PNB’s ‘The Nutcracker’ | Twirling through Dec. 28

I’m excited to announce that the Pacific Northwest Ballet Nutcracker is now playing at the Seattle Center’s McCaw Hall through December 28.

Featuring unique-to-Seattle sets and costumes by Ian Falconer (creator of Olivia the Pig), Tchaikovsky’s timeless score performed live by the world famous PNB Orchestra, PNB Company dancers in show-stopping roles, and McCaw Hall’s lobbies decked out with the season’s best photo ops, PNB’s production is a delight for audiences young and old.

Since 2015, the Pacific Northwest Ballet has been performing George Balanchine’s production of The Nutcracker. One of the delightful highlights of PNB’s production of The Nutcracker is the animated video that accompanies the overture.

Created by Straightface Studios located in the Interbay neighborhood of Seattle, the three-and-a-half minute video takes audiences on a flight through the woods and a New England town, up to the front steps of the Stahlbaum home.

The town was inspired by antique mid-19th Century maps and satellite images of New England. The terrain covers 372 sq. miles and there are over 1.5 million trees, 8,540 bushes, 287 buildings, and seven mice. In 2016, Straightface created a second video to play during the first act violin solo following the Party scene. This video integrates live-action ballet dancers into a computer-generated world.

Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancer Leta Biasucci as the Sugar Plum Fairy.

The prominent Christmas star that appears in the Pacific Northwest Ballet Nutcracker snow scene at the end of Act I is presented by renowned artist Dale Chihuly. Winter Star, from Chihuly’s popular Chandelier series, debuted as part of the artist’s iconic Chihuly in the Light of Jerusalem 2000 exhibition, and has also been exhibited at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and New York Botanical Garden.

Don’t forget to stop by the Amusements Gift Shop at McCaw Hall to pick up some show souvenirs and gifts for the season. The shop has stocked its counters and shelves with 18,000 ornaments, 2,000 nutcrackers, 4,000 plush animals and ballerina dolls, 1,400 t-shirts, 700 tiaras and 300 magic wands for shoppers attending the show.

Tickets to this year’s run of The Nutcracker start at just $27 and may be purchased through the PNB Box Office at 206.441.2424, online or in person at 301 Mercer St.