It is a given with the holiday season amongst us that The Nutcracker ballet will be performed by multiple companies with different choreography in numerous venues around town. While they all have something unique to offer, I recommend supporting our very own local ballet company: Los Angeles Ballet. Their production of The Nutcracker began performances over the weekend and will continue through December 29th.
Los Angeles Ballet will be performing at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, Royce Hall at UCLA, the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood (with the Los Angeles Ballet Orchestra) and the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center.
This production of the holiday classic was choreographed by Thordal Christensen & Colleen Neary and is set in Los Angeles in 1912. The music is, of course, the Tchaikovsky music we’ve known and loved for years.
Christensen and Neary are the artistic directors of the Los Angeles Ballet. The company was founded in 2004 and gave its first performances in 2006 with this production of The Nutcracker.
LAB will be performing works by Ballanchine in February at The Broad Stage. This summer they will do a local tour with The Sleeping Beauty.
We’ve just survived Black Friday and are in the midst of Cyber Monday as I write this. But much like those popular shopping opportunities, it’s always best to shop locally. That’s why I’ve selected Los Angeles Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker.
Alex Theatre performances are on December 7th and 8th. For tickets on the 7th go here. For tickets on the 8th go here.
Royce Hall performances run from December 13th through December 15th. For tickets go here.
Dolby Theatre performances run from December 20th through December 24th. For tickets go here.
Redondo Performing Arts Center performances run December 28th and 29th. For tickets for the matinee on the 28th go here. For tickets for the evening performance on the 28th go here. For tickets on the 29th go here.
Photo of the Los Angeles Ballet ensemble performing The Nutcracker by Reed Hutchinson/Courtesy of Los Angeles Ballet