Cracking the code for the perfect Nutcracker performance

Posted on by Kat McReynolds
SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW: Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre's dark comedic interpretation of The Nutcracker introduces characters the King and Queen of Sausages and incorporates polka dancing into one scene. Photo courtesy of ACDT

Join young Clara as her magical Christmas toy comes to life, battling the Mouse King and whisking her away into the dreamy Land of the Sweets. From original to modern, dark to comedic, Asheville theaters cover the spectrum of Nutcracker performances. This seminal holiday tale comes to life in four Asheville interpretations over the course of three weeks. See the roundup below to find the performance that suits your festive fancy.

• Thomas Wolfe Auditorium at U.S. Cellular Center presents Moscow Ballet’s The Great Russian Nutcracker, featuring a 20-foot-wide dove of peace and 10-foot-tall silk puppets, Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m., $35-$76 after fees. uscellularcenterasheville.com

All at Diana Wortham Theatre, dwtheatre.com:

• Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre presents The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (“based on the original and much darker story written in 1816 by German author E.T.A. Hoffmann”), Friday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 6, at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. $24-$31 after fees.

• Asheville Ballet, North Carolina’s oldest nonprofit ballet company, presents a full-length, professional version of The Nutcracker on Friday, Dec. 12, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 13, at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 14, at 2:30 p.m. $18-$53 after fees.

• Ballet Conservatory of Asheville presents a classic, pre-professional version of The Nutcracker, featuring professional classical dancers on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 6:30 p.m. and Thursday-Friday, Dec. 18-19, at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. $18-$31 after fees.

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About Kat McReynolds
Kat studied entrepreneurship and music business at the University of Miami and earned her MBA at Appalachian State University. Follow me @katmAVL
View all posts by Kat McReynolds →

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