The Nutcracker Opens December 13 Debuts by Evan Mckie and Emma Hawes Shows Before Christmas Selling Out

#16

The Nutcracker Opens December 13 Debuts by Evan McKie and Emma Hawes Shows Before Christmas Selling Out

November 20, 2014… Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced principal casting for The Nutcracker. Performances before Christmas are selling out for Toronto’s favourite holiday tradition.

Principal Dancer Evan McKie makes his company debut as Peter/The Nutcracker, appearing on December 23 at 5:30 pm and December 27 at 7:00 pm. Corps de Ballet member Emma Hawes will make her debut as The Sugar Plum Fairy on December 19 at 7:00 pm and December 21 at 5:30 pm.

The opening performance on December 13 at 2:00 pm will feature Principal Dancer McGee Maddox and First Soloist Elena Lobsanova in the roles of Peter/The Nutcracker and The Sugar Plum Fairy. The evening performance will feature Principal Dancers Guillaume Côté and Greta Hodgkinson in the lead roles.

Also making debuts are Second Soloist Dylan Tedaldi as Uncle Nikolai and Corps de Ballet member Andreea Olteanu as Baba. Former Corps de Ballet member Krista Dowson returns to perform the role of Baba.

As part of a dancer exchange programme with The Royal Danish Ballet, Corps de Ballet member Andreas Kaas will perform with the National Ballet in The Nutcracker as an Icicle, among other roles. National Ballet audiences were first introduced to Mr. Kaas when he won the male prize at The Tenth International Competition for The Erik Bruhn Prize in 2012. The National Ballet has been participating in dancer exchanges since 1990 with the goal of allowing young dancers to experience company life abroad and perform in diverse repertoire.

The Nutcracker is choreographed by James Kudelka with music by Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky, set and costume design by Santo Loquasto and lighting design by Jennifer Tipton.

Nutcracker Story Time begins 45 minutes prior to every performance in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

Principal Casting

The Sugar Plum Fairy Elena Lobsanova (December 13 at 2:00 pm, December 14 at 5:30 pm, December 20 at December 21 at 1:00 pm, December 27 at 2:00 pm, December 28 at 5:30 pm, December 30 at 1:00 pm, January 3 at 1:00 pm) Greta Hodgkinson (December 13, 17 at 7:00 pm) Jillian Vanstone (December 14 at 1:00 pm, December 20 at 2:00 pm, December 23 at 1:00 pm, December 28 at 1:00 pm, December 30 at 5:30 pm, January 2 at 1:00 pm, January 3 at 5:30 pm) Sonia Rodriguez (December 18, 20 at 7:00 pm, January 2 at 5:30 pm) Emma Hawes* (December 19 at 7:00 pm, December 21 at 5:30 pm) Svetlana Lunkina (December 21 at 1:00 pm, December 23 at 5:30 pm, December 27 at 7:00 pm)

Peter/The Nutcracker McGee Maddox (December 13, 27 at 2:00 pm, December 14, 21, 28 at 5:30 pm, December 19 at 7:00 pm, December 30, January 1 at 1:00 pm) Guillaume Côté (December 13 at 7:00 pm) Skylar Campbell (December 14 at 1:00 pm, 20 at 2:00 pm, December 23 at 1:00 pm, January 3 at 5:30 pm) Keiichi Hirano (December 17 at 7:00 pm, December 28 at 1:00 pm, December 30 at 5:30 pm, January 2 at 1:00 pm) Piotr Stanczyk (December 18, 20 at 7:00 pm, January 2 at 5:30 pm) Evan McKie* (December 21 at 1:00 pm, December 23 at 5:30 pm, December 27 at 7:00 pm)

Snow Queen Xiao Nan Yu (December 13 at 2:00 pm, December 13, 17 at 7:00 pm) Tanya Howard (December 14 at 1:00 pm, December 20 at 2:00 pm, December 23 at 1:00 pm, January 3 at 1:00 pm) Stephanie Hutchison (December 14 at 5:30 pm, December 27 at 2:00 pm, December 28 at 5:30 pm, December 30 at 1:00 pm) Elena Lobsanova (December 18, 20 at 7:00 pm) Alexandra MacDonald (December 19 at 7:00 pm, December 21, 23 at 5:30 pm, December 27 at 7:00 pm, January 2 at 5:30 pm) Jenna Savella (December 21 at 1:00 pm, December 28 at 1:00 pm, December 30 at 5:30 pm, January 2 at 1:00 pm, January 3 at 5:30 pm)

Baba Krista Dowson+ (December 13 at 2:00 pm, December 14 at 5:30 pm, December 27 at 2:00 pm, December 28 at 5:30 pm, December 30 at 1:00 pm, January 2, 3 at 1:00 pm) Rebekah Rimsay (December 13, 18, 19 at 7:00 pm, December 21, 23 at 5:30 pm, December 27 at 7:00 pm) Andreea Olteanu* (December 14 at 1:00 pm, December 20 at 2:00 pm, December 23 at 1:00 pm, January 3 at 5:30 pm)

