Beth Fowler Dance Company
Proudly Presents
Join Us For This Year of Anniversaries Starting With
“The Nutcracker Ballet”
A Beth Fowler Dance Company 30yr Holiday Tradition
With a wave of her magic wand, the Christmas Fairy brings to life the Stahlbaum family scene on Christmas Eve in 19th century Germany. The children Clara and Fritz and other household members open gifts and prepare the house for a family party. As guests arrive, the evening’s activities include the lighting of the tree, entertainment, and traditional dancing. Activities are interrupted by the mysterious arrival of a surprise guest, Herr Drosselmeyer, the godfather of Clara and Fritz. A magician and toymaker, Drosselmeyer has brought mechanical dolls to perform for the guests. He also distributes gifts to all children, leaving Clara for last. To her, he presents a special present, a toy Nutcracker dressed as a soldier. The jealous Fritz taunts Clara and her Nutcracker is accidentally broken.
Drosselmeyer repairs the Nutcracker, and the party resumes. Soon the guests bid farewell to the family. Clara and Fritz are put to bed, but Clara cannot sleep. She quietly steals back into the parlor to rejoin her Nutcracker. Here, she falls asleep to dream in a chair.
When the clock strikes twelve, Clara’s nightmare begins. The little mice are scared away by the bigger rats. Clara awakens, feeling threatened by the rats. Drosselmeyer comes to her aid. He casts a magic spell, which causes the tree to grow and brings the Nutcracker to life. Rats and toy soldiers battle with a final dual between the Rat King and the Nutcracker. Just as the Rat King is about to conquer the Nutcracker, Clara forgets her fear and throws her slipper at the Rat King, diverting him long enough for the Nutcracker to lunge once with the sword and become victorious.
The Nutcracker is transformed into a Prince, who rewards Clara by taking her through a snow-covered Enchanted Forest and journey toward the Land of the Sweets. In the forest, the snowflakes, led by the Snow King and Queen, dance about them.
The Christmas Fairy guides Clara and the Nutcracker Prince around the world and through a cloud-like angelic realm to the Land of the Sweets. They are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy and dancers from many countries. The prince presents Clara as the girl who saved his life. The dancers perform in her honor, ending with the grand pas de deux performed by the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Nutcracker Prince. The Sugar Plum Fairy guides Clara home. Clara awakens and wonders if it was all a dream.
Ticket information for all shows will be posted here and also on the Egyptian Theatre Website usually 2 months in advance of the shows. Please check back often for updated information.
We look forward to Entertaining you this season!!
