RockReach presents
Classic Nutcracker is an integral part of our community reach. The performance is built into our in-school residencies curriculum. The RockReach program includes free tickets and bus transportation for all residency school students and classroom teachers to see the Rock School’s holiday production of The Nutcracker presented at the Miller Theater on the Ensemble Arts Campus. Tickets are awarded to more than 900 of Philadelphia’s Title 1 public and charter school children, giving all an introductory live ballet experience. Classroom teachers are supplied with a Nutcracker study/activity guide and storybook to prepare students for their field trip. Ballet vocabulary, stage direction, and music history are included in the RockReach curriculum.
THE NUTCRACKER STORY
The story of The Nutcracker is loosely based on the Prussian author E.T.A. Hoffmann's fantasy story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, published in 1816, about a girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life on Christmas Eve and wages a battle against the evil Mouse King. The musical score is by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and the choreography is by French choreographer Maurice Petipa and Russian Choreographer Lev Ivanov.
The Nutcracker ballet premiered in Russia in December 1892 and was unsuccessfully received. Years later, in 1944, The Nutcracker premiered in San Francisco, California, to much success and became a national holiday favorite after The New York City Ballet premiered the ballet in 1954. Since then, the Nutcracker has become one of the most frequently performed ballets and has served as an introduction to classical music and dance for many young people. Because the first act is set at a Christmas party, the ballet is often presented near the winter Holidays..
The Rock School production of The Nutcracker Story:
Scene 1. The Party
It was December in Europe over a century ago. The Silberhaus family is hosting an annual holiday party. Their daughter Clara greets the guests, and dances with her friends. Clara’s beloved Uncle Drosselmeyer, a skilled toymaker and magician, arrives. He presents a life-size doll who performs a delightful dance just like a real person! As the party ends, Uncle Drosselmeyer gives Clara a special gift, a beautifully painted wooden Nutcracker. Enchanted, Clara falls asleep with the Nutcracker doll in her arms.
Scene 2. The Battle
Clara wakes to a strange noise as the grandfather clock strikes midnight. Uncle Drosselmeyer appears with a fantastic dance that makes the decorated tree and toys grow. He transforms the Nutcracker Doll to be life size. Suddenly, a huge Mouse King appears and fights with the Nutcracker. The battle was fierce! Just as the King Mouse was about to slay the Nutcracker, Clara bravely grabbed a sword and stabbed the Mouse King in the heart!
Scene 3. Cleansing Snow
Uncle Drosselmeyer turns the Nutcracker doll into a handsome young prince. Clara's house transforms into a winter wonderland. Clara and the Prince are greeted by the Snow Queen and King, who dance a dazzling duet.
Scene 4. Land of the Sweets
The Sugar Plum Fairy arrives. She whisks Clara and the Prince away to The Land of the Sweets in the clouds. The Nutcracker Prince tells the kingdom his story of the fight with the King Mouse. The Sugar Plum Fairy rewards Clara’s bravery with a presentation of dances from many lands:
Hot Chocolate from Spain, Tea from China, The Dew Drop Fairy with her flowers come to life and the heart-pounding Trepak dance from the Ukraine. The evening comes to a close with a beautiful dance by the SugarPlum Fairy and her Cavelier. All of Clara's new friends dance together and celebrate Clara and her grand adventure. Uncle Drosselmeyer transports her home, where she wakes with everything unchanged and her arms wrapped around her Nutcracker doll.
Clara wonders if the adventure actually happened or was just a dream.
