Milwaukee Ballet Nutcracker Suite
Christmas Tradition a Holiday Fantasy of Dance and Music
The Nutcracker is a holiday fantasy story, told with motion and music. Ballerinas, dancing toys, warring mice and Victorian costuming choreographed by Michael PInk.
The Milwaukee Ballet Company presents Michael Pink's The Nutcracker Ballet at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. The magical ballet is a beloved holiday tradition for many people.
The Nutcracker Ballet
The holiday fantasy set to uplifting classical music is a popular Christmas tradition. The story of Victorian-era Christmas at the Tannenbaum family home is told with music and movement.
The first act of the ballet is a vision of the ideal Christmas gathering, with a beautifully decorated tree in a spacious parlor. Guests circulate through the gathering, exchanging gifts and greetings. Young Clara is presented with a beautiful Nutcracker by mysterious Drosselmeyer. Clara's mischievous brother breaks her beloved Nutcracker. Clara goes to bed heartbroken, only to dream of dancing toys, ballerinas, warring mice and a gallant Nutcracker turned handsome prince.
The popular ballet is set to melodic music by Tchaikovsky.
The Nutcracker is performed at The Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, located at 929 N. Water Street in Downtown Milwaukee. For ticket information, call 1-414-902-2103. The Nutcracker is performed December 14-29, 2007
History of the Milwaukee Ballet
The ballet has been gracing the City of Milwaukee with creative performances since 1970. The ballet company produced their first annual performance the The Nutcracker Suite in 1977. During the 1970's the Milwaukee opened their own ballet school and also started performing across the country.
At the end of its first decade, the building that was home to the ballet was almost completely destroyed by fire. The building was restored by the Carley Development Corporation, to appear as it did in the1800s, when it was Tivoli Palm Garden. Schlitz Brewery operated the Tivoli Palm Garden as a popular beer garden.
The Milwaukee Ballet has continued to grow over the year. As it enters its 35th season, the ballet company is ranked among the top twelve ballet companies in the United States.
Holiday Lights in Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin is brightly decorated with festive lights, Christmas trees and animated figures for the holiday seasons. The trees along the city streets create a spectacular display of blue lights. Be sure to drive past Cathedral Square. The park is a spectacular display of lighted Christmas Trees, lights and animated figures. The historic cathedral is lighted, making a dramatic focal point on the square. The historic Old World Third Street area features another large area of decorated trees, figures and lights.
The Nutcracker Ballet in Chicago
The Joffrey Ballet in Chicago features their twentieth anniversary performance of The Nutcracker Suite at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago. Macy's on State Street in Chicago celebrate the anniversary performance with their famous Holiday Window Displays, featuring nine windows with tableau's of the Nutcracker story. Chicago is a little over an hour's drive from Milwaukee.
Resources:
milwaukeeballet.org
