American Repertory Ballet Announces 2012 Nutcracker Production and Special Events

American Repertory Ballet will present its 2012 Nutcracker in theaters throughout New Jersey, beginning Thanksgiving weekend and continuing for five weekends in five venues throughout December. A cast of over 100 dancers, including ARB’s professional dancers, ARB/Princeton Ballet School Trainees, and Princeton Ballet School students, will bring the classic tale of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince to McCarter Theatre in Princeton, Union County PAC’s Hamilton Stage for the Performing Arts in Rahway, Algonquin ARTS Theater in Manasquan, Patriots Theater at the War Memorial in Trenton, and State Theatre in New Brunswick.

This year’s production features a newly designed and constructed Snow Forest scene set by Carl Sprague, made possible by the generous support of the Covance Foundation. The Act I Party and Battle Scenes are restorations of the Company’s first Nutcracker production, choreographed by ARB’s founder Audrée Estey. The production also features choreography by Martin and Resident Choreographer Mary Barton. As Robert Johson of The Star-Ledger has said, “ARB director Douglas Martin has built upon [Estey’s] foundation tastefully." Johnson has characterizEd Martin’s Nutcracker choreography as “filled with bounding energy” and a sweeping “marvel of deliberate grace”.
American Repertory Ballet’s Nutcracker is being presented for the first time at both Hamilton Stage for the Performing Arts and Algonquin ARTS Theater. At Hamilton Stage,

ARB is also presenting a new version of their Nutcracker entitled A Nutcracker Suite. This production provides a short narration of the Act I Party and Battle, and then follows Clara from the Land of Snow through the Kingdom of Sweets. An hour in length, this performance is a perfect introduction to the ballet for young children and families.

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