George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker ®
December 9 – 24, 2017 | Keller Auditorium
This show has passed.
222 SW Clay Street, Portland, Oregon 97201
Sometimes the best journeys are the ones we take to familiar places – filled with warmth, tradition, and new memories waiting to be made. Oregon Ballet Theatre’s annual performance of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker ® has brought joy to the holidays for 14 years. Join Marie and her charming Prince as they are swept away by dancing snowflakes to a magical land of sweets ruled by the Sugarplum Fairy – all to Tchaikovsky’s brilliant score!
Oregon Ballet Theatre’s Nutcracker features magnificent scenery and elaborate costumes. The company remains one of only a handful in the nation with the rights to produce George Balanchine’s version of this holiday classic. OBT is pleased to announce the addition of two more shows this year featuring the OBT Orchestra performing Tchaikovsky’s magical score live.
Performance Times
Featuring 10 performances with The OBT Orchestra
Music note indicates a performance with live music
Saturday, December 9 | 2:00 PM | 7:30 PM |
Sunday, December 10 | 2:00 PM | 7:30 PM |
Thursday, December 14 | 7:30 PM | |
Friday, December 15 | 7:30 PM | |
Saturday, December 16 | 2:00 PM | 7:30 PM |
Sunday, December 17 | 2:00 PM | 7:30 PM |
Wednesday, December 20 | 2:00 PM | 7:30 PM |
Thursday, December 21 | 2:00 PM | 7:30 PM |
Friday, December 22 | 2:00 PM | 7:30 PM |
Saturday, December 23 | 2:00 PM | 7:30 PM |
Sunday, December 24 | 12:00 PM |
Video
Photos
Previews & Reviews
Candace Bouchard: After one last Dewdrop, the world awaits
Oregon Artswatch | December 7, 2017
In stride: a tight, bright ‘Nutcracker’
Oregon Artswatch | December 14, 2016
Nothing says holiday like ‘Nutcracker’
Portland Tribune | December 8, 2016
7 things to know about Oregon Ballet Theatre’s ‘Nutcracker’
The Oregonian | December 4, 2016
Casting
Week 1, Dec 9-10
Saturday Dec 9 | Saturday Dec 9 | Sunday Dec 10 | Sunday Dec 10 | |
2:00 PM | 7:30 PM | 2:00 PM | 7:30 PM | |
Orchestra | Orchestra | Orchestra | Prerecorded | |
DROSSELMEIER | Peter Franc | Colby Parsons | Chauncey Parsons | Michael Linsmeier |
SUGARPLUM FAIRY | Eva Burton | Xuen Cheng | Candace Bouchard | Kelsie Nobriga |
CAVALIER | Brian Simcoe | Chauncey Parsons | Colby Parsons | Peter Franc |
COFFEE | Kimberly Nobriga | Emily Parker | Martina Chavez | Makino Hildestad |
TEA | Avery Reiners | Adam Hartley | Michael Linsmeier | Theodore Watler |
CANDYCANE | Thomas Baker | Avery Reiners | Brian Simcoe | Christopher Kaiser |
MARZIPAN | Kelsie Nobriga | Ansa Capizzi | Katherine Monogue | Eva Burton |
MOTHER GINGER | Poison Waters | Poison Waters | Poison Waters | Poison Waters |
DEWDROP | Martina Chavez | Candace Bouchard | Ansa Capizzi | Xuan Cheng |
Week 2, Dec 14-17
Thursday, Dec. 14 | Friday, Dec 15 | Saturday, Dec 16 | Saturday, Dec 16 | Sunday, Dec 17 | Sunday, Dec 17 | |
7:30 PM | 7:30 PM | 2:00 PM | 7:30 PM | 2:00 PM | 7:30 PM | |
Prerecorded | Orchestra | Orchestra | Orchestra | Orchestra | Prerecorded | |
DROSSELMEIER | Brian Simcoe | Peter Franc | Michael Linsmeier | Colby Parsons | Chauncey Parsons | Chauncey Parsons |
SUGARPLUM FAIRY | Ansa Capizzi | Xuan Cheng | Jessica Lind | Kelsie Nobriga | Ansa Capizzi | Candace Bouchard |
CAVALIER | Avery Reiners | Chauncey Parsons | Thomas Baker | Peter Franc | Avery Reiners | Colby Parsons |
COFFEE | Paige Wilkey | Katherine Monogue | Emily Parker | Martina Chavez | Kimberly Nobriga | Makino Hildestad |
TEA | Andrew Wingert | Theodore Watler | Avery Reiners | Chauncey Parsons | Andrew Wingert | Michael Linsmeier |
CANDYCANE | Chauncey Parsons | Avery Reiners | Chauncey Parsons | Brian Simcoe | Thomas Baker | Avery Reiners |
MARZIPAN | Jessica Lind | Emily Parker | Ansa Capizzi | Candace Bouchard | Kelsie Nobriga | Eva Burton |
MOTHER GINGER | Poison Waters | Colby Parsons | Adam Hartley | Keenan English | Keenan English | Keenan English |
DEWDROP | Katherine Monogue | Kelsie Nobriga | Candace Bouchard | Eva Burton | Katherine Monogue | Martina Chavez |
Week 3, Dec 20-24
Wednesday, Dec 20 |
Wednesday, Dec 20 |
Thursday, Dec 21 |
Thursday, Dec 21 |
Friday, Dec 22 |
Friday, Dec 22 |
Saturday, Dec 23 |
Saturday, Dec 23 |
Sunday, Dec 24 |
|
2:00 PM | 7:30 PM | 2:00 PM | 7:30 PM | 2:00 PM | 7:30 PM | 2:00 PM | 7:30 PM | 12:00 PM | |
Prerecorded | Prerecorded | Prerecorded | Prerecorded | Prerecorded | Orchestra | Orchestra | Orchestra | Prerecorded | |
DROSSELMEIER | Colby Parsons | Chauncey Parsons | Michael Linsmeier | Brian Simcoe | Michael Linsmeier | Brian Simcoe | Colby Parsons | Peter Franc | Chauncey Parsons |
