The spectacle and holiday cheer of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s timeless ballet lives on in this traditional production of The Nutcracker. On the twilight of Christmas night, a marvelous adventure awaits the young Clara, who received a nutcracker soldier as a gift from her godfather earlier that evening at the family Christmas party. Atop the Mountain of Sweets sits the Magic Castle where a princess and her band of worldly confectionary characters reside, and each greet Clara and her Nutcracker prince with their own dance. You too can meet them for a warm engagement at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, as performed by the Festival Ballet Theatre. This tale is directed and choreographed by the FBT's artistic director, Salwa Rizkalla, and features some of the finest dancers from the Pacific Northwest Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre.
Tue., Dec. 23, 2 & 8 p.m., 2014
Aimee Murillo is calendar editor and frequently covers film and previously contributed to the OCW’s long-running fashion column, Trendzilla. Don’t ask her what her favorite movie is unless you want to hear her lengthy defense of Showgirls.