Madison Ballet’s Brand-New Nutcracker Lights Up the Overture Stage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 24, 2021

Madison Ballet’s Brand-New Nutcracker Lights Up the Overture Stage
Madison’s favorite holiday show celebrates 40 years with all-new choreography 

Madison, WI – The Nutcracker returns to Overture Hall this December with a holiday performance that will dazzle like no other. In celebration of Madison Ballet’s 40th Anniversary Season, this production brings all-new choreography to Tchaikovsky’s famous score to tell the timeless tale of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince.

Artistic Director Sara Stewart Schumann leads the company in the monumental task of reimagining this classic holiday story for a modern audience. The result will be a truly collaborative production: Schumann and Ballet Master Thomas Mattingly are choreographing the majority of the production, and additional artists from both inside and outside the organization are providing an authentic voice for many sections of the ballet.

“With this opportunity to create new choreography, we sought to engage artists in our community who can help us respectfully portray and celebrate the different cultures represented throughout the story,” says Schumann.

The new Chinese divertissement is choreographed by Madison Ballet soloist Yu-Jhe Sun in consultation with Yaqi Wu, a Madison-based traditional Chinese dancer of incredible artistry, who added her experience and insight to this creative process at Schumann’s invitation. The Spanish divertissement is produced in collaboration with Madison Ballet soloist Michelle Ramos. 

Several sections of the performance are inspired by Ruth Page’s choreography for her Chicago Tribune Charities Nutcracker, a production in which Schumann herself danced the role of the American Beauty Rose.

Audiences will be treated to new costumes, new characters, and more of Tchaikovsky’s delightful score, played live by the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. “It’s going to add a whole new energy for the dancers and audiences alike, with the wonderful holiday spirit we all look forward to each year,” says Schumann.

The Nutcracker is a staple holiday tradition for families in the Madison community. Until last winter, Madison Ballet had performed the Nutcracker every year since 1981. “After 18 months away from the stage, we are overjoyed to return to our home in the Overture Center, and to give children and adults in our community the bright, beautiful gift of a brand-new Nutcracker,” says CEO Jonathan Solari.

PERFORMANCE & TICKET INFORMATION

Dates & Times

Friday, December 17 – 7:00pm

Saturday, December 18 – 1:00pm & 6:00pm

Sunday, December 19 – 1:00pm & 6:00pm

Thursday, December 23 – 6:00pm

Friday, December 24 – 1:00pm

Sunday, December 26 – 1:00pm & 6:00pm

Ticket Information

Single Tickets: $16 – $65

Group Tickets: 20% discount on select seating for groups of 10 or more.

Tickets can be purchased online at MADISONBALLET.ORG or by calling The Overture Center Box Office at 608.258.4141. 

Overture Hall Location 

201 State Street, Madison, WI 53703

For more details and directions visit OVERTURE.ORG/ABOUT/VISIT.

For 40 years, Madison Ballet has been an integral part of the vibrant Dane County arts community. Full-scale productions of inspiring traditional ballets, innovative contemporary performances, and the timeless holiday tradition of “The Nutcracker” reach more than 13,000 people each year. The School of Madison Ballet empowers students of all ages and skill levels with the poise, confidence, discipline, and fundamental life skills intrinsic to the study of dance. Outreach programming, presented in partnership with dozens of local school and community groups, enriches thousands of young people’s lives by introducing them to the joy of dance.

Contact: Lexi Janssen, Marketing Manager

Phone: 262-402-2358

Email: lexi@madisonballet.org

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