the nutcracker celebrates 20th anniversary im… · the nutcracker celebrates 20th anniversary...

The Nutcracker Celebrates 20th Anniversary Opens December 12 Debuts by Jurgita Dronina, Naoya Ebe and Harrison James November 24, 2015…This season marks the 20th anniversary of The National Ballet of Canada’s acclaimed production of The Nutcracker, choreographed by James Kudelka. Hailed “the best Nutcracker on the planet” by The Globe and Mail, this celebrated holiday tradition has delighted over 1 million adults and children since its premiere in 1995. Interesting Nutcracker Numbers:

1,004,880 Number of people who have attended The Nutcracker since its premiere $49.6 million Total box office revenue 469 Number of performances since 1995 6,722 Number of pairs of pointe shoes used 938 Number of celebrity Cannon Dolls who have fired the cannon to begin the

battle scene including Mats Sundin, Margaret Atwood, Chris Hadfield, Kurt Browning, Rick Mercer, Mayor John Tory and many more

233 Number of performers in each performance (50 Dancers, 98 Students, 65

Musicians, 20 Singers) 187 Number of costumes in each performance 10 Number of pounds of paper released in the snow scene in each

performance 0 Number of performances cancelled due to snow

Making their debuts as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Peter/The Nutcracker are Principal Dancer Jurgita Dronina in her company debut, Principal Dancer Naoya Ebe and First Soloist Harrison James. They join the ranks of the 18 female and 22 male dancers men who have performed these lead roles since 1995 when former Principal Dancers Martine Lamy and Rex Harrington created them.

The opening performance on December 12 at 2:00 pm will feature First Soloist Skylar Campbell and Principal Dancer Jillian Vanstone in the roles of Peter/The Nutcracker and The Sugar Plum Fairy. The evening performance at 7:00 pm will feature Principal Dancers Guillaume Côté and Heather Ogden in the lead roles. Also making debuts are Second Soloists Emma Hawes and Hannah Fischer as the Snow Queen, Second Soloist Jack Bertinshaw as Uncle Nikolai and Principal Character Artist Stephanie Hutchison as Baba. The Nutcracker is choreographed by James Kudelka with music by Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky, set and costume design by Santo Loquasto and lighting design by Jennifer Tipton. Nutcracker Story Time begins 45 minutes prior to every performance in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

Principal Casting The Sugar Plum Fairy Jillian Vanstone (December 12 at 2:00 pm, December 23 at 1:00 pm, December 28 at 1:00 pm, January 2 at 5:30 pm) Heather Ogden (December 12 at 7:00 pm, December 16 at 7:00 pm, December 22 at 5:30 pm) Tina Pereira (December 13 at 1:00 pm, December 20 at 1:00 pm, December 22 at 1:00 pm, December 27 at 1:00 pm, January 3 at 1:00 pm) Sonia Rodriguez (December 13 at 5:30 pm, December 17 at 7:00 pm, December 19 at 7:00 pm) Elena Lobsanova (December 18 at 7:00 pm, December 20 at 5:30 pm, December 29 at 1:00 pm) Jurgita Dronina* (December 19 at 2:00 pm, December 30 at 7:00 pm, January 2 at 1:00 pm) Svetlana Lunkina (December 23 at 5:30 pm, December 27 at 5:30 pm, December 29 at 5:30 pm) Peter/The Nutcracker Skylar Campbell (December 12 at 2:00 pm, December 23 at 1:00 pm, December 28 at 1:00 pm, January 2 at 5:30 pm) McGee Maddox (December 12 at 7:00 pm, December 16 at 7:00 pm, December 18 at 7:00 pm, December 20 at 5:30 pm, December 22 at 5:30 pm, December 29 at 1:00 pm) Harrison James* (December 13 at 1:00 pm, December 20 at 1:00 pm, December 22 at 1:00 pm, December 27 at 1:00 pm, January 3 at 1:00 pm) Piotr Stanczyk (December 13 at 5:30 pm, December 17 at 7:00 pm, December 19 at 7:00 pm, December 23 at 5:30 pm, December 27 at 5:30 pm, December 29 at 5:30 pm) Naoya Ebe* (December 19 at 2:00 pm, December 30 at 7:00 pm, January 2 at 1:00 pm) Snow Queen Alexandra MacDonald (December 12 at 2:00 pm, December 18 at 7:00 pm, December 19 at 7:00 pm, January 2 at 5:30 pm) Xiao Nan Yu (December 12 at 7:00 pm, December 16 at 7:00 pm, December 22 at 5:30 pm) Elena Lobsanova (December 13 at 1:00 pm, December 22 at 1:00 pm, December 27 at 5:30 pm, December 29 at 5:30 pm)

