This weekend and next – it’s the 47th season for Appalachian Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker.
One American holiday tradition that sparkles with timelessness is that of productions of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker during the winter season. The Appalachian Ballet Company continues their tradition of offering the ballet this weekend and next for the 47th time. While the Christmas season is often populated with productions of Tchaikovsky’s classic, what sets this production apart from many regional efforts is the presence of live music via the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra in the pit.
Leading the cast will be Australian dancer Aaron Smyth as the Nutcracker Prince and Kylie Morton Berry as the Sugarplum Fairy.
This year’s production will also include several new pieces of choreography featuring guests artists David Ward and Laura Morton, with Chicago based dancer, Jeff Wolfe, as Herr Drosselmeyer.
Appalachian Ballet Company is offering two performances of the ballet in Knoxville at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium on Saturday, December 1 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, December 2 at 3 pm. Next weekend finds them in Maryville at the Clayton Center for the Arts on Friday, December 7 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, December 8 at 3 pm.
