Houston Ballet Presents the Final Season of Ben Stevenson’s The Nutcracker

HOUSTON, TEXAS – From November 27 – December 27, 2015, Houston Ballet bids farewell to Ben Stevenson’s beloved production of The Nutcracker. Created by Artistic Director Emeritus Ben Stevenson, with designs by acclaimed designer Desmond Heeley, Houston Ballet’s The Nutcracker has been Houston’s premiere holiday tradition since 1987. Over 1,000,000 people have seen the production since its premiere 29 years ago and have watched in rapture as the story of The Nutcracker has unfolded before them. Join us in saying goodbye to this much-loved version of The Nutcracker. (In 2016, Houston Ballet will premiere a new version of The Nutcracker by Artistic Director Stanton Welch, featuring all-new sets and costumes).

Houston Ballet will give 34 performances of Ben Stevenson’s version of The Nutcracker, to a live orchestra, in the Brown Theater at Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston. Tickets may be purchased by calling 713-227-2787 or logging on towww.houstonballet.org.

“Ben Stevenson’s production of The Nutcracker has been an incredible gift for Houston Ballet and the city of Houston,” said Houston Ballet Executive Director Jim Nelson. “We honor the ballet for its place in our company’s history and the profound impact it has had on generations of dancers and audience members.”

The story of The Nutcracker has a special place in Houston Ballet’s repertory as the first full-length work to enter Houston Ballet’s repertoire in a staging by Frederic Franklin, featuring scenery and costumes by the English designer Peter Farmer.  The company gave six performances of The Nutcracker in 1972 at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, and has danced the work each December without fail for the following 44 years.  In 1976, Houston Ballet presented the production with revised choreography by the company’s new artistic director Ben Stevenson. In 1987, the current production with designs by Desmond Heeley, lighting by Duane Schuler, and choreography by Mr. Stevenson was unveiled to a glowing critical response.

Houston Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker was hailed by the Houston Chronicle as “the crown jewel of holiday entertainment.” Lee Williams of the Houston Press called the production, “ Gorgeous . . . Desmond Heeley’s sets and costumes are reason enough to see this show. The Nutcracker reminds us that the holidays have always been a time of dreams, and with productions as yummy as this, sleeping never seemed so sweet.”

The beloved ballet tells the story of a little girl named Clara who is given a magical nutcracker doll on Christmas Eve.  She encounters the frightful King Rat before embarking on a wondrous journey through the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets. Young and old alike will experience the many special effects, including the Christmas tree which “grows” to 40 feet, 200 pounds of “snow” falling during the snow scene, and the firing of cannon onstage.

Houston Ballet’s performances of The Nutcracker are generously sponsored by United, Houston Methodist, Bank of America, Shell Oil Company, Apache, Baker Botts L.L.P, and Macy’s.

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