Tanya Howard (December 13 at 5:30 pm, December 17 at 7:00 pm, December 23 at 1:00 pm) Emma Hawes* (December 19 at 2:00 pm, December 23 at 5:30 pm, December 29 at 1:00 pm, January 3 at 1:00 pm) Hannah Fischer* (December 20 at 1:00 pm, December 28 at 1:00 pm, January 2 at 1:00 pm) Jenna Savella (December 20 at 5:30 pm, December 27 at 1:00 pm, December 30 at 7:00 pm) Baba Alejandra Perez-Gomez (December 12 at 2:00 pm, December 19 at 2:00 pm, December 20 at 5:30 pm, December 23 at 1:00 pm, December 29 at 5:30 pm, January 2 at 1:00 pm) Rebekah Rimsay (December 12 at 7:00 pm, December 16 at 7:00 pm, December 19 at 7:00 pm, December 22 at 5:30 pm, December 28 at 1:00 pm, December 30 at 7:00 pm, January 2 at 5:30 pm) Stephanie Hutchison* (December 13 at 1:00 pm, December 18 at 7:00 pm, December 20 at 1:00 pm, December 23 at 5:30 pm, December 27 at 5:30 pm) Andreea Olteanu (December 13 at 5:30 pm, December 17 at 7:00 pm, December 22 at 1:00 pm, December 27 at 1:00 pm, December 29 at 1:00 pm, January 3 at 1:00 pm) Uncle Nikolai Jonathan Renna (December 12 at 2:00 pm, December 13 at 1:00 pm, December 18 at 7:00 pm, December 19 at 2:00 pm, December 20 at 1:00 pm) Robert Stephen (December 12 at 7:00 pm, December 16 at 7:00 pm, December 22 at 5:30 pm, December 28 at 1:00 pm, December 30 at 7:00 pm) Dylan Tedaldi (December 13 at 5:30 pm, December 17 at 7:00 pm, December 22 at 1:00 pm, December 27 at 1:00 pm, December 29 at 1:00 pm, January 3 at 1:00 pm) Jack Bertinshaw* (December 19 at 7:00 pm, December 23 at 5:30 pm, December 27 at 5:30 pm, December 29 at 5:30 pm, January 2 at 1:00 pm) Francesco Gabriele Frola* (December 20 at 5:30 pm, December 23 at 1:00 pm, January 2 at 5:30 pm) * Debut Casting subject to change. TD Bank Group presents The Nutcracker and Nutcracker Story Time.

The Nutcracker is made possible by generous financial support from production underwriters Sandra Pitblado & Jim Pitblado, C.M., Lawrence and Ann Heisey and an anonymous friend of the National Ballet. Guillaume Côté is sponsored through Dancers First by Emmanuelle Gattuso and Allan Slaight. Naoya Ebe is sponsored through Dancers First by Gretchen Ross. Elena Lobsanova is sponsored through Dancers First by Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan. Heather Ogden is sponsored through Dancers First by Ira Gluskin & Maxine Granovsky Gluskin.

