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Richmond Ballet Presents The Nutcracker with live music by Richmond Symphony, December 14 - 23
11/19/2007
RICHMOND BALLET
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact:
November 19, 2007 Aaron Sutten
(804) 344-0906 x244
asutten@richmondballet.com
Richmond Ballet Presents The Nutcracker
with live music by Richmond Symphony
December 14 - 23
Watch as dreams come true…
As Clara in Richmond Ballet’s 1994 production of The Nutcracker,
Valerie Tellmann watched in awe as the Cavalier, played by Igor
Antonov, danced the grand pas de deux with the Sugarplum Fairy. Now a
Richmond Ballet company member, Tellmann has come full circle: she’s
rehearsing the role of Sugarplum Fairy with none other than Antonov as
her Cavalier.
“I never got tired of watching Sugarplum and Cavalier [when I was
Clara],” Tellmann said. “I was totally mesmerized by it, and I
remember in sixth grade thinking to myself, ‘This is what I want to do
for the rest of my life.’”
Recollecting that “ah-ha!” moment, Tellmann also recalled her performances in 18 previous productions of The Nutcracker,
most of which were with Richmond Ballet. From the excitement (and
nervousness) of performing en pointe for the first time as a Mirliton
in 1995 to enjoying the camaraderie and difficulty of dancing in the
corps as a snowflake in 1999, Tellmann’s experience illustrates that
the many roles of The Nutcracker give dancers various levels to which they can aspire.
“[Artistic Associate and Ballet Master Malcolm Burn] always says – and he has a very good point – that The Nutcracker is a way for dancers to gauge where they are artistically and technically with their work,” she said.
Also, over the course of 12 performances, dancers get creative and have
fun with their roles, as Tellmann did when she approached the character
of shepherdess in a new way each night, or when she created different
background stories for her family each time she played one of the party
guests.
“I really think people in the audience pick up on the little things; I
think that’s what makes it funny,” she said. “The butler does some of
the funniest stuff with the maids, and a lot of people specifically
watch for and look forward to that. I feel like that’s the adult side
of The Nutcracker; the adults see the little nuances that kids would look right over.”
Known as “Foghorn Tellmann,” a nickname from her early years as an
enthusiastic and talkative Richmond Ballet cast member, she also loves
sharing the stage with the students and said the company dancers feed
off of their energy. With 120 children in this year’s production, many
dreams are evolving and coming true as the young dancers share the
magical experience of performing in this holiday favorite with their
professional counterparts.
“I remember how pivotal [The Nutcracker cast] was in
shaping my dance career,” Tellmann said, “so I hope that I can be that
inspiration for some of the children in The School of Richmond Ballet,
and to show them that I was a normal person that came from The School
of Richmond Ballet and I just worked hard – I’m not a child prodigy.”
Tellmann’s role as the girl whose dreams came to life inspired her to make her dreams come true. Watch as this year’s The Nutcracker lights that same fire in its young stars and stirs the imagination of its audience.
Phillip Skaggs and Valerie Tellmann in The Nutcracker
Valerie Tellmann in Richmond Ballet's 1994 production of The Nutcracker
Holiday treats and treasures spring to life on stage…
Dream with the cast as they bring audiences to a magical place where
toy soldiers march into battle and hot chocolate dances the fandango.
This holiday season Richmond Ballet will transform Richmond’s Landmark
Theater into the Kingdom of Sweets from December 14 through 23 in an
unforgettable rendition of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s holiday classic: The Nutcracker.
From the pitter-patter sounds of little “mice” feet to the near silent
pointe-work of the professional company, you will experience an
unmistakable quickening of the holiday spirit.
As Virginia’s most beloved production of this celebrated tradition, Richmond Ballet’s The Nutcracker is
absolutely resplendent with original choreography, lavish sets and
costumes, and Richmond Symphony rendering Tchaikovsky’s score in full
orchestral splendor. Choreographed by Artistic Director Stoner
Winslett, the production’s highlights include a 59-foot dragon created
in China, a dancing butterfly, a Russian bear and mischievous lambs.
