The Cincinnati Ballet's annual performance of holiday classic The Nutcracker — now dubbed "The Nutcracker at Home" after in-person attendance at Music Hall was canceled due to COVID — will air on WLWT this year.
This is the first time the ballet will air on local television, premiering at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22.
“Everyone has a front row seat to this year’s Nutcracker,” said Cincinnati Ballet President and CEO Scott Altman in a release. “The Nutcracker is a part of so many families’ holiday memories, this re-imagined, hour-long broadcast will keep that tradition alive during this unusual holiday season. We are thrilled to partner with WLWT on this holiday gift to the community.”
A performance of The Nutcracker will be recorded at Music Hall next week — with COVID precautions in place. Dancers will be in masks and following social distancing, but artistic director and choreographer Victoria Morgan says the TV recording will allow audiences to get up-close and personal in a way they haven't been able to before.
“With eight cameras capturing moments from every angle, even on the stage itself, this is a truly unique experience,” Morgan says. “Those magical moments we share together each year remain in this production — Clara and the Nutcracker Prince, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, plus we’ve added a few surprises just for this broadcast version.”
The ballet's 2020 Nutcracker features new choreography from Morgan, along with "support from artistic team Cervilio Miguel Amador, Dale Shields and Suzette Boyer Webb, Main Company dancers, and gorgeous sets and costumes," reads a release. The ballet says they also worked with Emmy award-winning director David Ashbrock to help optimize the performance for a TV audience.
The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra was recorded performing Tchaikovsky's score in November at Music Hall and Cincinnati Ballet Music Director Carmon DeLeone "spent many hours editing the music for this special broadcast."
The Nutcracker will air on WLWT Channel 5 at:
- 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22
- 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 24
- 5 a.m. Friday, Dec. 25
- Noon Friday, Dec. 25
It will also air on MeTV Channel 5.2 at:
- 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 24
- 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 25
For more info, visit cballet.org.