Jillian Vanstone is sponsored through Dancers First by George & Kathy Dembroski. Tanya Howard is sponsored through Dancers First by Nancy Pencer. Harrison James is sponsored through Dancers First by Lucy White. Tina Pereira is sponsored through Dancers First by The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, C.C. Jenna Savella is sponsored through Dancers First by an anonymous donor. Robert Stephen is sponsored through Dancers First by Mr. Thor Eaton & The Honourable Nicole Eaton, Senator. Hannah Fischer is sponsored through Dancers First by Judy & Bella Matthews. Emma Hawes is sponsored through Dancers First by JJ Dayot & Rick Schiralli. Alexandra MacDonald is sponsored through Dancers First by an anonymous donor. The National Ballet of Canada gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of the Canada Council for the Arts; the Ontario Arts Council; the City of Toronto through the Economic Development & Culture Department; the Government of Canada – Department of Canadian Heritage, through the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages; and the Government of Ontario through the Honourable Michael Coteau, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

- 30 - For more information, please contact: Catherine Chang Nick Seliwoniuk Senior Communications Manager Publicist 416 345 9686 x302 416 345 9686 x332 [email protected] [email protected] national.ballet.ca national.ballet.ca

20 Years of Cannon Dolls in The Nutcracker Nearly 1,000 Celebrity Cameos Since 1995 December 10, 2015… This season marks the 20th anniversary of The National Ballet of Canada’s

acclaimed production of The Nutcracker, choreographed by James Kudelka. The holiday favourite has

a great tradition of inviting notable Canadians to appear onstage as Cannon Dolls and has featured

almost 1,000 over the past two decades.

Celebrity walk-on roles are a long-held tradition with Nutcrackers all over the world. In the National

Ballet’s production, the Cannon Dolls are the guest roles and are colourfully costumed

Russian Petrouchka dolls who shoot a cannon into the audience to begin the battle scene in Act I. Past

Cannon Dolls have included Chris Hadfield, Mats Sundin, Kurt Browning, Margaret Atwood, Rick

Mercer and Mayor John Tory.

Rex Harrington, the original Peter/The Nutcracker, and his partner and Amazing Race Canada

teammate Bob Hope will appear onstage as the Cannon Dolls at the opening night performance on

December 12 at 7:00 pm.

Joining the National Ballet onstage as Cannon Dolls this season are Olympic Ice Dancing Champion

Tessa Virtue, CBC’s Mr. Dee star Gerry Dee, Styx Lead Vocalist and Keyboardist Larry Gowan,

Actress and Comedian Debra McGrath, Actress Sheila McCarthy, Toronto Argonauts Chad Owens

and Cleyon Laing, host of Food Network Canada's Great Canadian Cookbook Noah Cappe, Canadian

Opera Company General Director Alexander Neef, Toronto City Councillor Norm Kelly, Canadian Idol

Season 3 Winner Melissa O’Neil and YTV’s The Stanley Dynamic Stars Charles Vandervaart and

Madison Ferguson.

Sponsoring The Nutcracker for the 10th season is TD Bank Group: “TD believes that access to the arts

supports building healthy and vibrant communities and we’re proud to provide opportunities where we

can introduce ballet to young audiences and families,” says Scott Mullin, Vice President, Community

Relations, TD Bank Group. “We know The National Ballet of Canada’s performance of The Nutcracker

has become a holiday tradition, enjoyed by many, and we’re delighted to be celebrating 10 years of

sponsorship.”

The complete Cannon Doll list and schedule is below.

This Season’s Cannon Dolls:

