare opportunity for local children of the Kansas City Ballet School to perform with professional dancers. Kansas City Ballet School, which offers professional training to nearly 600 children and adults in the community, will provide an estimated 200 children for this production ranging in age from 7 to 18. These young dancers are a critical part of the production as they appear in the Party Scene, the Battle Scene as Mice and Soldiers, and in various roles in the Kingdom of the Sweets.  More advanced students join the female Company dancers in the Land of Snow and the Waltz of the Flowers.

M&I Bank is the proud supporting sponsor of The Nutcracker. Additional sponsors include Kansas City Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund, Midwest Airlines (Official Airline of Kansas City Ballet), Hotel Phillips (host hotel & restaurant of Kansas City Ballet), Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City and the ArtsKC Fund. Media sponsors include The Kansas City Star, KSHB TV 41 Action News, and 98.1 KUDL.

Sugar and Spice Photographs           
Sugar and Spice Photographs are available for guests to have their photograph taken with one of the characters from The Nutcrackerone hour before and immediately after each performance in the lower lobby of the Music Hall. These $10.00 photos benefit the Kansas City Ballet School.

The 14th Annual Sugar Plum Fairy Luncheon
The 14th Annual Sugar Plum Fairy Luncheon takes place on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Land of Sweets at the Marriott Muehlebach Hotel. The Sugar Plum Fairy Luncheon is a magical event for children of all ages and raises funds for the Kansas City Ballet School. The Sugar Plum Fairy, Dew Drop and their friends will greet guests as they enter. Miss Kansas USA Michelle Gillespie is the Mistress of Ceremonies and Honorary Mayor and will be reading the story of The Nutcrackeron stage to those children whose parents have purchased a table for the luncheon. Guests get a complimentary picture taken with the Sugar Plum Fairy, shop for unique gifts at the Silent Sweet Auction, dine on a delicious three-course lunch, and enjoy a special treat from Natasha’s Mulberry and Mott.  After lunch, it’s a short walk to the magnificent Music Hall for the 2:00 p.m. matinee of Kansas City Ballet’s stunning performance of The Nutcracker. Luncheon tickets may be purchased separately or as a package. For reservations or more information contact Kansas City Ballet Box Office, 816.931.2232 or www.kcballet.org.

Ticket Information.
This classic American tradition is extremely popular and those interested in purchasing tickets are advised to act quickly. Tickets may be purchased by telephone at 816.931.2232, in person at the Kansas City Ballet Box Office located at 1616 Broadway (south of Bartle Hall in downtown Kansas City next to Denny’s) or online at www.kcballet.org. Tickets can also be purchased at all TicketMaster locations or can be ordered by telephone at 816.931.3330 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Visit the Kansas City Ballet website for more information about performance times, pricing and parking at www.kcballet.org. Ticket prices range from $25 to $80, which includes a $5.00 facilities/service fee per ticket.

Parking and Downtown Maps
Information and maps on parking downtown and construction updates can be found online at http://www.kcballet.org/performancestickets/attendingtheballet/directions.html.

The Nutcracker Special Events Calendar
Sat., Dec. 6                              Sugar Plum Fairy Luncheon at Marriott Muehlebach Hotel
10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 6                              The Nutcracker opening performance at 2:00 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 28                           Final performance at 1:00 p.m.

The Nutcracker
Music Hall, 301 W. 13th Street
Kansas City, Missouri

2008 The Nutcracker Schedule

Sat., Dec. 6       2:00 p.m.
Sun, Dec. 7      1:00 p.m.
Sat, Dec. 13       2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sun, Dec. 14     1:00 p.m.
Fri, Dec. 19       7:30 p.m.
Sat, Dec. 20      2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sun, Dec. 21     1:00 p.m. & 5:00 p.m.
Tues, Dec. 23    7:30 p.m.
Wed, Dec. 24  1:00 p.m.
Fri, Dec. 26       7:30 p.m.
Sat, Dec. 27      2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sun, Dec. 28     1:00 p.m.

Fact Sheet for The Nutcracker
Classic ballet in two acts, four scenes and prologue based on a tale by E.T.A. Hoffman “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” (1816) Running time - 1 hour 54 minutes which includes one 20-minute intermission.

Act I                Prologue                                                                       Act II
Scene I             The Party                                                                     Kingdom of the Sweets
Scene II           The Battle                     Intermission
Scene III          The Snow Forest
           
Music by Peter I. Tchaikovsky

Choreography by Kansas City Ballet’s Artistic Director Emeritus Todd Bolender

Lighting design by Nicholas Cavallaro

Staged by James Jordan, Tamara Sanders, Karen P. Brown and Christopher Barksdale

Music performed by the Kansas City Ballet Orchestra with conductor Ramona Pansegrau, music director of Kansas City Ballet

Scenic and costume design by Robert Fletcher with Associate Designer Keith Brumley

World Premiere – December 17, 1892 at the Maryinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia, performed by the Kirov Ballet with the Russian title Shchelkunchik

We never give away any secrets on how the magic is performed; it’s magic!

