How young ballerinas become clara in the nutcracker. November 29, 2019 george balanchines the nutcracker dean speer. But in 2015, pacific northwest ballet debuted a new version of the nutcracker in seattle featuring choreography by george balanchine and set design by ian falconer. Pnb starts to show a little of its nutcracker changes. This bestselling holiday classic is a fantastical combination of ian falconer s unique design, tchaikovskys beloved score, and the entire company in showstopping roles. With original balanchine choreography and sets and costumes by ian falconer, this production is a completely new animal from the one audiences bid farewell to last year. And in a move that made boal appear less grinchlike, the artistic director announced hed be bringing george balanchines the nutcracker to the mccaw hall stage, with brandnew costumes and sets by ian falconer, the illustrator beloved for his olivia childrens books and his many new yorker magazine covers, too. Ian falconer, the set and costume designer, has exceeded expectations over and over again in the first act alone.
It is cheery, bright, colorful and chockablock filled with. Big changes are in store for the pacific northwest ballets classic version of nutcracker. Scheduled to be on for a whole month till december 28, the nutcracker gives seattle audiences their first snow of this season, as well as an opportunity to believe in magic, family. See the nutcracker, with tchaikovskys cherished score played live by the pacific northwest ballet orchestra, the brilliant dancing of pnb dancers, ian falconer. The pacific northwest ballets nutcracker features choreography by kent. Pnbs efforts to tone down stereotypes in the nutcracker. This years nutcracker at the unparraled pacific northwest ballet, designed by childrens author ian falconer and which runs through december 28th is a streamlined, fantasticly fun affair. With his work on george balanchines the nutcracker, designer ian falconer becomes pnbs second artistinresidence following twyla tharp. Its always a thrill to attend the opening night of pacific northwest ballets annual month of the nutcracker performances, which happened at mccaw hall friday november 29th. A beginners guide to taking a small child to the nutcracker. Pacific northwest ballets new nutcracker, designed by illustrator ian falconer with choreography by george balanchine, is brighter and lighter, with a. We were honored to be asked by the pacific northwest ballet to create an opening video for the new version of the nutcracker by george balanchine featuring original designs by olivia illustrator ian falconer the animation is played live during tchaikovskys overture to open the show and takes you through an 1880s new england forest, a small town.
Pnb to shelve its beloved version of nutcracker in 2015. Ian falconer is an american illustrator, childrens book author, and costume and set designer for the theater. New pnb nutcracker prince nutcracker amusements gift shop. George balanchines the nutcracker has a lot in common with. Review of pnbs the nutcracker the seattle collegian. When the curtain goes up on george balanchines the nutcracker, a new era for the pacific northwest ballet will rush in.
Throngs of audiencegoers with little girls in frills and mini tutus, magicians and booths with nutcracker backdrops for family photos add to the festive, anticipatory spirit, even before the. The sets by childrens book author and illustrator ian falconer. A longtime pacific northwest tradition, pacific northwest ballets pnb the nutcracker opened at mccaw hall on november 23, a day after thanksgiving. This is a big change at the pacific northwest ballet, the first new nutcracker in 31 years, replacing the hugely popular set designed by maurice sendak. Pacific northwest ballet takes a leap with the nutcracker. Win tickets to the nutcracker at pacific northwest ballet. Meet some of the talented pnb dancers youve just seen. Ballet to create an opening video for the new version of the nutcracker by george balanchine and olivia illustrator ian falconer. Balanchines nutcracker returns in all its annual glory.
Itll be a new production with sets and costumes designed by contemporary childrens author ian falconer, best known for. Olivia author is the new set designer for pnbs nutcracker. The swelling of the pnb orchestra as they breathe life into their instruments. Mother ginger in george balanchines the nutcracker.
In seattle, maurice sendaks wild nutcracker reaches. Member event george balanchines the nutcracker at pnb sun. The reimagined ballet takes a decadesold tradition and turns it on its candystriped head. It will be replaced in 2015 with a new version using george balanchines 1954 choreography and new costumes and sets by ian falconer. Opening night of pacific northwest ballets annual holiday extravaganza, george balanchines the nutcracker, was the fifth anniversary of this beautiful production by ian falconer for pnb, and the sixtieth anniversary of the original premier of balanchines now classic version at the new york city ballet where he was the founder and resident. This year felt perfect to start what is hopefully a new holiday tradition for our family as the pacific northwest ballet also begins a new holiday tradition with george balanchines the nutcracker. Appropriately, i was the among the crushed when pnb announced in 2014 that theyd be retiring this version, replacing it with the show that just closed in late december, with allnew sets and costumes by ian falconer, authorillustrator of olivia the pig childrens book series, and choreography by famed new york city ballet artistic. I returned to the nutcracker as an adult seattle met.