Lise-Marie Jourdain (December 17, 20 at 7:00 pm, December 21 at 1:00 pm, December 28 at 1:00 pm, December 30 at 5:30 pm, January 2 at 5:30 pm) Alejandra Perez-Gomez (December 18 at 7:00 pm, December 21, 30 at 1:00 pm, December 23, 28 at 5:30 pm, December 27 at 2:00 pm, January 3 at 1:00 pm)

Uncle Nikolai James Leja (December 13 at 2:00 pm, December 14 at 5:30 pm, December 21 at 1:00 pm, December 27 at 2:00 pm, December 28 at 5:30 pm, December 30 at 1:00 pm, January 3 at 1:00 pm) Robert Stephen (December 13, 17, 19 at 7:00 pm, December 21 at 5:30 pm, December 28 at 1:00 pm, December 30 at 5:30 pm, January 2 at 5:30 pm) Dylan Tedaldi* (December 14 at 1:00 pm, December 20 at 2:00 pm, December 23 at 1:00 pm, January 3 at 5:30 pm) Jonathan Renna (December 14 at 5:30 pm, December 18, 20 at 7:00 pm, December 23 at 5:30 pm, December 27 at 7:00 pm, January 2 at 1:00 pm)

Marie Jacqueline Sugianto (December 13 at 2:00 pm, December 18, 20 at 7:00 pm, December 23, 28 at1:00 pm, December 30 at 5:30 pm) Clara Corbo (December 13, 17 at 7:00 pm, December 21 at 5:30 pm, December 27, 28 at 5:30 pm, January 2 at 5:30 pm) Sophia Lisikh (December 14 at 1:00 pm, December 20 at 2:00 pm, December 23 at 5:30 pm, December 27 at 1:00 pm, January 2 at 1:00 pm, January 3 at 5:30 pm) Mathilde Roberge (December 14 at 5:30 pm, December 19 at 7:00 pm, December 21, 30 at 1:00 pm, January 3 at 1:00 pm)

Misha Adam Hone (December 13 at 2:00 pm, December 18, 20 at 7:00 pm, December 23, 28 at1:00 pm, December 30 at 5:30 pm) Gabriel Buell (December 13, 17 at 7:00 pm, December 21 at 5:30 pm, December 27, 28 at 5:30 pm, January 2 at 5:30 pm) Benjamin Alexander (December 14 at 1:00 pm, December 20 at 2:00 pm, December 23 at 5:30 pm, December 27 at 1:00 pm, January 2 at 1:00 pm, January 3 at 5:30 pm) Cole Sweet (December 14 at 5:30 pm, December 19 at 7:00 pm, December 21, 30 at 1:00 pm, January 3 at 1:00 pm)

*Debut + Guest Artist

Casting subject to change.

TD Bank Group presents The Nutcracker.

The Nutcracker is made possible by generous financial support from production underwriters Sandra Pitblado & Jim Pitblado, C.M., Lawrence & Ann Heisey and an anonymous friend of the National Ballet.

Performance sponsors: Sun Life Financial Share the Magic Program, December 12 at 8:00 pm; Deloitte LLP, December 18 at 7:00 pm; Chloé Fragrances, December 19 at 7:00 pm; VIA Rail, December 27 at 2:00 pm; PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, January 3 at 1:00 pm.

Guillaume Côté is sponsored through Dancers First by Emmanuelle Gattuso and Allan Slaight.

Sonia Rodriguez is sponsored through Dancers First by Ira Gluskin & Maxine Granovsky Gluskin in celebration of her 25th Anniversary year.

Keiichi Hirano is sponsored through Dancers First by Patricia Younger.

Tanya Howard is sponsored through Dancers First by Nancy Pencer.

Elena Lobsanova is sponsored through Dancers First by Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan.

Tina Pereira is sponsored through Dancers First by The Hon. Margaret Norrie McCain, O.C.

Robert Stephen is sponsored through Dancers First by Mr. Thor Eaton & The Honourable Nicole Eaton, Senator.

Jenna Savella is sponsored through Dancers First by an anonymous donor.

Emma Hawes is sponsored through Dancers First by JJ Dayot & Rick Schiralli.

