Reviews for Nutcracker at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater

Last Updated on December 28, 2021 by Angie

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The Nutcracker is a classic ballet that is a Christmas tradition for many. With familiar music, hundreds of colorful and dramatic costumes, and a story full of wonder, it'southward easy to see why this ballet keeps people returning to performances year after year.

The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre has been performing The Nutcracker for decades, and yet each year there are new twists to bask.

The Nutcracker is a Holiday Classic

The Nutcracker ballet, with music equanimous by Tchaikovsky, is based on a story written in 1816 by E.T.A. Hoffmann. The story starts on Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum firm with the arrival of Godfather Drosselmeyer and his nephew. Among the many gifts that they bring is a Nutcracker which Marie, the Stahlbaum's daughter, Marie, witnesses coming to life at nighttime along with all the other toys.

A battle ensues amid the toys between the Rat King and the Nutcracker. Marie helps the Nutcracker to victory, after which she travels through the Land of Enchantment where various characters show their gratitude to Marie through cute dances.

The adjacent morning, Marie wakes up and the audience is left with the question of whether or not it was all a dream.

A Wonderful Operation Past The Pittsburgh Ballet

Although we don't oft attend ballet performances, we thoroughly enjoyed the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's rendition of this classic tale. Afterwards reading the performers' biographies and witnessing the mesmerizing dancing, it's clear that there is a huge concentration of talent in the company, something you might non expect for a city the size of Pittsburgh.

Equally with nearly ballet performances, cast members play different roles throughout the show. During our visit, Drosselmeyer was given a dramatic operation by Cooper Verona, Joseph Parr and Diana Yohe played the Snow King and Queen, and Joanna Schmidt nailed the starring role of Marie.

Pittsburgh Ballet Nutcracker — Colin McCaslin in Terrence South. Orr's The Nutcracker. Photo by Rosalie O'Connor provided by the Pittsburgh Ballet.

(As you lot later acquire when reading through the playbill, many of the characters also have Pittsburgh connections including the Heinz family, Grandview family unit, and the Kaufmanns- a detail not readily obvious without looking as the ballet has no spoken words.)

Amanda Cochrane and Yoshiaki Nakano in Terrence Southward. Orr's The Nutcracker. Photo by Rosalie O'Connor provided by the Pittsburgh Ballet.

Another highlight of the show, is, of form, the extremely colorful and dramatic costumes. In fact, there are over 200 different costumes used in this production of the ballet. From the toys to the mice and Rat Rex, to the Carbohydrate Plum Fairy, to the fluttering butterflies and hummingbirds, there is and then much going on visually that nosotros were captivated and transported to this enchanting world.

Of course, children are fifty-fifty more than transfixed past the costumes. One of our favorite things about attention the show was the group of immature children sitting behind us marveling out loud at each new graphic symbol appearing on stage. As the number of kids rivals adults at this performance, this should be expected and has happened at every performance nosotros've seen and then far.

One final affair nosotros actually dear most the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre'southward operation of The Nutcracker is how Pittsburgh themes and references are woven throughout the testify.

For example, the storybook out of which all the toys emerge is Kaufmann's Christmas Stories for Boys and Girls, and one of the toys is a Penguin. Other Pittsburgh references include a backdrop that depicts the confluence of Pittsburgh's three rivers, and Drosselmeyer'due south carriage is painted with the words "H.J. Heinz Visitor."

Overall nosotros enjoyed the highly skilled dancing and dramatic costumes and sets of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's performance of The Nutcracker: it instilled in us childlike wonder and actually put us in the Christmas spirit. We highly recommend making this show a part of your Christmas traditions!

The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's rendition of The Nutcracker is at the Benedum every Dec. We were guests of the Ballet for the performance in 2021 just have also paid for tickets for previous years. As always, all opinions are our own.

For more Christmas in Pittsburgh activities, check out the Pittsburgh CLO'southward A Christmas Carol, the Pittsburgh Symphony, Vacation Lights at Kennywood, or Christmas at the Cathedral of Learning!