Nutcracker Friday

I had such a fun day on Friday: I went back and forth to the theater to see some Nutcracker rehearsals  and then ran back home to work. I finished a project I have been working on for a while and got it all wrapped up and into FedEx so it would arrive for the client on Monday morning - satisfying!

SAB parents get to go to the final dress and orchestra rehearsals on stage, the first time that they see what their children have been preparing all these last weeks behind closed doors in the studio with Garielle Whittle. As a former SAB parent it is now both nostalgic and exciting to go to the theater in those last hours before opening night. I was lucky enough to go with an SAB friend - what a treat.

Then that night I went to the opening performance. Even sitting up in the fifth ring I felt like I had great seats in the packed house. I love seeing all the (well-behaved!) children in the audience. When the familiar music starts I settle in and let the magic sweep over me. I have to say, every single time, I absolutely adore the Battle Scene. I love the those mice, big and tiny, scampering around and the little soldiers quickly moving through their formations. I'm completely caught up in the drama, with its touches of comedy. Then the Waltz of the Snowflakes is the perfect way to bring order back into the world. The snowflakes flit around in quite a blizzard - it was fascinating to see in the rehearsal how the stage hands managed to clean up over 50 pounds of paper snowflakes!

Act II in the Land of the Sweets was beautiful! I especially want to mention that Sara Mearns as Sugarplum Fairy was excellent. Along with Charles Askegard as her Cavalier they were inventive and daring (and her bendy back was beautiful with the music). She opened the Gala on Tuesday night: she was the lead in the opening piece, Chichester Psalms. Here she was opening the five week run of the Nutcracker. (And she went on to perform Sugarplum again and Dewdrop twice over the next four weekend performances!)  She is NYCB's newest principal and she's a very special dancer. Other favorites were Sterling Hyltin as Dewdrop and Tess Reichlen as Coffee. What a pleasure to have them all together in the same performance! Barely enough time to spot all the new dancers, mentioned in the last entry! I certainly will be back for more. For sure, I am going to the December 13th matinee. There are special treats in store: Erica Pereira as Sugarplum with Allen Peiffer, Katie Morgan as Dewdrop, Mary-Elizabeth Sell and Devin Alberda as Spanish, and Kaitlyn Gilliland as Coffee, all debuts - WOW! Keep an eye on NYCB's website !

tags: apprentice  nutcracker  pereira  gilliland  

links: technorati