18 newportbeachindy . com DECEMBER 9 , 2022
STEPPING OUT
American Ballet Theatre ’ s Captivating Production of ‘ The Nutcracker ’ Returns to Segerstrom Center December 9-18
By Christopher Trela | NB Indy
December is the month of dance in Orange County — specifically , “ The Nutcracker .” Nearly every dance studio presents its version of “ The Nutcracker ,” the beloved holiday story based on “ The Nutcracker and the King of Mice ” written by E . T . A . Hoffmann and set to a memorable score by Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky .
Segerstrom Center for the Arts forged a partnership with American Ballet Theatre that brings ABT premieres to our county , as well as the annual production of “ The Nutcracker ,” co-presented by the Center and ABT with choreography by ABT Artist in Residence Alexei Ratmansky , scenery and costumes by Tony Award-winner Richard Hudson ( Disney ’ s The Lion King ), and lighting by Tony Award-winner Jennifer Tipton . The score will be performed live by Pacific Symphony .
In its annual holiday engagement , American Ballet Theatre will give 12 performances between December 9 and 18 , in Segerstrom Hall . This year marks the seventh time that The Center has presented ABT ’ s “ The Nutcracker ,” featuring ABT ’ s international all-star cast .
One of those dancers is James Whiteside , a Principal Dancer who was seriously injured last year at Segerstrom while onstage performing in “ The Nutcracker .” The curtain was brought down and they stopped the performance , when a tendon that attached the muscles in his knee to his patella ruptured during a jump .
The injury risked ending his career as a dancer , but Whiteside opted for knee surgery . His doctor predicted eight months to a year of recovery before Whiteside could begin to train again , but the dancer was determined to accelerate that diagnosis and made a quicker recovery than expected . He danced in " Whipped Cream ” this fall in New York and is joining the company here to dance on the same stage , in the same role , where he injured his leg , just a year later .
While this “ Nutcracker ” marks a comeback for Whiteside , it ’ s also the final performances with Kevin McKenzie as ABT ’ s Artistic Director , who is retiring after three decades at the helm .
McKenzie was a leading dancer with both The Joffrey Ballet and the National Ballet of Washington before joining American Ballet Theatre as a Soloist in March 1979 . He was appointed a Principal Dancer the following December and danced with the company until 1991 . McKenzie , 68 , was appointed ABT ’ s Artistic Director in October 1992 .
Accolades for ABTs “ The Nutcracker ” include “ A visual tour de force — a
‘ Nutcracker ’ without parallel ” ( OC Register ) and “ A production like no other , made with complete theatrical authority from first to last ” ( New York Times ).
This year , 40 students from the ABT William J . Gillespie School at Segerstrom Center are featured in this production of “ The Nutcracker .”
Single tickets for American Ballet Theatre ’ s “ The Nutcracker ” start at $ 29 and are available online at www . SCFTA . org , at the Box office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa , or by calling ( 714 ) 556-2787 . Casting for “ The Nutcracker ” ABT Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie has released principal casting for the roles of Clara the Princess and the Nutcracker Prince .
Friday , December 9 at 7 p . m . – Devon Teuscher , Joo Won Ahn
Saturday , December 10 at 2 p . m . – Isabella Boylston , James Whiteside
Saturday , December 10 at 7 p . m . – Catherine Hurlin , Aran Bell
Sunday , December 11 at 12:30 p . m . – Cassandra Trenary , Calvin Royal III
Sunday , December 11 at 5:30 p . m . – Christine Shevchenko , Thomas Forster
Wednesday , December 14 at 7 p . m . – Hee Seo , Cory Stearns
Thursday , December 15 at 7 p . m . – Skyler Brandt , Herman Cornejo
Friday , December 16 at 7 p . m . – Cassandra Trenary , Calvin Royal lll
Saturday , December 17 at 2 p . m . – Devon Teuscher , Joo Won Ahn
Saturday , December 17 at 7 p . m . – Skylar Brandt , Herman Cornejo
Sunday , December 18 at 12:30 p . m . – Catherine Hurlin , Aran Bell
Sunday , December 18 at 5:30 p . m . –
Hee Seo , Cory Stearns ABT and Segerstrom Center Since 2015 , ABT has thrilled audiences at Segerstrom Center for the Arts with annual holiday engagements of “ The Nutcracker ” for over 75 performances .
Segerstrom Center and ABT have a long-standing relationship . At the Center , ABT gave the World Premiere of Mikhail Baryshnikov ’ s “ Swan Lake ” in 1988 . In 1999 , the ABT production of “ Le Corsaire ” was taped for broadcast on PBS ’ s Dance in America , winning an Emmy Award . In 2003 , “ The Dream ” was also taped at the Center for broadcast on Dance in America . In 2008 , ABT co-commissioned Twyla Tharp ’ s “ Rabbit and Rogue ” with Segerstrom Center for the Arts , which received its World Premiere in New York and its West Coast Premiere at the Center .
Other ABT productions at the Center have included the West Coast Premiere of Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie ’ s production of “ The Sleeping Beauty ” in 2007 , the World Premiere of a new production of
Christine Shevchenko in “ The Nutcracker .” Photo : Marty Sohl .
The Snow from “ The Nutcracker .” Photo : Marty Sohl .
Skylar Brandt and Herman Cornejo in “ The Nutcracker .” Photo : Marty Sohl .
“ Firebird ” by ABT Artist in Residence Alexei Ratmansky in 2012 , and three additional ballets by Ratmansky .
In April of 2021 , the Center presented “ Uniting in Movement ,” a unique dance project that brought 18 ABT dancers together during the pandemic for safe collaboration and exhilarating performance of new works by Jessica Lang , Lauren Lovette , and Darrell Grand Moultrie .
Last March , ABT and the Center presented a mixed repertory program that included the World Premiere “ Single Eye ” by Alonzo King to the music of Jason Moran and West Coast Premieres of Ratmansky ’ s “ Bernstein in a Bubble ” and Jessica Lang ’ s “ ZigZag ,” featuring songs recorded by Tony Bennett .
Next spring , American Ballet Theatre will give the North American Premiere of “ Like Water for Chocolate ” at the Center . ABT and the Center ’ s partnership in 2024 will include a third World Premiere ( details to follow at a later date ).