Clara and the Mouse King make their long-awaited return to the Symphony stage in a magical evening for the child in all of us. Whether continuing a valued tradition or discovering the magic of this beloved holiday classic for the first time – The Nutcracker is sure to leave you with a sense of warmth and treasured memories that will last a lifetime.
With breathtaking choreography and captivating sets, the acclaimed Ballet Arts Ensemble of Kalamazoo brings Tchaikovsky's immortal score to dazzling life.
Tickets to the Dress Rehearsal, Saturday, December 19 at 2:00 pm are onsale for $10. Call 269-565-2199 for tickets.
The Nutcracker Story
ACT I
Scenes I and II
Our story begins one Christmas Eve in the eighteenth century at the home of Herr and Frau Stahlbaum. They have two children: Fritz, who is very naughty, and Clara, who is sweet and kind.
The children play and tease one another until Clara finds a storybook and begs her father to read it to her and her brother before bedtime.
Soon, reality and the world of dreams become entwined and Clara finds herself and her family in their beautiful living room, which has been decorated for the holidays and filled with guests. The children march and play, and the grown-ups join in a lively galop.
At this point Clara’s uncle—the mysterious Drosselmeyer—enters bearing gifts. He entertains the guests with the magic of his life-size harlequin and soldier dolls. He then presents Clara with a nutcracker doll; and while Uncle Drosselmeyer demonstrates how the nutcracker works, Fritz takes the doll and breaks it! Clara sadly picks up the doll, and Uncle Drosselmeyer wraps it in his scarf. Fritz quickly forgets about it, and he and his friends play with hobby horses and trumpets.
The festivities come to an end, the guests leave, and Clara and Fritz are sent to bed.
Scenes III and IV
The room is left in darkness, lit only by the moonlight from outside.
Clara creeps in to see her broken nutcracker once more and is terrified when mice begin scurrying about. She crouches in fear.
Then, beautiful angels appear to comfort her. Toy soldiers file in under the command of a life-size Nutcracker, looking exactly like Clara’s broken nutcracker doll.
Bunnies carrying bugles signal the battle to begin. Suddenly, the room is transformed into a battlefield with the Nutcracker and his legions fighting Ratilda, the Rat Queen, and her royal rats. The rats and mice are about to win when Clara intervenes, hurling her shoe at Ratilda, who then sinks to the floor and is dragged away by her royal rats.
In gratitude, the Nutcracker invites Clara to travel with him to the Kingdom of Sweets. On their journey, Clara, her loyal bunnies, and the Nutcracker travel through a pine forest where the Snow Queen and her Cavalier escort them through the snow to the Kingdom of Sweets.
ACT II
In the beautiful Kingdom of Sweets, Clara and her bunny entourage are treated as guests of honor. Beautiful candy courtiers present Clara with bowls full of candy and hear the story of how Clara saved the Nutcracker from the evil Ratilda.
Dancers representing good things to eat and drink from many lands entertain them—hot chocolate from Spain, coffee from the Orient, and tea from China.
Other dancers perform to the sounds of reed pipes, and there is a Russian trepak. A candy cane and clowns frolic, and a Dew Drop Fairy dances a waltz with her garden of flowers.
The Sugar Plum Fairy, who rules the Kingdom of Sweets, dances a final pas de deux with her Prince.
All stories must come to an end, and Clara finds herself in the arms of her father, holding once again her beloved nutcracker.
Was her enchanted journey real—or just a dream?
Larissa Lezhnina of the Kirov Ballet in the legendary Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
We can also walk you through it the first time over the phone if you like. Call us at 269-963-1911 and we'd be glad to help you with your online order or take your ticket in person.
Ticket Exchange
Ticket
exchange--
If
you can't make it to a concert, contact us by 5pm the Friday
before the concert and we’ll (a) exchange your tickets
for tickets to a future concert; or (b)
accept your tickets as a donation and mail you a receipt
for tax purposes.
Find WKKA Auditorium
W.K. Kellogg Auditorium
60 West Van Buren Street
Battle Creek, MI 49017
Direction : Corner of Mc Camly St. & W. Van Buren. Auditorium
is attached to W.K. Kellogg Jr High School. W.K. Kellogg Auditorium
is across from Willard Libary Parking Lot & Clara's Restruant.
Take I-94 to business loop M-66 North Bound. Turn west onto W. Van
Buren approximately 3 blocks.
Mythbusters
Myth #1. Symphony Concerts are not affordable. In fact, you can get tickets for as low as $7 per ticket!
Myth #2. Symphony Concerts are boring. Symphony music is some of the most exciting and dramatic music ever written. That's why so many movie scores are inspired by symphonic classics.
Myth #3. Concerts are stuffy and long. Our typical concerts are less than two hours and have an upbeat, multi-media approach.
Myth #4. You have to wear a suit and a tie to go to a concert. Come as you like. Some folks like to dress up, others prefer a more casual look. Myth #5. You can only applaud at certain times. We love your applause!
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