A Magical Holiday Tradition: THE NUTCRACKER with the Milwaukee Ballet

By Mary Boyle

Ever since Michael Pink, the Artistic Director of the Milwaukee Ballet, arrived on the scene in 2002, I have been watching his version of The Nutcracker, which has been my family's well-loved holiday tradition, as it is for so many families in the area.  Perhaps you've never been?  Perhaps you feel that the ballet isn't "your thing?"  I beg you to reconsider.  When the lights go down, and the Milwaukee Ballet orchestra begins the opening notes of Tchaikovsky's famous music, you will be enchanted.

Based on E.T.A. Hoffman's 1816 Novella, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, the ballet (possibly the world's best known) was written in 1892 by the famous Russian composer, Tchaikovsky, and two choreographers,  Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, who used the version of the story by Alexandre Dumas, the well known French novelist, as their inspiration.  Interestingly, the ballet was not an instant success, and took many years to be performed outside of Russia.  By the 1950's, it became popular in the US, and now it is performed by nearly every ballet company, usually during the holiday season, around the world.

There are countless versions of The Nutcracker, but Michael Pink's version of the ballet adds a much older sister to the Tannenbaum family, Marie (which is the name of Hoffman's original character, but she is only 7 years old in the story), as well as an assistant, Karl, to the magical Godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer, so that there may be an age-appropriate romance in the story.  After the Christmas party at the Tannenbaum's, where Clara was gifted a nutcracker from her Godfather, Clara returns to the Christmas tree to find him, followed by her sister, Marie and her brother, Fritz.  To their surprise, mice come out of the wood stove, the Christmas tree grows and they shrink into the world of their toys, who have come to life, including the Nutcracker, who leads the toy soldiers and is wounded in battle against the Rat King.  Drosselmeyer appears and revives the Nutcracker, who turns out to be Karl, and takes them all on a magical adventure. 

Celebrating their 50th Season this year, the Milwaukee Ballet has rotating casts of their Professional Dancers, as well as utilizing Milwaukee Ballet School and Academy dancers to accommodate the schedule and massive cast for The Nutcracker, which means every performance is a bit different, but you can look up who's dancing which role if you're so inclined (For instance: I prefer to see Barry Molina as Fritz).  While full of Victorian splendor and gorgeous costumes and scenery, Michael Pink's Nutcracker is hardly austere; in fact, keep your eye out for the three clowns, whose changing antics are one of the highlights of the performance.  This Nutcracker is an introduction to the ballet that the whole family will enjoy.

The Nutcracker runs through December 26th at the Marcus Center for Performing Arts Uihlein Hall, located at 929 N. Water St. in downtown Milwaukee.  Tickets can be purchased at the Milwaukee Ballet Box Office, located at 128 N. Jackson St., or by calling (414) 902-2103.  Tickets may also be purchased through the Milwaukee Ballet's website at https://www.milwaukeeballet.org/

This year, the Milwaukee Ballet will offer a variety of free pre-show activities for families in the atrium of the Marcus Performing Arts Center, including:

Saturday, Dec 14 – 1:00pm (2:00pm Performance)
Face Painting
Children 4 & up can show their holiday spirit by getting signs of the season painted on their cheeks.
Saturday, Dec 14 – 6:00pm (7:00pm Performance)
Behind-the-Scenes Night: Stage Make-Up
How does a ballerina age 50 years in 30 minutes? Get an up-close view as our dancer applies aging make-up to transform into Grandma Tannenbaum.
Sunday, Dec 15 – 11:00am (12:00pm Performance)
Kohl’s Color Wheels Art Project
Milwaukee Art Museum’s traveling art studio makes a stop at our performance! Create a holiday-themed piece of art with their team of experts.
Sunday, Dec 15 – 5:00pm (6:00pm Performance)
Milwaukee Children’s Choir
Enjoy holiday carols from the angelic voices of this celebrated youth ensemble.
Friday, Dec 20 – 6:00pm (7:00pm Performance)
Behind-the-Scenes Night: Stage Make-Up
How does a ballerina age 50 years in 30 minutes? Get an up-close view as our dancer applies aging make-up to transform into Grandma Tannenbaum.
Saturday, Dec 21 – 2:00pm (1:00pm Performance)
Mini-Ballet Class with our School & Academy
Miss Tiffany teaches children 4 & up a beginning ballet class and choreography from the show.
Saturday, Dec 21 – 6:00pm (7:00pm Performance)
Mini-Ballet Makeover
Children 4 & up are invited to enjoy the ballerina treatment topped off with the perfect bun.
Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 – 11:00am (12:00pm Performance)
Craft Corner: Ballerina Snowflakes
Enjoy this creative spin on a classic craft! Create paper snowflakes that look like ballerinas.
Monday, Dec 23 – 11:00am (12:00pm Performance)
Behind the Music
Music Educator Meaghan Heinrich explores Tchaikovsky’s signature score with musical activities for all ages.
Monday, Dec 23 – 5:00pm (6:00pm Performance)
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
Our own Michael Pink reads the classic holiday poem aloud.
Thursday, Dec 26 – 5:00pm (6:00pm Performance)
Behind-the-Scenes Night: Stage Make-Up
How does a ballerina age 50 years in 30 minutes? Get an up-close view as our dancer applies aging make-up to transform into Grandma Tannenbaum.

The 2019-20 Milwaukee Ballet's 50th Season is truly exciting and includes the return of Michael Pink's World Premiere production of Peter Pan!