The Nutcracker, More than Just a Ballet, a Pittsburgh Tradition

A Fashion Show for Little Girls and Night Out for the Family

Review of The Nutcracker Ballet

by Good News Reporter, Joanne Quinn-Smith

Sugar plum fairies, toys coming to life, magicians, a man walking on stilts, oh my!  What a fantasy performance is The Nutcracker for both children and adults.  This was my four year old granddaughter’s second year to see it but it was the sixty something previous date who suggested we should go ahead.  If the truth were to be known he knows all the songs and starts to hum them as soon as they begin.  What a family tradition if you haven’t started it, START NOW.

There is pageantry not just in the many bedazzled and colorful costumes and performances on stage but it is a veritable fashion show of little girls dressed up in their sequined, satin and studded Christmas dresses with bows and patent leather shoes and delightful jewelry and a small tiara here and there.

The Nutcracker performed by the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre never ceases to amaze me at its ability to capture and keep the attention for the duration of toddlers, middle schoolers, teens, young adults, couples and yes, Senior citizens.  But if you think it’s just for children, think again.  The Nutcracker Ballet is one of the most romantic Christmas traditions right up there with the movie, “It’s a Wonderful World.”  

A timeless classic with toys coming to life and multiple ethnic dances and superlative scenery and costuming, it is a buffet of interesting sights and sounds and yes smells too.  It’s a nice touch to walk into the theatre to the aroma of roasted almonds, pecans and cashews.

And the opulent setting of the Benedum, well it’s both child and adult and senior princesses’ idea of romance, glamour and the elegance of days gone by.   Great family night, great date night!  Dad’s you will be a hero for buying the tickets and escorting all of your princesses.  Mom’s you will be the Queen for suggesting it.

My favorite scenes are the ethnic dances, Pas de Caractère (A dance that is nonclassical, a character dance, national or folk dance.)   The Arabic and the Chines fire dragon and Cossacks are my absolute favorites.  And the score, well it gives Tchaikovsky a chance to continue just a bit of his robust war sounds in the battle with the Mouse King while tripping through also winter wonderland scenes and fairies dancing and romantic interlude.   Also Zack Brown has outdone himself with Costumes and Scenery. 

Did you know about the Pittsburgh Connection?

It is Christmas Eve in the early years of the 20^th century at the Stahlbaum home in Shadyside.  On the Street outside, Godfather Drosselmeyer and his Nephew unload mysterious packages from their carriage.  This is a house that actually existed in Shadyside at the turn of the twentieth Century. 

Also the Pittsburgh Ballet is to be commended for its use of younger local talent to fill the many small roles in the Nutcracker.  I especially liked and so did my granddaughter, the tiny bumble bees that shook their tales in the finale. 

As the last scene ended my 4 year old granddaughter put two thumbs up and said, “A big thumbs up for The Nutcracker.”

Always worth far more than the price of admission:

Performances still available:

*Friday, December 14, at 7 PM
Saturday, December 15, at 2 PM
Saturday, December 15, at 7 PM
Sunday, December 16, at 12 PM
Sunday, December 16, at 4:30 PM
Thursday, December 20, at 7 PM
Friday, December 21, at 7 PM
Saturday, December 22, at 2 PM
Saturday, December 22, at 7 PM
Sunday, December 23, at 12 PM
Sunday, December 23, at 4:30 PM
Friday, December 28, at 7 PM - Best Availability
Saturday, December 29, at 2 PM - Best Availability
Saturday, December 29, at 7 PM - Best Availability
Sunday, December 30, at 12 PM - Best Availability

Purchase tickets:

http://pbt.culturaldistrict.org/production/31961/nutcracker

Radio Host and Serial Blogger, Joanne Quinn-Smith is the host of PositivelyPittsburghLive™ Internet Talkcast and TechnoGrannyShow™  On her shows, Joanne has interviewed over 1800 guests.  As an advocate for small Business, she was awarded the National Small Business Administration Journalist of the Year Award.  She is also the publisher of PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com which is a 2010 National Stevie Award finalist for best Media Website or Blog. PPL Mag features the GOOD NEWS, about Pittsburgh  and is  Pittsburgh’s First internet radio and TV network. PPL Mag attracted 2.25 million visitors last year.  Her radio network has accumulated over one million listeners. The Creative Energy Officer of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates, Joanne also teaches her online media platform building to small businesses in a client personalized, “Web2.0 Gorilla Branding Training™”.  Connect with Joanne at:  http://joannequinnsmith.com

Dancing in the Theatre and Dancing in the Street at "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie"

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and Other Story Books

Presented as part of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Children’s 

Theater by Theatreworks USA

October 12-14 in Various Locations Around the City of Pittsburgh

This is the 43^rd Family Series and is sponsored by Citizens Bank.

What an eclectic group of story books!  Of course the most famous is If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and probably the most hysterical; my granddaughter Anaiyah is still telling the story about how he kept tricking the boy who gave him the cookie.  Although being from the hip hop generation she also loved Master Man. Martha Speaks was very endearing to her because of the dog costume and the barking an incessant talking because that is what she and most 4 year olds do—incessantly talk.

Amazing Grace was also another favorite of hers because she liked that a girl could play Peter Pan and a black girl at that as she is African American.

Imogene’s Antlers was a little lost on her at four but she loved the “Pick a Book” song as she loves to read.   My personal favorite was the three parted Imogene’s Antlers and Math Curse, having struggled both with math and being different.

What a day of musical mirth and rich symbolism.  Something for everyone especially the cunning of Borreguita and the Coyote.  A great story for children to learn about working things out and being creative!  Studies show that children learn much better through songs and rhymes than just rote memory.   This was a great way to make learning fun. 

It’s also a great way to see theatre in your neighborhood and not have to go downtown although there is something magical about taking a little girl to a downtown theatre.  Afterwards my granddaughter met a little friend and they danced with their reflections to the music coming out of the Renaissance hotel much to the delight of passengers in passing cars.

Children’s Theatre Schedule

·  Wednesday, October 17  |  7:00  |  Gateway HS

·  Thursday, October 18  |  5:30 & 7:30  |  Marshall MS   

·  Friday, October 19  |  7:00  |  Moon Area HS

·  Saturday, October 20  |  11:00 & 2:00  |  Mellon MS   

·  Sunday, October 21  |  2:00  |  Seneca Valley SHS

·  Ticket and additional information at:  http://pgharts.org

      Radio Host and Serial Blogger, Joanne Quinn-Smith is the host of PositivelyPittsburghLive™ Internet Talkcast and TechnoGrannyShow™  On her shows, Joanne has interviewed over 1800 guests.  As an advocate for small Business, she was awarded the National Small Business Administration Journalist of the Year Award.  She is also the publisher of PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com which is a 2010 National Stevie Award finalist for best Media Website or Blog. PPL Mag features the GOOD NEWS, about Pittsburgh  and is  Pittsburgh’s First internet radio and TV network. The Creative Energy Officer of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates, Joanne also teaches her online media platform building to small businesses in a client personalized, “Web2.0 Gorilla Branding Training™”.  Connect with Joanne at:  http://joannequinnsmith.com