Another post from Development Manager, Alison Hayes:

On Sunday December 4th, Park City residents of all ages attended the Nutcracker Tea Party presented by Ballet West and the Promontory Kids Cabin.  Partiers were welcomed at the lovely Hearth Restaurant at the Pete Dye Canyon Clubhouse at Promontory, Utah to celebrate the Holiday Season and to learn about the magical story of The Nutcracker.  Snow fell outside while inside attendees stirred their tea with candy canes, nibbled on sandwiches and cream puffs and were visited by The Nutcracker characters, Clara (Madison Young) and Fritz (Henry Winn).

Everyone joined around the fireplace to listen to local author, Michelle Ostrowski (Lucy Goes to Paris), read a shortened version of the popular story, and were provided bookmarks, a nutcracker ornament and a coupon to attend the Ballet West performance.  After story time Clara and Fritz demonstrated some of their favorite ballet moves and showed off their beautiful costumes.  A wonderful way to celebrate a favorite tradition, fun was had by all!

Madison Young and Henry Winn with the Nutcracker Tea Party attendees

-Beau

Heather Hayes from The Deseret News attended our Salt Lake City dress rehearsal last Thursday, December 1st.  Below is her review.

The Deseret News 2011 Nutcracker Review

-Beau

This blog entry is coming to everybody from my dressing room.  It’s opening night and I just got off stage performing Drosselmeyer.  I haven’t even taken off my make-up yet!  Ok, that’s a lie, I took off my make-up … And I washed my face.  Anyway, the second act is about to start.  Even though the company has performed in Ogden and special needs shows this week, tonight is when all the magic starts.

During the first act overture, I was waiting in the wings next to the Nephew (Jacob Stewart), a few party kids and two stage hands.  One of the stage hands said, “I’ve been doing this job for twenty three years and opening night still gives me the jitters.”  I liked that she said that because that means that The Nutcracker is still a special ballet.  I think no matter how many times people see this ballet they come back every year because it’s a nice Christmas tradition that adds to the fuzzy feelings you get from the holidays (ok, maybe it’s just me that gets those feelings).  Side note: Companies outside the U.S. perform The Nutcracker at different times in the year as part of their rep.  Some companies perform the ballet in the summer!

The company will be performing The Nutcracker until New Years so I’ll be periodically posting pictures and what not.  I’ve taken some pics from Ogden and last night’s dress rehearsal from the wings.  These photos are taken from the view that the dancers have watching the ballet.

Whitney Huell as the Doll in the Party Scene

The women of Ballet West in the Snow Scene

Madison Young and Christopher Sellars in the Snow Scene

Emily Adams and Ronnie Underwood in Arabian

Elizabeth Weldon, Katlyn Addison, Whitney Huell, Allison DeBona and Sayaka Ohtaki in Mirlitons

Lindsey Duerfeldt, Adrian Fry and Katie Critchlow in Spanish

Party Scene

Lindsey Duerfeldt and Tyler Gum in the Party Scene

The women of Ballet West in the Snow Scene

Sayaka Ohtaki and Aidan DeYoung in Arabian

Alex MacFarlan with the women of Ballet West in Chinese

Ronald Tilton, Trevor Naumann, Ryan Sargent, Owen Gaj and Joshua Whitehead in Russian

Ronald Tilton, Trevor Naumann, Ryan Sargent, Joshua Whitehead and Owen Gaj in Russian

The women of Ballet West in Waltz of the Flowers

Sayaka Ohtaki and Aidan DeYoung in Arabian

-Beau