Many families have made it a tradition to either participate in or go and watch The Nutcracker Ballet each year. However, the ones who only go to watch the production may not fully understand what happens backstage.
Children’s Dance Theater’s Nutcracker typically takes place the second weekend of Dec. and within the past year they have added an additional show, now having four total showings instead of three. This year, three of the shows sold out.
There is a lot of work put in by many different people to put on a production like The Nutcracker that some people may not even think about.
Examples of this include scheduling/attending rehearsals, casting roles, teaching/learning choreography, dancers putting aside school to focus on the show over the weekends, managing the lights and sound, managing call times, putting together backdrops and props, and so much more.
The week before the show is called, “tech week” and this is where all dancers and staff go to the theater each day and rehearse the mechanics of the show. These rehearsals typically go from 4:30 PM to around 9:00 PM
One of the backstage managers, Holly Kindt is in charge of getting everyone where they need to be when they need to be there, as well as being a main source of communication for the tech crew.
She says that it can be very chaotic backstage and having someone be sure that dancers are called to the stage is important.
People who come and see The Nutcracker don’t often have a great understanding of what is really going on backstage. Holly says, “I don’t think people need to understand all the work and chaos that is taking place behind the stage to appreciate the beautiful show.”
However, she does believe that if people had more insight on what goes on behind the scenes, people would only have a bigger appreciation then they already would have.
A dancer in the production, Devan Bunker plays two roles, Marzipan and a Flower. She expresses that this season can be difficult especially when trying to balance school work and rehearsals.
She says that during the show, the backstage managers can take some of this stress off.
Devan agrees with Holly when she says that the appreciation for the show is only built upon when you know how the backstage works.
During the show, there are a lot of people and things to keep track of. Like where props go and who needs to be where at what time. Keeping track of all this can be chaotic and stressful. However, it’s worth it in the end when you put on a great show for the audience.
The Story Of The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker was written in 1891, first performed on Dec. 17, 1892. Although it has been around for over 130 years, many people still don’t know the story.
So for those who don’t know, there is a young girl named Clara who’s family is having a party on Christmas eve. She receives a toy nutcracker as a gift from her godfather, Drosselmeyer. Clara’s younger brother Fritz breaks the nutcracker.
Later that night, Drosselmeyer fixes the Nutcracker and it turns into a prince. Suddenly, the Mouse King of a magical land comes to fight the Prince. The Prince’s soldiers come to fight by his side and defeat the Mouse King.
The Prince then takes Clara through a Land of Snow to this magical realm called the Land of the Sweets. While there, the two of them watch the people of the land perform for them and bring them treats. They end the night watching the Sugar plum Fairy and a grand celebration.
Clara then wakes up back in her home, only to realize that it was all only a dream.