The National Ballet of Canada gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of the Canada Council for the Arts; the Ontario Arts Council; the City of Toronto through the Economic Development & Culture Department; the Government of Canada – Department of Canadian Heritage, through the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages; and the Government of Ontario through the Honourable Michael Coteau, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

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For more information, please contact:

Catherine Chang Christine Achampong Senior Communications Manager Publicity Coordinator 416 345 9686 x302 416 345 9686 x332 [email protected] [email protected] national.ballet.ca national.ballet.ca

#17 Mayor John Tory Opens The Nutcracker as a Cannon Doll

December 5, 2014… Newly elected Toronto Mayor John Tory makes his debut as a Cannon Doll in the opening performance of The National Ballet of Canada’s The Nutcracker on Saturday, December 13 at 2:00 pm at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Mayor Tory continues a great tradition joining the long list of Toronto city mayors, who have appeared as Cannon Dolls in The Nutcracker.

The Honourable David R. Peterson, former Premier of Ontario and Chair of the Board of the TORONTO 2015 Pan American/Parapan American Games, and Curt Harnett, Olympic Medalist and Chef de Mission for the TORONTO 2015 Canadian Pan American Team, perform as Cannon Dolls on December 14 at 1:00 pm.

The evening performance on Saturday, December 13 at 7:00 pm will feature Global News Co- Anchor Susan Hay as she celebrates her 15th appearance as a Cannon Doll. Ms. Hay’s first Cannon Doll cameo appearance was in 1999.

Also joining the National Ballet onstage as Cannon Dolls this season are Actor Robert H. Thomson, Actress Sarah Gadon, Al Specks of Cold Specks, CBC’s Strange Empire Actress Cara Gee, Food Network Canada Celebrity Chef Roger Mooking, HGTV Canada Co-Hosts Bryan and Sarah Baeumler, WWE Hall of Famer and Actress Trish Stratus and Toronto Argonauts Offensive Linemen Jeff Keeping and Tyler Holmes.

Celebrity walk-on roles are a long-held tradition with Nutcrackers all over the world. In the National Ballet’s production, the Cannon Dolls guest roles are colourfully costumed Russian Petrouchka dolls who shoot a cannon into the audience to begin the battle scene in Act I. Past Cannon Dolls include Chris Hadfield, Mats Sundin, Doug Gilmour, Kurt Browning, Margaret Atwood and Rick Mercer.

The Nutcracker choreography and libretto are by James Kudelka, music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, set and costume design by Santo Loquasto and lighting design by Jennifer Tipton.

The Nutcracker by the Numbers: Number of performances of The Nutcracker since its premiere on December 21, 1995: 446 Number of people who have attended The Nutcracker since its premiere: 997,393 Number of performers in each performance: 233 Number of costumes in each performance: 187 Number of pairs of pointe shoes used for The Nutcracker since 1995: 6,381

Number of celebrity Cannon Dolls since 1995: 892 Number of times Susan Hay has appeared as a Cannon Doll: 15

Link to more Nutcracker numbers>

The complete Cannon Doll list and schedule is below.

This Season’s Cannon Dolls:

December 13 at 2:00 pm Mayor John Tory

December 13 at 7:00 pm Global TV Co-Anchor and Producer Susan Hay*

December 14 at 1:00 pm Chair of the Board TORONTO 2015 Pan American/Parapan American Games The Honourable David Peterson and Olympic Medalist and Chef de Mission for the TORONTO 2015 Canadian Pan American Team Curt Harnett

December 14 at 5:30 pm CBC’s Strange Empire Actress Cara Gee

December 17 at 7:00 pm JAZZFM.91 Good Morning Toronto Host Garvia Bailey

December 18 at 7:00 pm Singer/Songwriter Al Specks of Cold Specks

December 19 at 7:00 pm Actress Sarah Gadon

December 20 at 2:00 pm HGTV Canada Co-Hosts Bryan and Sarah Baeumler

December 20 at 7:00 pm NOW Magazine Founder/Publisher Michael Hollett and Fashion & Design Writer Sabrina Maddeaux

December 21 at 1:00 pm CBC Radio Journalist/Producer Mary Wiens and CBC Radio World Report Host David Common

December 21 at 5:30 pm Global TV’s The Morning Show Co-Hosts Rosey Edeh and Liem Vu

December 23 at 1:00 pm WWE Hall of Famer and Actress Trish Stratus

December 23 at 5:30 pm CP24 Breakfast Co-Hosts Nneka Elliott and Jamie Gutfreund

December 27 at 2:00 pm CTV Health and Lifestyle Reporter/Anchor Pauline Chan

December 27 at 7:00 pm Global TV’s 16x9 Chief Correspondent Carolyn Jarvis

December 28 at 5:30 pm ELLE Canada Beauty Director Vanessa Craft and Beauty Editor Katherine Flemming

December 30 at 1:00 pm CP24 Co-Anchors Jee Yun Lee and Kyle Christie

December 30 at 5:30 pm CBC News Toronto Host and Correspondent Nil Köksal and

CBC Our Toronto Host Marivel Taruc

January 2 at 1:00 pm Actor Robert H. Thomson

January 3 at 1:00 pm Toronto Argonauts Offensive Linemen Tyler Holmes and Jeff Keeping

January 3 at 5:30 pm Food Network Canada Celebrity Chef Roger Mooking

*Celebrating 15 appearances as a Cannon Doll in The National Ballet’s The Nutcracker

TD Bank Group presents The Nutcracker.

