Boston Ballet dancers Kaitlyn Casey and Daniel Durrett will join Eastern Connecticut Ballet's "The Nutcracker" this year. As the Sugarplum Fairy and Snow Queen, Casey will demonstrate her incandescent stage presence and Durrett, a star known for his esprit, will show his impressive energy dancing the role of the Cavalier.
A legendary ballet master and founder of NYCB, Balanchine made The Nutcracker an American tradition. Sixty-five years later, the ECB performance captures his spirit in every step and grand jeté.
Set in New London in the 1850s, ECB’s Nutcracker is like none of the many adaptations offered by ballet companies from coast to coast every December. Although its plot is a simple one - a little girl with big dreams takes a magical voyage around the world —The Nutcracker is a complex production that requires a huge cast of dancers and actors. Among these are the heroine Clara and her brave Nutcracker, mysterious Uncle Drosselmeyer, tiny mice, sailors and pirates, waltzing flowers, the spicy Mother Ginger and many more.
Tchaikovsky’s music captivates audiences with well-known symphonic melodies. Adding to the fun are special effects such as a flying Christmas tree, a clock that resembles an owl, a magical, moving ship, a mysterious fog at sea, and an onstage snowstorm for the Waltz of the Snowflakes.
December of 2018, audiences were treated to their first look at ECB's spectacular redesigned scenery. The stage sets showcase tall ships in port, the New London Custom House, Whale Oil Row, lighthouses, and a sea captain's Victorian home. Snowflakes swirl over Arctic ice fields where the city's whaling ships once ventured on harrowing voyages.
“ECB's Nutcracker is our gift to the community during the holiday season. Many of our dancers are young men and women from throughout Eastern Connecticut; this is their moment to shine after months of practice and rehearsals,” said Lise Reardon, founder of ECB.
ECB's The Nutcracker is truly a community celebration with a special connection to our past and present. It would not be possible without the generosity of our donors and the dedication of our volunteers.
To share all of the magic of “The Nutcracker” with friends and family this December, visit gardearts.org or call the Garde box office at 860-444-7373, Ext 1
