Smart bets: The Nutcracker and the Mouse King

Posted on by Emily Glaser

For decades, annual renditions of The Nutcracker have enchanted audiences and inspired troupes of young ballerinas. Few fans realize that Tchaikovsky’s ballet was inspired by “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” a tale by E.T.A. Hoffmann. It’s this rendition of the classic Christmas tale that the Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre adapts every year, complete with bright colors and dark surrealism. “This year’s addition to the other amazing puppets by Giles Collard is a giant fish in the lake scene and a 15-foot dragon in the candy scene. … We are also including aerialists this year,” says co-director Susan Collard. The fifth annual performance of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King will take place at Diana Wortham Theatre on Friday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Dec. 3, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. $28 general admission/$20 youth/$23 students and seniors. dwtheatre.com. Photo by Toby Maurer of The Brandinghouse

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Emily Glaser
Writer scribbling away in the shaky lines of the mountains.
View all posts by Emily Glaser →

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.