THEATRE: Here Comes Nutcracker

Of all of the holiday traditions, surely one of the world’s most delightful is The Nutcracker. Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet debuted in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1892. Since then there have been an estimated 11 million performances of this classic tale of a young girl’s magical journey to the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

International audiences have not only adopted the story as their own, they have adapted it-tailoring the setting, characters and costumes to local cultural tastes and traditions.

Here Comes Nutcracker

A classic holiday ballet, recast to showcase Key West’s tropical atmosphere, coral reef environment and seafaring heritage, is set for a six-show run in the island city beginning Friday, Dec. 17.

“Nutcracker Key West” is the creation of Key West resident Joyce Stahl, a classically trained dancer who performed “The Nutcracker” and other ballets with New Jersey’s American Repertory Ballet for 38 years.

Ballet Performance Will Benefit Nutcracker

Paradise Ballet Theatre
Presenters, Inc. will present two
performances of the American
Ballet Theatre II at the Tennessee
Williams Theatre on Saturday,
February 6 at 8 PM and a matinee
performance on Sunday, February
7 at 2 PM.

Performances will benefit
the December 2010 production
of the renowned Nutcracker Key
West, notes Ann Reynolds, Board
Chair of PBT Presenters.

American Ballet Theatre
II, under the direction of Wes
Chapman, is a classical company
of 12 young dancers of outstanding
potential. Handpicked from
around the world, the dancers
(ages 16-20) are rigorously
trained in preparation for joining
American Ballet Theatre,
the main company and world
premier ballet company based
in New York City, or other leading
ballet companies throughout
the world.

Nutcracker Key West Will Happen in 2010

Key West-Paradise Ballet
Theatre, Inc, a non-profit
corporation, producer of the
acclaimed Christmas Ballet,
Nutcracker Key West, will
again produce the ballet in
2010. The Artistic Director, Ms.
Joyce Stahl, is no longer able to
fund the production from her
own resources, so the board is
seeking grants and planning for
a series of fundraisers to underwrite
the 2010 production.

At a recent reception held
in Stahl’s beautiful garden
home on Eaton Street, parents
and children involved in the
2008 production were brought
up to date about the ballet’s
status.

Keys Kids Present Willy Wonka Jr

Who can take a sunrise,
sprinkle it with dew? Why
Willy Wonka of course! You can
catch that rainbow at Keys Kids
production of Willy Wonka
Jr at Key West High School.

I hope so, because tickets are
being gobbled up fast! This
enduring story by Roald Dahl
tells the tale of the candy maker
and his quest to find an heir
to his factory. It features songs
from the classic film, Willy
Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Don’t miss the cast of 150
Keys Kids stars and the comical
Oompa Loompa’s! Tickets start
at $10 with discounted tickets
for family, military and senior
citizens. They can be purchased
at Mac Arthur Music or at the
door, one-hour prior to curtain.
The show runs Thursday Jan.
22nd, Friday Jan. 23rd at 7:30
and Saturday January 24th at
2:00 and 7:30. For information
call 294-9329, 509-1370 or www.keyskidskeywest.com.

It’s Beginning to Look

a Lot Like
Christmas

PHOTO: NUTCRACKER KEY WEST OPENS TONIGHT.

A classic holiday ballet,
recast as a unique interpretation
of Key West’s seafaring history,
coral reef environment and free-ranging
rooster population, is
set for a 13-performance run
in the island city beginning
tonight, Friday, Nov. 28.

“Nutcracker Key West”
is the brainchild of Key West
resident Joyce Stahl, a classically
trained dancer who performed
“The Nutcracker” and
other ballets with New Jersey’s
American Repertory Ballet for
38 years.

Stahl’s Paradise Ballet
Theatre production, which
was first performed in 2005,
transforms the timeless story of
young Clara’s visit to the land of
the Sugarplum Fairy into an island
fantasy featuring dancing
snowy egrets, phosphorescent
sea anemones, shimmering reef
fish and even a conch shell.

Discounts on Tickets

The Nutcracker Key West is announcing a Holiday
Help Campaign. Ticket buyers for any performance who
bring approved items receive a $5 discount on their theater
tickets. Recipients are the community programs Toys For
Tots, Just For Kids and St. Mary’s Soup Kitchen.
Ticket buyers need only bring either a toy, an article
of children’s clothing, or a can or box of food, and will
receive a voucher that is good for $5 off their Nutcracker
Key West ticket for that day’s performance.

Michael Shields, Executive Director of the Paradise
Ballet Theatre, says “The Holiday Help Campaign is our
effort to recognize the growing and critical need for aid
to children and the homeless and also a means to offer
reduced cost to attend this fantastic holiday ballet which
is all about childhood.” The production opens the day
after Thanksgiving, November 28 through December 7,
at the Tennessee Williams Theatre. Those donating to this
campaign can only take advantage of this directly at the
Box Office on the day of performance, beginning an hour
before each show to receive their voucher, where ballet
reps will handle their donation, and cannot be transacted
through the online ticketing service, Keystix.com.

For
more information, call Michael Shields 394-3804, michael@
javastudios.org, or go to http://www.nutcrackerkeywest

Last Chance:

Ganesha Dance Theatre

Don't miss the final performances of “Opening The Way” at the Waterfront Playhouse: tonight Friday April 11th and tomorrow night Saturday April 12th at 8:30p!

Ganesha Dance
Theatre, Key West’s professional
contemporary dance troupe, presents a collection
of twelve original works. Artistic Director Kyla
Piscopink and her company
of dancers have put together a
stunning program in a range of
dance styles.

“Opening the Way”:

Ganesha Dance Theatre

The Waterfront Playhouse continues their smash 2007/08 season with their collaborative presentation of Ganesha Dance Theatre, Key West’s professional contemporary dance troupe.

The company will premiere “Opening The Way” – a collection of twelve original works choreographed by each of the dancers. Artistic Director, Kyla Piscopink, and her company of dancers have put together a stunning program in a range of dance styles. The dancers include Ms. Piscopink, Andre Harper, Mary Kay Lee, Leigh Pujado and Denis Hyland, fresh from his star-turn in the Waterfront’s recent smash-hit, “Reefer Madness.”

Final Performances Of Nutcracker

This
Weekend
THE LAST PERFORMANCES of Nutcracker Key West
are
evening shows tonight and tomorrow, Friday and
Saturday,
and matinees Saturday and Sunday.

Arts patron Joyce Stahl
has precented the Key West community with a real
Christmas
treasure in this elaborate and artistically proclaimed
production
which stars a professional corps de ballet with two
rotating
casts of 30 Key West children.

Tickets:
Call the Tennessee
Williams Theatre box office at 296-1520 or purchase
on line at
http://www.keystix.com.

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