December 11 at 7:00 pm Global TV’s Susan Hay

December 12 at 2:00 pm

YTV's The Stanley Dynamic Stars Charles Vandervaart and

Madison Ferguson


The National Ballet’s Artist-in-Residence Rex Harrington and

his partner and Amazing Race teammate Bob Hope


TVOKids Hosts Kara Harun and Daniel Fernandes


Kiss FM’s Maurie Sherman and Matt Almeida


CBC News Network Host Heather Hiscox and CBC News

Now Host Michael Serapio


Bustle Clothing Founders Shawn Hewson and Ruth

Promislow


Toronto Life Director of Photography Daniel Neuhaus and

Senior Editor Rebecca Phelps


Toronto Star Deputy Entertainment Editor Debra Yeo and

Entertainment Assignment Editor Ariel Teplitsky


Food Network Canada's Great Canadian Cookbook Host

Noah Cappe


The Walrus Executive Director and Publisher Shelley

Ambrose and Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Kay


The Globe and Mail’s Dance Critic Martha Schabas and

Theatre Critic J. Kelly Nestruck


The National Post’s Executive Producer, Arts and Culture

Dustin Parkes and Columnist Rebecca Tucker


Actress and Comedian Debra McGrath and Actress Sheila

McCarthy


Toronto Argonauts Wide Receiver/Kick Returner Chad

Owens and Defensive Lineman Cleyon Laing


Styx Lead Vocalist and Keyboardist Larry Gowan


CBC Radio’s Metro Morning’s Traffic Reporter Laurie

Turcotte


Canadian Opera Company General Director Alexander Neef


Canadian Idol Season 3 Winner Melissa O’Neil


Toronto City Councillor Norm Kelly

January 2 at 1:00 pm

CBC’s Mr. Dee Star Gerry Dee

January 2 at 5:30 pm Olympic Ice Dancing Champion Tessa Virtue

- 30 -

TD Bank Group presents The Nutcracker and Nutcracker Story Time.

The Nutcracker is made possible by generous financial support from production underwriters

Sandra Pitblado & Jim Pitblado, C.M., Lawrence and Ann Heisey and an anonymous friend of the

National Ballet.

The National Ballet of Canada gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of the Canada Council for

the Arts; the Ontario Arts Council; the City of Toronto through the Economic Development & Culture

Department; the Government of Canada – Department of Canadian Heritage, through the Honourable

Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages; and the Government of Ontario

through the Honourable Michael Coteau, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

- 30 -

For more information, please contact:

Catherine Chang Nick Seliwoniuk

Senior Communications Manager Publicist

416 345 9686 x302 416 345 9686 x332

[email protected] [email protected]

national.ballet.ca national.ballet.ca

TD Bank Group presents

The Nutcracker

20th Anniversary

Choreography and Libretto: James Kudelka, O.C.

Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Set and Costume Design: Santo Loquasto

Lighting Design: Jennifer Tipton

Premiere: The National Ballet of Canada, December 21, 1995

The Nutcracker is made possible by generous financial support from production

underwriters Sandra Pitblado & Jim Pitblado, C.M., Lawrence and Ann Heisey and an

anonymous friend of the National Ballet.

The National Ballet of Canada gratefully acknowledges its collaboration with Canada's

National Ballet School in the production of The Nutcracker.

This production is dedicated to Celia Franca and Betty Oliphant.

With respect, admiration and gratitude. – JK

Performance Dates:

December 12, 2015 – January 3, 2016

Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts

This year marks the 20th anniversary of The Nutcracker. The National Ballet of Canada’s

comical and touching version of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s Christmas tale has enthralled over 1

million Torontonians since 1995. Set in Imperial Russia, the ballet is revered for its natural

wonder and dreamlike astonishment, all conveyed in breathtaking choreography.

Gorgeously designed by Santo Loquasto and buoyed by Tchaikovsky’s evergreen score,

this is one of the most enchanting versions of The Nutcracker ever staged.

Quotes

“ /4 The holiday season theatrical event by which all others must be judged.” The

Toronto Star, 2014

“Remains as fresh as the day it premiered in 1995.” The Globe and Mail, 2014

“The National Ballet of Canada’s annual production of The Nutcracker is sheer delight.”

Digital Journal, 2014

“The National Ballet’s Nutcracker is for kids from one to 92” National Post, 2013

“ /5 A magical Christmas tapestry weaved out of threads spun by composer

Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky, author E.T.A. Hoffman, choreographer James Kudelka and

designer Santo Loquasto.” 24 Hours, 2013

The Nutcracker

Synopsis

Page 1 of 3

ACT I

It’s the night before Christmas in 19th-century Russia, and Marie, Misha, their

parents and their beloved nursemaid Baba are busy preparing for the annual

Christmas Eve party at their country estate. As the curtain rises, Peter, the stable

boy (and Marie’s and Misha’s best friend), is sweeping the barn one last time before

the guests arrive.

Marie and Misha burst into the barn, squabbling furiously despite the patient efforts

of Baba and Peter to calm them down. Suddenly a rat scuttles across the floor,

disrupting everything until Peter outsmarts it. Four neighbouring families arrive and

the dancing begins.