SUGARPLUM FAIRY | Eva Burton | Kelsie Nobriga | Eva Burton | Ansa Capizzi | Jessica Lind | Xuan Cheng | Kelsie Nobriga | Candace Bouchard | Eva Burton |
CAVALIER | Brian Simcoe | Peter Franc | Brian Simcoe | Avery Reiners | Thomas Baker | Chauncey Parsons | Peter Franc | Colby Parsons | Brian Simcoe |
COFFEE | Katherine Monogue | Makino Hildestad | Paige Wilkey | Katherine Monogue | Emily Parker | Paige Wilkey | Candace Bouchard | Kimberly Nobriga | Martina Chavez |
TEA | Avery Reiners | Adam Hartley | Theodore Watler | Michael Linsmeier | Andrew Wingert | Adam Hartley | Theodore Watler | Avery Reiners | Michael Linsmeier |
CANDYCANE | Chris Kaiser | Brian Simcoe | Thomas Baker | Chris Kaiser | Chauncey Parsons | Chris Kaiser | Brian Simcoe | Thomas Baker | Avery Reiners |
MARZIPAN | Candace Bouchard | Ansa Capizzi | Emily Parker | Candace Bouchard | Candace Bouchard | Katherine Monogue | Jessica Lind | Kelsie Nobriga | Ansa Capizzi |
MOTHER GINGER | Keenan English | Keenan English | Keenan English | Keenan English | Poison Waters | Poison Waters | Poison Waters | Poison Waters | Poison Waters |
DEWDROP | Emily Parker | Katherine Monogue | Martina Chavez | Kelsie Nobriga | Ansa Capizzi | Emily Parker | Eva Burton | Martina Chavez | Candace Bouchard |
Candace Bouchard’s Final Shows
Celebrate Candace’s final performance with OBT before she hangs up her pointe shoes. Candace will make appearances in all 19 performances of the Nutcracker. Below is a list of her casting in the principal roles.
DATE | Dec 9 @ 7:30 pm | Dec 10 @ 2:00 pm | Dec 16 @ 2:00 pm | Dec 17 @ 7:30 pm | Dec 23 @ 7:30 pm | Dec 24 @ 12:00 pm |
ROLE | Dewdrop | Sugarplum | Dewdrop | Sugarplum | Sugarplum | Dewdrop |
Summary
ACT ONE
It is Christmas Eve in Germany 150 years ago, and Doctor and Frau Stahlbaum, along with their children Marie and Fritz, are hosting an elegant holiday party. In a festive parlor with a splendid Christmas tree, they entertain their friends and relatives with games, dances,and gifts. At the stroke of eight, an owl suddenly flaps its wings over the grandfather clock in the corner of the room and the lights flicker and fail. The party is swept with a sense of wonder as Marie’s godfather, the mysterious Herr Drosselmeier, makes a dramatic entrance with his young nephew. They have brought with them life-sized dancing toys that they unveil to the delight of the assembled guests. Drosselmeier then presents Marie with a special gift: a Nutcracker.Marie proudly shows off her new toy until Fritz, in a jealous tantrum,seizes the doll and breaks it. Drosselmeier mends the Nutcracker with his handkerchief and gives the doll to Marie, who tucks it into a toy bed beneath the Christmas tree. After a final dance, which Marie shares with the nephew, the guests say goodnight and the family goes off to bed.At midnight, Marie sneaks back to look for her Nutcracker. She soon falls asleep and, when she does, the room begins to change. Giant mice scurry through the shadows while the Christmas tree and the toys beneath it grow bigger and bigger. Under a now towering tree, the mice, led by their fierce King, do battle with the Nutcracker and his army of toy soldiers. It seems the mice will be triumphant until, at the very last moment, Marie throws her slipper at the King, distracting him long enough for the Nutcracker to run him through with his sword and seize victory. Exhausted, Marie falls onto her bed and is magically transported to the Land of Snow. There, where snowflakes dance, she is reunited with the Nutcracker, now transformed into a handsome young Prince.
ACT TWO
The Nutcracker Prince leads Marie on a journey to the Palace of the Land of Sweets, where the Sugar Plum Fairy reigns. There, the Prince tells the court how Marie saved him in his battle with the Mouse King.As a reward, the Sugar Plum Fairy seats them both upon a special throne to enjoy the dancing of Spanish Hot Chocolate, Arabian Coffee,and Tea from China. Candy Canes also perform for the two, along with Marzipan Shepherdesses, Mother Ginger and her Polichinelles, and the beautiful Dew Drop Fairy and her Flowers. As a final honor,the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier dance a majestic pas de deux. Marie and the Nutcracker Prince thank the Sugar Plum Fairy for her grand entertainment and everyone in the Land of Sweets gathers to bid them farewell.
Run Time
Approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes with one 25 minute intermission
This promotion has ended.
Thank you for your memories of The Nutcracker.