On december, 1983, pacific northwest ballet premieres a new production of nutcracker. George balanchines the nutcracker pacific northwest ballet. Jun 16, 2012 on december, 1983, pacific northwest ballet premieres a new production of nutcracker. I recall many things about its premiere, not least the great. Sendak was struck by how different the hoffmann tale and the. Pnb 20142015 season, plus stowellsendak nutcracker last. A signature moment of pacific northwest ballets stowellsendak nutcracker occurs when claras christmas tree grows from 14 to 28 feet.
Pacific northwest ballet is delighted to celebrate three decades of kent stowell and maurice sendaks oneofakind nutcracker, the northwests favorite holiday tradition. The majestic tree was constructed by boeing engineers and weighs 1,000 pounds. In seattle, maurice sendaks wild nutcracker reaches its. Dec 23, 2014 and for more than 30 years, seattle has had its own nutcracker ballet with sets and costumes designed by the late childrens author maurice sendak. Dec 23, 2014 in seattle, maurice sendaks wild nutcracker reaches its final act for more than 30 years, the pacific northwest ballets nutcracker has used sets and costumes designed by the author of where. The films soundtrack album bears the same title as the movie posters nutcracker. Highlighted by maurice sendaks stunning production design and kent stowells inventive choreography which emphasizes the darker psychological aspects of. Pacific northwest ballets nutcracker, with lavish sets and costumes by maurice sendak and choreography by kent stowell, has been a tradition for seattlearea families since 1983. Now we can add a new false dichotomy to the list of seattle loyalties. When pacific northwest ballet pnb announced its adieu to the kent stowellmaurice sendak version of the nutcracker last year, many of usand by us i mean those rare individuals who have lived in seattle for more than a few yearsreacted with a plaintive groan or a whiny, toddleresque chorus of noooo.
Dec 11, 20 it just blew us away most of the time when we say new production, the expectation is usually within the confines of reasonable norms new costumes and refurbished sets but what we got with pacific northwest ballets stowellsendak nutcracker was an entirely new concept and setting. In the early 1980s, the director of the pacific northwest ballet, a seattlebased ballet company, decided he wanted to set his nutcracker apart from every other version of the ballet in the country. The pacific northwest ballets nutcracker features choreography by kent stowell and sets and costumes by the late childrens book author maurice sendak. At long last, nutcracker, the motion picture, carroll ballards film of the pacific northwest ballets maurice sendak designed production is available on an official region one dvd from mgm, the films current owner. Choreographed by founding artistic director kent stowellwith sets and costumes designed by the beloved picture book author maurice sendakthe unique production has been performed for 31 years and has reached audiences far beyond the northwest, thanks to a. Pacific northwest ballet to refresh its nutcracker pointe. He danced professionally with the new york city ballet and was a founding member of the miami city ballet. Seattle, washington a beautiful city on the bay with views of snowcapped mountains and the waters of puget sound. Pnbs stowellsendak nutcracker premiered in seattle on december, 1983. Nov 21, 2014 this year, pacific northwest ballet says goodbye to its timehonored nutcracker. In seattle, maurice sendaks wild nutcracker reaches.
The stowellsendak nutcracker returns to seattle centers mccaw hall for 35 public performances november 28 through december 28, 2014. Dec 04, 2018 in 1979, one kent stowell, choreographer for the pacific northwest ballet, contacted illustrator maurice sendak about collaborating on a new ballet production of the nutcracker. Season 20142015 announcement pacific northwest ballet. Pacific northwest ballet s production of nutcracker, which opens tomorrow at mccaw hall, is such a venerable holiday tradition for our region that its easy to forget that it was once considered a tremendous risk. Nov 27, 2018 there are countless productions of these chestnuts in the puget sound and around the country, but truly nothing like pacific northwest ballets pnb version of the nutcracker with sets and costumes by maurice sendak of where the wild things are and choreography by longtime. Gerard ebitz was trained at the miami conservatory, the school of american ballet in new york, and the national ballet school in toronto. Purge your fear of oversized rodents by embracing them in a controlled musical environment, and get into the holiday spirit in the process. The curtain was about to go up on the opening performance of pacific northwest ballets grand new production of nutcracker. Hoffmans the nutcracker and the mouse king, kent stowell and maurice sendak delved deeply into the original story and infused the ballet with. Measuring the magic of pacific northwest ballets new. As pacific northwest ballets nutcracker approaches its final showing after a 31 year run, we go behind the scenes of the seattle classic. The motion picture referred to in the film credits as pacific northwest ballets nutcracker is a feature film based on kent stowells 1983 production of the nutcracker with sets and costume designs by maurice sendak and narration by julie harris as the adult voice of clara.
Dance nutcracker pacific northwest ballets annual production of nutcracker is almost as much of a festival in the lobby as it is in the auditorium. Dec 15, 2015 the only perfect use of those three minutes in the nutcracker known as the arabian dance. Sendak, stowell and the history of pnbs unique nutcracker. He was a principal dancer with the zurich opera ballet and the pacific northwest ballet. Pnb box office now taking orders for renewals and new subscriptions. Eve performance of pacific northwest ballets nutcracker. Only pnb subscribers may currently purchase tickets to the final year of stowell sendak nutcracker. Pacific northwest ballet has been creating and sharing behindthescenes ballet videos since 2008. Pnbs stowellsendak nutcracker takes a final bow the seattle. The ballet is choreographed by pacific northwest ballet artistic director kent stowell b. Sendaks first professional encounter with nutcracker came when he was approached by the pacific northwest ballet to recreate the original e. In honor of the farewell season of pacific northwest ballets stowell and sendak nutcracker, we updated this terrific article about the ballets fascinating history.