All of a sudden, a mysterious man dressed in red appears in a sleigh. It's Nikolai,

the unpredictable uncle who lives down the road, whose alarming spins and

flamboyant gestures both terrifies and delights the company. Magically he tweaks

bright fresh oranges from the guests’ ears, hats, and clothes as well as producing a

pair of dancing bears, one of them on skates. To crown everything, Nikolai

unhitches his old mare and, to everyone's amazement, they energetically dance

together.

Nikolai has brought special gifts for all the children, but after all the presents have

been handed out, there is nothing left for Marie. Quickly Nikolai gives Marie a

Nutcracker in the shape of a handsome soldier which he'd intended for her parents.

The continuing hostilities between Marie and Misha erupt once more as they fight

over the Nutcracker until their father confiscates it.

Baba takes Marie and Misha back to the house to put them to bed but inevitably

their skirmishes begin again – this time, it's a competition to see who can stay

awake the longest. Eventually they fall asleep and their magnificent dream begins.

Just as the clock strikes twelve, six pesky little mice scurry in but Nikolai, stranger

and wilder than ever, dashes out and scares them away. Taking pity on poor Marie,

he returns her Nutcracker, tucks it beneath the nursery Christmas tree and vanishes

from sight.

Ominously, the children's beds begin to rock and shake waking Marie and Misha.

Their Christmas tree has come to life and the Nutcracker has grown, his features

have somehow been transformed to look exactly like their friend Peter.

The Nutcracker

Synopsis

Page 2 of 3

Other toys, too, have magically come to life and a regiment of wolfhounds rides in,

only to be vanquished by demonic cats. Then an evil brigade of mice invades the

room to attack the cats. Meanwhile, the cruel Tsar of the Mice challenges the

Nutcracker to mortal combat and all seems lost.

With the ingenuity of despair Marie and Misha save the Nutcracker by combining

forces to banish the frenzied cats and dogs and they conquer the Tsar of the Mice

with their feather pillows. In relief and sheer exhaustion, Marie, Misha and the

Nutcracker collapse on the bed.

The bed begins to move again but this time it carries them on a magical journey.

Through ice-laced trees and feathery snowflakes they see the Snow Queen,

supported by two Icicles. Marie, Misha, and the Nutcracker dance joyfully with the

snowflakes and the Snow Queen bestows upon them a magnificent gift: a beautiful

ice-boat attended by unicorns.

Intermission

ACT II

The ice-boat carries the children and the Nutcracker to the secret Kingdom of the

Sugar Plum Fairy, who lives in a beautiful Fabergé egg at the centre of a golden

palace, carefully guarded by her loyal courtiers. Nikolai and

Baba, transformed into the Grand Duke and Duchess, are there to greet them.

Naturally, the courtiers are eager to discover how their unexpected guests

happened to find the palace and beg the Nutcracker, Marie, and Misha to recount

their marvellous adventures. As a reward for the children's courage and

compassion, the courtiers order a splendid banquet that mingles grown-up food

with childhood favourites.

The first course, much to the children's delight, is Chocolate, with a delicate

Spanish flavouring. The second, Coffee, heralds the pleasures of adulthood – and

oddly enough, quite the opposite of anyone's expectations, its sinuous fumes put

the child-courtiers to sleep! Embarrassed by the courtiers’ inattentiveness, Misha

and Marie wake everyone up just in time to enjoy the spectacle of four inept royal

chefs trying to catch the poultry course.

There follow two dances that hint at the loving nature of parenthood: a bright,

cheerful Trepak for the Nutcracker and a dance for Baba as a shepherdess with

lambs and a Sheep-princess pursued by a Fox.

The Nutcracker

Synopsis

Page 3 of 3

At last four zany Waiters bring in a magical table while the chefs attempt to put the

finishing touches on the great repast. When the feast is finally prepared, Marie and

Misha assume the places of honour and enjoy a food fight in what may be their last

chance to misbehave as young children. Suddenly all traces of winter have gone,

and the palace gates burst open to admit a single Bee and a host of Flowers to

dance in the warm spring breeze.