Artisans from across the United States and abroad worked on the
magnificent costumes under the direction of David Heuvel. The
exquisite mouse and bear heads, which bring the characters to life with
surprising animation, were created by craftsmen Robert Allsopp, from
London, England, and Marvin Schlichting, from Toronto, Canada.
Tickets on sale now!
Richmond Ballet presents 12 performances of The Nutcracker
at Richmond’s Landmark Theater, December 14 through 23, 2007, with both
evening and matinee show times available. Purchase tickets, priced
from $27 to $100 for adults (discounts available for seniors, students
and children), by contacting Ticketmaster at (804) 262-8003 or www.ticketmaster.com,
or at the Richmond Ballet box office, located at 407 East Canal Street,
Richmond. Group discounts are also available through the Richmond
Ballet box office.
The Nutcracker
Friday, December 14, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 15, 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 16, 1:00 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 20, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, December 21, 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 22, 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 23, 1:00 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.
Celebrate with the cast at Sweets Parties…
Share in the delights of the season with Clara, the Sugarplum Fairy, the Mouse King and their friends at The Nutcracker
Sweets Parties in the ballroom of Richmond’s Landmark Theater following
select matinee performances. Enjoy delicious treats, snap photos of
your favorite characters, and meet these magical characters in person.
Proceeds benefit Richmond Ballet and The School of the Richmond
Ballet. For tickets, visit Richmond Ballet’s box office at 407 East
Canal Street or Richmond’s Landmark Theater. Call (804) 344-0906 for
more info. Tickets are $10.00 per person, and children ages 2 and under
are admitted free of charge.
Nutcracker Sweets Parties
Saturday, December 15 4:00 p.m.
Friday, December 21 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 22 4:00 p.m.
The Nutcracker story synopsis
Set in Nuremberg, Germany in the early 1800s, the story begins with a
Christmas Eve gathering in the home of the Silberhaus family. A young
girl, Clara, receives a toy nutcracker from her godfather, the
mysterious Dr. Drosselmeyer. As the story transitions from the party
to Clara’s dreamland, amazing things begin to happen as the audience
travels with her underneath the Christmas tree and then into the Land
of Snow.
After mice and toy soldiers engage in battle, Clara’s nutcracker
magically comes to life. With Clara’s help, the soldiers defeat the
mice and the nutcracker is transformed into a handsome young prince who
leads Clara to the enchanted Kingdom of Sweets. In the second act,
Clara arrives in Confitenburg and marvels at its frosted, candy-like
appearance and many whimsical characters. The Sugarplum Fairy and her
Cavalier welcome Clara and host a celebration of dance for her and the
Prince.
Where credit is due…
It is because of the generosity of its sponsors that The Nutcracker
continues to thrive and captivate audience members of all ages.
Richmond Ballet thanks The Richard S. Reynolds Foundation and the E.
Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation for their generous support of
this seasonal favorite. Additional support is provided courtesy of
Franklin Federal Savings and Loan Association and McGuireWoods. Media
sponsorship is made possible by NBC-12 and Style Weekly. Richmond
Ballet also receives funding from the Virginia Commission for the Arts
and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great
nation deserves great art. Affiliate support of Richmond Ballet is
provided by investors to ArtsFund.
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Richmond
Ballet, The State Ballet of Virginia, is dedicated to the education,
promotion, preservation and continuing evolution of the art form of
ballet. Richmond Ballet strives to keep meaningful works of dance
alive and to produce and foster new works that remain true to these
values. Now in its 24th professional season, Richmond Ballet's mission
is to "awaken and uplift the human spirit, both for audiences and
dancers."
***
For further press information contact:
Aaron Sutten, Director of Marketing and Communications
EMAIL: asutten@richmondballet.com; CALL: (804) 344-0906 x244