After a long, unexpected hibernation, Pacific Northwest Ballet’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® returns to the stage for live performances this holiday season.
Featuring Tchaikovsky’s timeless score performed by the world famous PNB Orchestra, PNB Company dancers in show-stopping roles, bright young stars from the PNB School, unique-to-Seattle sets and costumes by Ian Falconer (creator of Olivia the Pig), and McCaw Hall’s lobbies decked out with the season’s best photo ops, PNB’s production is a holiday treasure for audiences young and old, according to a press release.
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® runs through Dec. 28 at Seattle Center’s Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St. Tickets start at just $27.
New this year, PNB is offering a sensory-friendly matinee at 2 p.m. Dec. 21, designed to provide a welcoming and supportive environment for people with sensory-processing challenges to enjoy the performance.
The Nutcracker will also stream digitally Dec. 20 through Dec. 28, for families and friends to watch from the comfort of home. Tickets for the digital access are $49. For tickets and additional information, contact the PNB Box Office at 206-441-2424, online at PNB.org or in person at 301 Mercer St.
PNB asks people to be mindful of unauthorized online resellers: When purchasing tickets for PNB’s production of The Nutcracker, order directly through PNB.
According to a press release, the music and choreography remain the same, but audiences will notice a new character making its debut on stage in 2021.
When Balanchine choreographed The Nutcracker in 1954, he sought to showcase a global array of cultures, some of which can now be viewed as cultural appropriation. With permission from the George Balanchine Trust, PNB has sought to revise the Chinese divertissement: Elements of racial stereotyping were removed prior to PNB’s 2015 premiere and now, working closely with Phil Chan (co-founder of Final Bow for Yellowface), PNB will be introducing the Green Tea Cricket in Act II.