The NutcrackerStory

ACT I
As Act I begins, relatives and friends gather in the parlor for a holiday party given by Clara’s parents, Dr. and Frau Silberhaus. Children dressed in their finest clothes parade around a brightly lit Christmas tree with presents underneath for everybody. Clara is a very lucky girl. Her godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer, is on his way to the party with wonderful toys for Clara and her brother, Fritz.

Herr Drosselmeyer is an inventor and a very mysterious man. He and his nephew arrive at the party with many gifts, including life-sized dancing dolls. Clara is so thrilled with the dolls that she wants one all to herself, but her mother tells her that magic toys belong to children everywhere and must be shared. Drosselmeyer, seeing Clara’s disappointment, produces another gift – a beautiful wooden Nutcracker carved like a cavalier with a white beard and a mouth wide enough to crack nuts. Clara loves the Nutcracker, but Fritz is jealous of his sister’s gift, grabs it from Clara, and throws it to the floor, breaking it. Drosselmeyer steps in to mend the Nutcracker while Fritz receives a scolding for his bad behavior. Shortly thereafter, everyone gathers for the Grandfather’s Dance, as the evening comes to an end. The guests then leave one by one, and Clara bids goodnight to her wonderful godfather and his charming nephew, as the lights dim.

The parlor is dark and quiet after the party, and Clara slips downstairs to see if her Nutcracker is safe when suddenly – her world changes. She sees giant mice running across the floor, and the Christmas tree grows to fill the entire room. The mice, led by the Mouse King, prepare to attack the Nutcracker and toy soldiers. A terrible battle rages with the cannon booming and rifles cracking. The Nutcracker and the Mouse King duel while the mice carry off toy soldiers. Then, Clara comes to the rescue! She throws her tiny slipper at the Mouse King to distract him so the Nutcracker can attack. The Mouse King falls dead to the floor and his cowardly mice scamper away.

The Nutcracker looks for Clara who, in all the excitement, has fallen faint onto the giant toy bed. Magically led by the Nutcracker, the bed begins to move through the starry night. Drosselmeyer suddenly appears from the darkness and waves his magic cape, and in a flash, the wooden Nutcracker is turned into a handsome, young prince. He bows to Clara and places the Mouse King’s crown on her head. The Prince invites her to come with him to his home in the Kingdom of Sweets, as a reward for saving his life. Clara and the Nutcracker Prince find themselves in the middle of a snowy forest ruled by the King and Queen of Snow, on the way to his Kingdom. The King and Queen give Clara and the Prince permission to pass through the snowy forest as they dance through whirling snowflakes.

ACT II
Act II takes place in the Kingdom of the Sweets where everything is made of candy. Buildings are constructed of cotton candy and fountains spout streams of strawberry soda. Dishes of bonbons and giant ice cream sodas decorate the beautiful castle of the Sugar Plum Fairy. She and her Cavalier greet Clara and the Prince while surrounded by Angels. The Prince tells the Sugar Plum Fairy about the battle and describes how Clara helped him defeat the Mouse King. His pantomime scene dates back to the original Russian production more than 100 years ago and has been passed on by generations of ballet instructors. The Sugar Plum Fairy congratulates Clara and the Prince on their bravery and leads them to the Royal throne to watch the festival of dances from around the world.

Three Spanish couples dance a lively waltz, and Arabian-coffee dancers appear. A box of Chinese Tea arrives, and is followed by Trepak-Russian dancers swirling their candy whips. The Dance of the Reed Pipes delights Clara, as do the Buffoons who dance with all of Mother Ginger’s children. Then, a lovely Dew Drop appears and dances a waltz with flowers of every color. Finally, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier dance the Grand Pas de Deux (dance for two) just for Clara and the Prince.

After her adventures in the Candy Kingdom, the brave heroine returns home in spectacular fashion. Clara will always remember this very special holiday.

The Nutcracker Trivia
Here is some interesting trivia about The Nutcracker. Did you know:

About Kansas City Ballet
Founded in 1957, Kansas City Ballet is a 25-member professional ballet company under the direction of Artistic Director William Whitener and Executive Director Jeffrey J. Bentley. The company’s mission is to offer dance experiences of the highest quality to our community, region and profession. The Kansas City Ballet also is home to the Kansas City Ballet School for nearly 600 children and adults, offering professional training for the career-minded student as well as for those seeking a healthy lifestyle. Through our professional company, school and community outreach programs such as ROAD, Project X, and Dance INFORMances, we seek to nurture and develop our artists, audiences and students in the creativity, diversity and joy of dance.

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