‘Nutcracker’ opens tonight in Seattle, features local dancers
November 28, 2008
By Staff
NEW — 11:15 a.m. November 28, 2008
Pacific Northwest Ballet’s 25th anniversary production of the beloved Stowell/Sendak “Nutcracker” opens tonight, and some young dancers from Issaquah and Sammamish will be featured performers as the production unfolds on the McCaw Hall stage.
Pacific Northwest Ballet dancer Benjamin Griffiths with company dancers and school students in 'Nutcracker.' — By Angela Sterling
Local youths in the production are Emily Elder, 10, a fifth-grader from Grand Ridge Elementary School, who’s in the infantry; Jacqueline Hansen, 9, a homeschooled fourth-grader, who’s a small servant; Margaret Liu, 9, a fourth-grader at Sunny Hills Elementary School, who’s a party girl; Megan McKelvey, 10, a fourth-grader at Endeavour Elementary School, who’s in the infantry; Anna Park, 7, a second-grader at Challenger Elementary School, who’s a baby mouse; and Miranda Stuck, 10, a fifth-grader at Open Window School, who’s in the infantry.
Created by PNB Founding Artistic Director Kent Stowell and world-famous children’s author and illustrator Maurice Sendak (“Where the Wild Things Are”), “Nutcracker” brilliantly blends lavish sets and costumes, wondrous choreography and Tchaikovsky’s perennially popular music, performed by the acclaimed PNB Orchestra, to create a magical storybook world enjoyed by children and adults alike.
PNB celebrates a milestone with its 1,000th performance of “Nutcracker” on Christmas Eve.
Taking the stage are PNB’s entire company of professional dancers, 26 Professional Division students and more than 200 students PNB’s school (including 31 graduates of DanceChance, PNB’s innovative outreach program) in roles that range from baby mice to toy soldiers to the coveted role of young Clara.
Performances run until Dec. 30. Go to www.pnb.org for a list of show times.
Marion Oliver McCaw Hall is at 321 Mercer St., Seattle. Tickets to “Nutcracker” start at $24 and can be purchased by calling 206-441-2424, going to www.pnb.org or in person at the PNB Box Office, 301 Mercer St., at Seattle Center.
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