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November 10,1999
The Oregon Ballet Theatre prepares us for Christmas
for
T he P ortland O bserver
Oregon Ballet Theatre's (OBT) lavish
Imperial Russian production o f The
Nutcracker returns to the Portland Civic
Auditorium stage for 23 performances,
December 8-26,1999. The Nutcracker
is brought to life by composer Peter
I lyric Tchaikovsky's enchanting musical
score; OBT Artistic Director James
Canfield, and sumptuous sets and
costumes bring Nutcracker to life by
composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s
enchanting musical score, mesmerizing
ch o reo g rap h y by in te rn a tio n a lly
renowned designer Campbell Baird.
The performance is accompanied by
the Oregon Ballet Theatre Orchestra,
conducted by Niel DePonte, and features
a live children’s choir.
The Nutcracker will perform December
8-11, 14-18 and 21-23, 1999 at 7:30
p.m.; December 11,18 and 22-24,1999
at 2:00 p.m.; and at new early Sunday
performances times o f 1:00 p.m. and
5:00 p.m. on December 12, 19 and 26,
1999.
Tickets, ranging in price from $5.50 to
$87.00, can be purchased now by calling
503-2-BALLET (503-222-5538), toll free at
-1-888-922-5538, or Ticketmaster at 503-
790-2787.
Key Bank presents Oregon Ballet Theatre’s
perform ances o f The N utcracker, with
a d d itio n a l sp o n so rsh ip p ro v id e d by
Starbucks.
A Northwest holiday tradition since its
premiere in 1993, OBT’s production has
captivated more than 350,000 children o f all
ages. The Company’s unique rendition of
The Nutcracker spins a wonderful tale o f a
young girl, Mane, and her amazing dream
adventure, set amidst the splendor o f Imperial
Russia.
Most o f the elaborate costumes, evoking the
richness o f Imperial Russia, were constructed
by the same design shop in New York that
produced the costumes for The Phantom of
the Opera, Les Miserables, and Cats. Over
150 storybook characters, the spellbinding
on-stage snow fall, a Christmas tree that
grows to 65 feet tall, and pyrotechnic special
effects, combine to make The nutcracker a
visual treat.
Nearly 90 children from across the Portland/
Metropolitan area will perform alongside
O regon B allet T h e a tre ’s p ro fessio n al
company in the roles o f party boys and girls,
soldiers, rats, cavalry horsemen, Arabian
attendants, pastry chefs assistants, and Russian
candies, among others.
Act one o f The Nutcracker is set in winter at
a Russian country estate where villagers from
the surrounding countryside have gathered
from a festival holiday party.
Monsieur Faberge, a guest at the party
m esm erizes the children w ith playful
mechanical dolls that spring to life, and
presents the young heroine Marie with the
giftofatoy Nutcracker. After the guests have
N utcracker m agically transform
transforms s into a
handsome prince.
In Act Two, the audience accompanies Marie
ant the Nutcracker Prince on and adventurous
sleigh ride through a shimmering land o f
le
f t and
a n d f family
a m ilv h
a s gone
s a n e off
o f f to bed,
bed. Marie
left
has
steals back down to the parlour to retrieve her
Nutcracker. Suddenly the room is filled with
large rats and toy soldiers, led by a life-sized
Nutcracker himself.
A fantastical battle ensures, and with M ane’s
help, the solider defeat the rats, and the
CO NTRIBUTED STORY__________________________ _____
(Please see story next page)
OBT hosts “A Nutcracker Tea”- Dec. 5
contributed story
for
T he P ortland O bserver
In conjunction with Oregon Ballet Theatre ’ s
(OBT) Imperial Russian production o f the
beloved Holiday classic The Nutcracker,
The School o f Oregon Ballet Theatre will
host “ A N u tc ra c k e r T e a ,” Sunday,
December 5, from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm, at
The Portland Marriott Hotel ( 1401 SW
Front A venue, dow ntow n Portland ).
Proceeds benefit The school Oregon Ballet
Theatre Scholarship Fund.
This magical afternoon o f family fun will
include tea, treats, holiday carolers, and
enchanting storytelling o f OBT’s unique
Imperial Russian version ofThe Nutcracker,
with students from the School of Oregon
Ballet Theatre costumed as characters from
the »reduction.
production. Tickets
Tickets for
for “A Nutcracker
the
Tea” are $20
per person. For more information or an
invitation, call The School of Oregon Ballet
Theatre at (501) 227-6890.
The School o f Oregon Ballet Theatre, under
the direction o f Haydee Gutierrez, offers
professional instruction in classical ballet
for children and adults. The School boasts
an enrollment o f nearly 300 students, with
over 200 children auditioning annually.
Students have the opportunity to perform
with the professional Company in select
performances and in the School’s Annual
Performance each spring, as well as study
w ith in te rn a tio n a lly renow ned guest
instructors. For the 1999/2000 season, two
School o f OBT trained students are
Company members, six apprentices.
T h a n k sg iv in g
Turkey G ive-aw ay
^ rin g 'u iire n try ln T o T n y "W a ln u t Park Business and register to win one of 50 turkeys^
Ito be given away courtesy of Walnut Park Retail Center. Turkey certificates will be
I mailed to the lucky winners. Certificates redeemable at Renaissance Market, 909 N.
Killingsworth for a 151b turkey. Just in time for Thanksgiving!
J
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ZIP CODE:
I No purchase necessary. Need not be present to win. Management and employees of Walnut Park Retail
^Center businesses are ineligible to win.
Walnut Park Retail Center
C o rn e r o f MLKJr. Blvd & N . K illingsw orth
Reflections
M other Dear’s Tasty Pastries
Blimpie
The Best o f A ll W o rld s
B lockbuster Video
Key Bank
Walnut Park Laundry/Coin-Op
JPs Custom Framing & Gallery
Walnut Park