In the midst of all this excitement, Marie and Misha have noticed that the

Nutcracker has fallen deeply in love with the Sugar Plum Fairy. All at once the world

of the Sugar Plum Fairy begins to vanish and the children find themselves in their

own room being put to bed by Baba. As Marie and Misha fall back to sleep just

before daybreak, the Nutcracker and the Sugar Plum Fairy bid them goodbye.

Somehow during this night the children have passed together through the magical

yet natural portal between childhood and adolescence, and somehow they know

that their lives will never again be quite the same. Henceforth, like their friend the

Nutcracker, they will set forth to find and follow their own dreams.

— Penelope Reed Doob

The Nutcracker By the Numbers

As of November 30, 2015

Number of performances of James Kudelka’s The Nutcracker since its premiere on December 21, 1995:

469

Number of people who have attended The Nutcracker since its premiere:

1,004,880

Number of children and their families who have attended The Nutcracker for free through the Share the Magic programme:

42,044

Cost to build The Nutcracker in 1995: $2.7 million

Box office revenue from The Nutcracker since 1995: $49.6 million

Number of dancers who have performed the role of Peter/The Nutcracker, originally created by Rex Harrington in 1995:

22

Number of ballerinas who have performed the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy, originally created by Martine Lamy in 1995:

18

Number of performers in each performance: 233 (50 Dancers, 98 Students, 65 Musicians, 20 Singers)

Number of stage crew backstage of each performance: 63

Number of students from Canada’s National Ballet School and public schools in Toronto who perform in each show:

98

Number of Junior Associates of Canada’s National Ballet School who perform as lambs and baby mice in each show:

17

Number of animals in The Nutcracker: 59 (1 rat, 1 horse, 2 bears, 1 ram, 1 rooster, 1 mouse Tsar, 8 Cossack mice, 8 baby mice, 8 dog soldiers, 10 cat soldiers, 6 unicorns, 1 fox, 1 sheep, 9 lambs and 1 bee)

Number of costumes in each performance: 187

Number of people involved in the creation of The Sugar Plum Fairy costume:

12 (1 Designer, 1 Costume Supervisor, 1 Fabric Buyer, 1 Fabric Dyer, 1 Costume Cutter, 2 Stitchers, 1 Costume Decorator, 1 Tiara Maker, 1 Jewelry Maker, 1 Pointe Shoe Maker, 1 Footwear Coordinator)

Number of layers of tulle in The Sugar Plum Fairy’s tutu: 19

Time to put on the makeup and wig for the dancer who performs the role of Uncle Nikolai:

1 hour

Number of pounds Uncle Nikolai’s Act I coat weighs: 9.5

Number of pairs of pointe shoes used for The Nutcracker since 1995:

6,722

Number of pointe shoes used in every performance of The

Nutcracker: 43 (1 bear wears red; 6 unicorns wear white for first time – white, Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen, Sheep, Bee, Snow Maidens x 18, Chocolate x 4, Coffee x 2, Flowers x 8)

Cost of pointe shoes used in every performance of The

Nutcracker:

$3870

Number of loads of laundry done following each performance: 9

Number of pounds of paper released in the snow scene in each performance:

10

Number of celebrity Cannon Dolls who have fired the cannon to begin the battle scene including Mats Sundin, Margaret Atwood, Kurt Browning, Doug Gilmore, Rick Mercer and many more:

938

Number of books based on The Nutcracker choreographed by James Kudelka:

1

Number of performances cancelled due to snow: 0

Number of roles performed by Tiffany Mosher: 11 (Chocolate, Flower, Party guest, Female Bear, Snowmaiden, Servant, Courtier, Sheep, Coffee, Baba, Bee)

James Kudelka, O.C.

Choreographer, The Nutcracker

James Kudelka is among todays’ most versatile and innovative dance artists. He has

choreographed for many of the world’s leading ballet companies as well as for smaller,

contemporary troupes. His creative range as a choreographer reflects his eclectic musical

interests, command of diverse movement idioms and commitment to working

collaboratively with artists from other disciplines.

