Photo by Cameron Knight
The time is finally here: Cincinnati Ballet’s long-awaited, eagerly anticipated The New Nutcracker premieres Thursday at the Aronoff Center.
It takes a lot to make any ballet look effortless, and an undertaking as big as a new Nutcracker demands more than most.
Sure, the stats tell part of the story — 200 costumes, 20 sets, 15 scenes, more than 80 children per cast — but there’s more than meets the eye.
The Ballet’s CEO/Artistic Director Victoria Morgan (who choreographed The New Nutcracker) and Production Manager Robert Eubanks talked to CityBeat recently to shed light on what’s involved in making the magic real. It’s often the little things — or even the big things — you might not think about.
The Nutcracker has always been a well-known seasonal and box office mainstay for the company, but could we dare say this production has more in common with a Broadway show than a ballet? Hundreds of people have been involved, from Tony Award-nominated, New York City-based costume designer Carrie F. Robbins to renowned set designer John Ezell to crews in Houston and Cincinnati, including Michael Hagan’s set-painting studio, Playhouse in the Park, Madcap Puppets workshop and the Ballet’s wardrobe department.
The New Nutcracker continues through Dec. 24. Go here to read Julie Mullins' full interview.
