NUTCRACKER

by ed bruce edbrucevegas@yahoo.com

Lucky me I saw two Nutcrackers this year.......Phoenix and Las Vegas ....what is to not like with this ......the second greatest composer of all time (next to Lennon and McCartney)....the Tchaikovsky score always heavenly.

The Phoenix Nutcracker with a live orchestra and a $1.6 million dollar budget done on a bigger stage and greater scale not necessarily better than the Nevada Ballet Theatre production. The show was late in Phoenix denying them a perfect score....not so in Las Vegas at UNLV'S Judy Bayley theatre. Interesting to see the Phoenix opening night show and NBT closing show...it seemed that both may have touched on a stereotyple look to the situation !

WHAT IS TO NOT LIKE WITH THIS ! My favorite music to ballet.....traditional story with the touch of virtue !

I always enjoy familiar faces and I got some tried and true veterans Sunday in Las Vegas. Yoomi Lee on top of her game with the Sugarplum Fairy......she was dancing without her husband as has been the norm....Grigori Arakelyan just perfect as the Cavalier ....her partner. Las Vegan Zeb Nole dancing with his wife Racheal Hummel-Nole add class and professionalism to any role and did...... with the Snow King and Snow Queen ! I liked Cameron Findley as the Russian and Bon Bons are always cute....how can you not love 4 year old girls. I always enjoy mice........in Phoenix they used New York City rats as models and they were huge and images into themselves...real hams...the Las Vegas mice were semi hams ! Kelly Roth the CCSN dance director played the grandfather.....he is the ultimate pro and almost over hams up the role....I couldn't take my eyes off him.....still think he could nicely fill the open postion of Artistic Director of the NBT .

Just another damn A+ 100 here

NBT next up for ALL BALANCHINE FEB 6-7.....only two shows....do it now 702 895 2787