Mr. Kudelka is renowned for distinctive versions of such classics as The Nutcracker, Swan

Lake and Cinderella, all signature works of The National Ballet of Canada where he served

as Artistic Director (1996–2005). Equally, Mr. Kudelka excels in making smaller-scaled

dances that while outwardly abstract are rich in psychological implication and human

drama.

Mr. Kudelka was born in Newmarket, Ontario and trained at Canada’s National Ballet

School. He began choreographing as a student and continued throughout his dancing

years with the National Ballet (1972–1981) and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens (1981–1990).

Mr. Kudelka, nowadays also in demand as a teacher, made his debut in 2015 as a stage

director with Heinrich von Kleist’s The Prince of Homburg.

Mr. Kudelka’s considers his artistic sensibility to be distinctly Canadian. He remains strongly

loyal to his native soil – an intellectual and spiritual territory he understands deeply.

He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2005.

Santo Loquasto Set and Costume Designer, The Nutcracker

Santo Loquasto is a designer for dance, theatre and film. He has collaborated with

choreographers Jerome Robbins, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Kenneth MacMillan, Agnes de Mille,

James Kudelka and Mark Morris. Twyla Tharp's Push Comes to Shove marked the

beginning of a long-term relationship with American Ballet Theatre. As designer for the Paul

Taylor Dance Company, he has designed a total of 50 pieces.

Mr. Loquasto received his first Tony in 1977 for costume designs for The Cherry Orchard. In

1989, he won both the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for his set design of the New York

Shakespeare Festival's Café Crown and, in 1990, he again won both awards for his

costume design for Grand Hotel. For his other work in theatre, he has received an Obie, the

Joseph Maharam Award, both Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desks Awards and a total of

18 Tony nominations.

For film, Mr. Loquasto has received Academy Award nominations for production design for

Woody Allen's Bullets Over Broadway and Radio Days and for costume design for Allen's

Zelig. Other film credits include Desperately Seeking Susan, Big and, most recently,

Irrational Man.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Composer, The Sleeping Beauty

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born in Votkinsky, Russia in 1840. At the age of four, he

composed his first song and soon began piano lessons. When Tchaikovsky was 19, his

studies for a career in law gave way to his childhood love of music to which he would

devote his life. In 1861, he entered the St. Petersburg Conservatory of Music and by 1866,

Tchaikovsky had begun to teach theory of composition in Moscow and became a local

celebrity with his compositions.

In 1876, Tchaikovsky was able to turn his attention fully to composing through the

patronage of Nadezhda von Meck. With the aid of her funding, he completed many of his

most well-known works including Eugene Onegin, Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty,

among others. In 1890, von Meck suddenly announced that she was bankrupt and could

no longer support Tchaikovsky. Her claim was false and, although the composer was no

longer financially dependent on her, it was a shattering blow to his self-esteem. This

occurred during his writing of the score for The Nutcracker and added to the difficulties he

was having composing for what he considered an uninspiring scenario.

The last three years of Tchaikovsky’s life were filled with great despondency and he did not

live to see the success of The Nutcracker.

Jennifer Tipton

Lighting Designer, The Nutcracker

Jennifer Tipton is well known for her work in dance, theater and opera. Her recent work in

dance includes Liam Scarlett’s The Age of Anxiety for The Royal Ballet, Alexei Ratmansky’s

Shostakovich Trilogy for San Francisco Ballet and American Ballet Theatre as well as Paul

Taylor’s American Dreamer. Her recent work in theater includes The Testament of Mary at

London’s Barbican Theater, Rasheeda Speaking at The New Group and Richard Nelson’s

The Apple Family Plays at New York’s Public Theater. In opera, recent credits include Il

Trovatore at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Don Giovanni directed by Daniel Witzke at Opera San

Jose, L’Elisir D’Amore directed by Bartlett Sher and Maria Stuarda directed by Sir David

McVicar at the Metropolitan Opera.

Ms. Tipton teaches lighting at the Yale School of Drama. She received the Dorothy and

Lillian Gish Prize in 2001, Jerome Robbins Prize in 2003 and Mayor’s Award for Arts and

Culture in April 2004 in New York City.

In 2008, Ms. Tipton was made a United States Artists Gracie Fellow and a MacArthur

Fellow.

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