See more ideas about ian falconer, pacific northwest ballet and costumes. Ian falconer, the costume and set designer for pacific northwest ballets the nutcracker, wanted the sugar plum fairy to be the color of an actual plum. The 2014 holiday staging of the maurice sendakkent stowell nutcracker will be its last. George balanchines the nutcracker pacific northwest ballet. Following the monumental 32season run of the stowellsendak production, pnb promises to dazzle audiences with both the familiar and the new with a genuine hometown extravaganza 99 percent of the. Pacific northwest ballet leaps into the nutcracker season. Pnbs bestselling holiday classic, the nutcracker is a fantastical combination of ian falconer s unique design, tchaikovskys beloved score, and the entire company in showstopping roles.
Mother gingers skirt was described by the nutcracker designer ian falconer as, about the size of a small airstream. This year, with george balanchines version of the ballet with set and costume design from olivia the pig author ian falconer, pnb showcased a strong visual aesthetic and a talented company of dancers of. And lucky us, because last week we got a peek behind the scenes of the new pnb nutcracker with sets designed by ian falconer of olivia the pig fame and classic choreography by george balanchine. The new production features amazing designs by authorillustrator ian falconer of olivia the pig fame along with the pnb orchestra playing.
Before a packed and anxious house, the curtain rose for the first time on pacific northwest ballets new holiday tradition. Pacific northwest ballet to present the nutcracker, today. A memorymaking tradition for generations of families and friends, nutcracker fun includes mccaw hall gloriously deckedout for the seasons best photo ops. To help you adjust, here are 10 cool facts about pnbs new nutcracker that tell the story of how the new production is unfolding.
Pnbs balanchine nutcracker is a glorious, colorful. Pnb offers new flavor of nutcracker seattle dances. This nutcracker is a replica of pnbs nutcracker prince based on the illustrations by ian falconer. Pacific northwest ballets production of george balanchines the nutcracker serves both groups, with plenty of cozy details in act 1 and heaps of neoclassical dazzle in act 2. Attending the nutcracker with kids pacific northwest ballet. With eyepopping sets and costumes designed by authorillustrator ian falconer olivia the pig, pnb brings the beloved story of clara and her nutcracker prince to. Your ultimate guide to seattlearea holiday nutcracker. Drosselmeier, clara and nutcracker sketch by ian falconer, 2014. Pacific northwest ballets production of george balanchines the nutcracker is unique in that its values sets and costumes by ian falconer and film projections are only to be seen here. The 2014 holiday staging of the maurice sendakkent stowell nutcracker will be its last, pnb announced wednesday. Pnbs bestselling holiday classic is a fantastical combination of ian falconer s unique design, tchaikovskys beloved score, and the entire company in showstopping roles.
A sketch by ian falconer of drosselmeier with clara and the nutcracker boal and falconer soon embarked on a collaboration with the designer, initially. The hush of an audience ready to immerse themselves in a candy filled dreamland. Falconer graduated from the cambridge school of weston, and went on to study painting at the parsons school of design and otis art institute. Take your kids to see ian falconers streamlined version. A memory making tradition for generations of families and friends, nutcracker fun includes mccaw hall gloriously deckedout for the seasons best photo ops. For olivia fans, the nutcracker will be a real treat. Make a connection the sets and costumes for the nutcracker at pacific northwest ballet have been designed by ian falconer, the celebrated author and illustrator of olivia the pig. Over thanksgiving weekend we went to see the pacific northwest ballet companys new nutcracker, with authorillustrator ian falconer olivia the pig filling the role of artistic director falconer s designs brought a vibrant energy to the sets and the costumes that i dont think ive seen in a nutcracker production before. In 2014 pnb replaced its beloved maurice sendak set with one by ian falconer.
Pacific northwest ballets vibrant new nutcracker the. There was a lot of buzz about this change and attendees have a lot of opinions about which one was better. Join us in 2020 for george balanchines the nutcracker, the pacific northwests favorite holiday tradition. With the debut of their new nutcracker, pacific northwest ballet was up against stiff competition from their own beloved longrunning maurice sendak nutcracker. Youll experience all of this before the dancing even starts. Take someone you love to pnbs nutcrackerit will be a. The new production has a soft and whimsical design scheme, courtesy of ian falconer, best. See the nutcracker, with tchaikovskys cherished score played live by the pacific northwest ballet orchestra, the brilliant dancing of pnb dancers, ian falconer s new scenery and. It will be replaced in 2015 with a new version using george balanchines 1954 choreography and new costumes and sets by the beloved ian falconer, author of the olivia series. Be prepared for captivating, digitally enhanced sets that bring a new polish to. Pacific northwest ballet s new nutcracker, designed by illustrator ian falconer with choreography by george balanchine, is brighter and lighter, with a dazzling glass star by dale chihuly. Kidfriendly guide to the nutcracker in seattle marcie. We were honored to be asked by the pacific northwest ballet to create an opening video for the new version of the nutcracker by george balanchine and olivia.