Nevada Ballet Theatre Artistic Director James Canfield has choreographed an all-new production of "The Nutcracker," which will run Dec. 15 to 23 at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Las Vegas.
Canfield drew from the original tale of "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," but the creation of new sets, costumes and choreography, all enhanced with music played by a full orchestra, are meant to draw audiences into a reimagined version of the holiday classic. And, like Las Vegas itself, this production promises to be glitzy, glamorous and memorable.
The theme of time will be a continual thread throughout the Victorian-inspired production. In the show, a massive, life-size Victorian dollhouse holds a 30-foot-tall growing Christmas tree as well as doors and grandfather clocks more than 15 feet tall. Whimsical and innovative costumes designed by Sandra Woodall, best known for her work on numerous Bay Area stage productions, will outfit the more than 150 cast members, including 109 children from local dance schools. It’s all very much bigger than life, but then again, would you expect anything less from Las Vegas?
There is certainly no shortage of Nutcracker performances around the holiday season, but it is only fitting that the Nevada Ballet Theatre has its own original production of the show. This production is an excellent opportunity to show off the Nevada Ballet Theatre, a cultural highlight of the city that few people realize even exists. The Smith Center, which opened in March, has already attracted tens of thousands of fans, including many tourists. The Nevada Ballet Theatre has already staged a few shows in the new venue.
In addition to the Nutcracker, the Smith Center is offering several other holiday presentations in its winter schedule, another of which is also characteristically Vegas in style. The Las Vegas Philharmonic, which, like the Nevada Ballet Theatre now calls the Smith Center its primary performance space, will put on "A Very Vegas Holiday," featuring holiday tunes with special guests. Rumor is that Santa Claus will make an appearance, but perhaps more notable is the fact that Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman and her husband, former Mayor Oscar Goodman, will both grace the stage, as well. Las Vegas locals won’t be surprised by this news, as the Goodmans regularly appear at events throughout the city, especially in the downtown area, where Mr. Goodman, in particular, has had a hand in helping to revitalize the cultural side of Sin City.
So, as the holidays approach, ‘tis the season to embrace a new way of looking at Las Vegas.