Pacific northwest ballet premieres kent stowellmaurice. Pacific northwest ballet is one of the nations premier ballet companies, with dancers from around the world and a reputation for both upholding the balanchine dance tradition and introducing audiences to bold new works. Pacific northwest ballets production of nutcracker, which opens tomorrow at mccaw hall, is such a venerable holiday tradition for our region that its easy to. Pacific northwest ballets 201415 season features the finale. In seattle, maurice sendaks wild nutcracker reaches its final act for more than 30 years, the pacific northwest ballets nutcracker has used sets and. The following year saw the publication ofnutcracker, a new edition of the original hoffman story, with illustrations by sendak, that remained on the new york times best seller list for eight weeks. Pacific northwest ballet pnb is a ballet company based in seattle, washington, in the united states. We are spoiled here in seattle to have such an amazing company like pacific northwest ballet putting on such timeless productions like george balanchines the nutcracker.
Seattles maurice sendak nutcracker takes a controversial last bow. Nutcracker tickets to go on sale to the public on monday, may 19. The motion picture, also known as pacific northwest ballets nutcracker or simply nutcracker, is a 1986 american christmas performing arts film produced by pacific northwest ballet in association with hyperion pictures and kushnerlocke, and released theatrically by atlantic releasing corporation. Pacific northwest ballet announces 20142015 season lineup. In 1986, a featurelength film of the stowell sendak nutcracker was premiered in seattle and released. The pacific northwest ballets nutcracker features choreography by kent stowell and sets and costumes by the late childrens book author. Dec 01, 2010 the chinese dance in the artist maurice sendak and the choreographer kent stowells production of the nutcracker, which is presented each season by the pacific northwest ballet in seattle. Ive seen at least 5 versions of this ballet but have never felt such warmth between these two characters. Pacific northwest ballet takes a leap with the nutcracker. Pnb events the pacific northwest ballet has incredible events promoting arts in the community. Pacific northwest ballet celebrates three decades of. Pacific northwest ballet celebrates three decades of stowell. Dec 17, 2001 sendak s first professional encounter with nutcracker came when he was approached by the pacific northwest ballet to recreate the original e.
With shows december 15 through december 18, you can choose a date that doesnt conflict with. The brilliant result of close collaboration between pnb founding artistic director and choreographer kent stowell and renowned childrens book author and illustrator maurice sendak, nutcracker premiered to national acclaim in december 1983. Sendak was not interested at first, until stowell asked him to read the original story by hoffmann. The only perfect use of those three minutes in the nutcracker known as the arabian dance.
I think thats what makes it so special, over and above the beautiful. Pacific northwest ballet can proudly lay claim to one of the worlds most recognized and celebrated productions of nutcracker. The motion picture, also known as pacific northwest ballets. The motion picture, but in the films credits the full title is simply pacific northwest ballet s nutcracker. From the nutcraker pacific northwest ballet, kent stowell. In seattle, maurice sendaks wild nutcracker reaches its final act. Maurice sendak s fabulous sets and costumes for the pacific northwest ballet s nutcracker are as much a beloved. Choreographer kent stowell, the artistic director of the pacific northwest ballet pnb, first invited the authorillustrator maurice sendak to collaborate on a nutcracker production in 1979, after stowells wife and colleague francia russell saw a sendakdesigned performance of mozarts the magic flute in houston. The motion picture, but in the films credits the full title is simply pacific northwest ballets nutcracker. Eve performance of pacific northwest balletos nutcracker wednesday, dec.
Performances pacific northwest ballet is a company of nearly fifty dancers that presents more than 100 performances each year of fulllength and mixed repertory ballets at marion oliver mccaw hall in seattle and on tour. Pacific northwest ballets new nutcracker, designed by illustrator ian falconer with choreography by george balanchine, is brighter and lighter, with a dazzling glass star by dale chihuly. See more ideas about pacific northwest ballet, ballet and pacific northwest. Talented dancers, great programming, breathtaking sets, and affordable tickets. The chinese dance in the artist maurice sendak and the choreographer kent stowells production of the nutcracker, which is presented each season by. Maurice sendaks illustration of stahlbaum family toy cabinet, mozart. Pnb to shelve its beloved version of nutcracker in 2015. November 28, 2014 dean speer in this its 32nd year it seems hard not only to say goodbye to the kent stowellmaurice sendak production of the nutcracker but also to realize that so much time has flown by so quickly. And for more than 30 years, seattle has had its own nutcracker ballet with sets and costumes designed by the late childrens author maurice sendak. It is said to have the highest per capita attendance in the united states, with 11,000 subscribers in 2004. Kuow why shaking up seattles nutcracker is so risky. Seattle, washington pacific northwest ballet the nutcracker.
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