Oakland Ballet Company Presents Graham Lustig's 'The Nutcracker' December 22, 2011

Thursday, Dec 22 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Friday, Dec 23 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Saturday, Dec 24 at 11 a.m.

Oakland Ballet Company Artistic Director Graham Lustig's "The Nutcracker" returns to the Paramount Theatre stage in Oakland with live music courtesy of the Oakland East Bay Symphony, conducted by Michael Morgan, for five performances December 22-24 after its popular and acclaimed premiere in 2010. Mr. Lustig's version of the holiday favorite is a freshly nostalgic look at The Nutcracker story set in early 20th century Vienna with loving and intelligent attention to details of story and characters. Finished off with plenty of bravura dancing and reverence for the perennial tale of a young girl's dreamy adventures in the Kingdom of Sweets, Lustig's "The Nutcracker" was universally acclaimed as a welcome addition to the Bay Area holiday performance calendar when it premiered last season. Sweet Dreams Parties follow the 2 pm matinees and allow children and families to meet characters from the ballet and enjoy sweets, refreshments and holiday cheer for an additional ticket price.

Oakland Ballet Artistic Director Graham Lustig's "The Nutcracker" brims with the kind of cheery holiday enchantment that is a requirement for the seasonal ballet, but where it truly shines is in the ebullient details and charming re-setting of the enduring tale in Vienna in the early 20th century. Zack Brown's crisp, bright sets, stylish yet delightfully modern costumes and the restrained elegance of period interiors replace gaudy bric-a-brac and engage audiences in the athleticism of the choreography and the details of the traditional story. Details that have caught the attention of media and audiences include the expansive snowball scene in the first act where Company members are joined by a storm of energetic young snowballs careening merrily about the stage in a full-on blizzard of dancing. Lustig's production is full of smart details that delight "Nutcracker" aficionados and amuse newcomers to ballet.

Official Website: http://www.oaklandballet.org