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Making a New American NUTCRACKER is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
About the Show
"Making a New American NUTCRACKER," narrated by actress Neve Campbell ("The Company"), takes audiences behind the scenes with the creative visionaries that work to bring this striking original production to life. Alongside the performers, these creatives share anecdotes about the production process, featured in interviews conducted at Chicago’s historic Glessner House, the Athenaeum Theatre, The Parsonage, the American Ballet Theatre, and the New Amsterdam Theatre.
The Joffrey Ballet Artistic Director, Ashley Wheater, gathered together a stellar group of theatre artists, including Tony Award-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon; Caldecott Medal-winning author Brian Selznick, writer of the book that inspired the Oscar-winning film "Hugo"; MacArthur "Genius Grant" recipient Basil Twist; renowned puppeteer and Tony Award-nominated scenic designer Julian Crouch; and Tony Award-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz to reimagine the story of Clara, the privileged daughter of a 19th-century German merchant who falls asleep on Christmas Eve and dreams of a world of sweets.
As a result of this new A-list team of collaborators, the classic story evolved into the story of Marie, the daughter of a 19th-century Polish immigrant sculptress – a single mother working on a statue for the World’s Fair – who falls asleep on Christmas Eve and dreams of a completed and wondrous fairground, transforming this European import into a magical American story.
Featured in "Making a New American NUTCRACKER", behind-the-scenes interviews with the creative minds behind "The Nutcracker" explore how Buffalo Bill came to be a part of the ballet; why the dancer who plays the Nutcracker has to play his part mostly blind; choreographer Christopher Wheeldon’s observation that one part of Tchaikovsky’s score is reminiscent of an iconic TV theme song; and the salty advice Wheeldon received from Chicago’s mayor, Rahm Emanuel, a former dancer himself. Finally, they tell us about their first experiences seeing, or performing in, "The Nutcracker."
Producer
Victoria Jaiani performing in "The Nutcracker."
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Cheryl Mann
The Joffrey Ballet performing "The Nutcracker."
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Cheryl Mann
Christine Rocas and Fabrice Calmels of the Joffrey Ballet performing "The Nutcracker."
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Cheryl Mann
"The Nutcracker," performed by The Joffrey Ballet.
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Cheryl Mann
Miguel Angel Blanco
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Todd Rosenberg
Jeraldine Mendoza and Dylan Gutierrez
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Joffrey Ballet
Jeraldine Mendoza and Dylan Gutierrez
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Joffrey Ballet
Christopher Wheeldon
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Todd Rosenberg
Christopher Wheeldon
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Todd Rosenberg
Christine Rocas, Christopher Wheeldon, and Fabrice Calmels.
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Todd Rosenberg
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