The Nutcracker is made possible by generous financial support from production underwriters Sandra Pitblado & Jim Pitblado, C.M., Lawrence & Ann Heisey and an anonymous friend of the National Ballet.

Performance sponsors: Sun Life Financial Share the Magic Program, December 12 at 8:00 pm; Deloitte, December 18 at 7:00 pm; Chloé Fragrances, December 19 at 7:00 pm; VIA Rail, December 27 at 2:00 pm; PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, January 3 at 1:00 pm.

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For more information, please contact:

Catherine Chang Christine Achampong Senior Communications Manager Publicity Coordinator 416 345 9686 x302 416 345 9686 x332 [email protected] [email protected] national.ballet.ca national.ballet.ca

TD Bank Group presents

The Nutcracker

Choreography and Libretto: James Kudelka, O.C. Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Set and Costume Design: Santo Loquasto Lighting Design: Jennifer Tipton

Premiere: The National Ballet of Canada, December 21, 1995

The Nutcracker is made possible by generous financial support from production underwriters Sandra Pitblado & Jim Pitblado, C.M., Lawrence & Ann Heisey and an anonymous friend of the National Ballet.

The National Ballet of Canada gratefully acknowledges its collaboration with Canada's National Ballet School in the production of The Nutcracker.

This production is dedicated to Celia Franca and Betty Oliphant. With respect, admiration and gratitude. – JK

Performance Dates: December 13, 2014 – January 3, 2015 Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts

The National Ballet of Canada’s comical and touching version of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s Christmas tale was created in 1995 and has been enthralling audiences ever since. It is a refreshingly traditional version of the story, replete with the wonder and amazement of childhood dreams and the appeal of fantasy for adults and children alike.

Re-setting the story to Imperial Russia, the ballet is revered for its natural wonder and dreamlike astonishment, all conveyed in breathtaking choreography. The entire production is a glittering, enchanting gem of a ballet, a work that is at once deeply familiar and forever new.

Quotes

“ /4 Joy is palpable in this production” The Toronto Star, 2013

“The Nutcracker still a wonderfully fresh holiday sugar plum” The Globe and Mail, 2013

“The National Ballet’s Nutcracker is for kids from one to 92” National Post, 2013

“ /5 A magical Christmas tapestry weaved out of threads spun by composer Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky, author E.T.A. Hoffman, choreographer James Kudelka and designer Santo Loquasto.” 24 Hours, 2013

The Nutcracker Synopsis

ACT I It’s the night before Christmas in 19th-century Russia, and Marie, Misha, their parents and their beloved nursemaid Baba are busy preparing for the annual Christmas Eve party at their country estate. As the curtain rises, Peter, the stable boy (and Marie’s and Misha’s best friend), is sweeping the barn one last time before the guests arrive.

Marie and Misha burst into the barn, squabbling furiously despite the patient efforts of Baba and Peter to calm them down. Suddenly a rat scuttles across the floor, disrupting everything until Peter outsmarts it. Four neighbouring families arrive and the dancing begins.

All of a sudden, a mysterious man dressed in red appears in a sleigh. It's Nikolai, the unpredictable uncle who lives down the road, whose alarming spins and flamboyant gestures both terrifies and delights the company. Magically he tweaks bright fresh oranges from the guests’ ears, hats, and clothes as well as producing a pair of dancing bears, one of them on skates. To crown everything, Nikolai unhitches his old mare and, to everyone's amazement, they energetically dance together.

Nikolai has brought special gifts for all the children, but after all the presents have been handed out, there is nothing left for Marie. Quickly Nikolai gives Marie a Nutcracker in the shape of a handsome soldier which he'd intended for her parents. The continuing hostilities between Marie and Misha erupt once more as they fight over the Nutcracker until their father confiscates it.

Baba takes Marie and Misha back to the house to put them to bed but inevitably their skirmishes begin again – this time, it's a competition to see who can stay awake the longest. Eventually they fall asleep and their magnificent dream begins.

Just as the clock strikes twelve, six pesky little mice scurry in but Nikolai, stranger and wilder than ever, dashes out and scares them away. Taking pity on poor Marie, he returns her Nutcracker, tucks it beneath the nursery Christmas tree and vanishes from sight.

Ominously, the children's beds begin to rock and shake waking Marie and Misha. Their Christmas tree has come to life and the Nutcracker has grown, his features

The Nutcracker Synopsis

have somehow been transformed to look exactly like their friend Peter.

Other toys, too, have magically come to life and a regiment of wolfhounds rides in, only to be vanquished by demonic cats. Then an evil brigade of mice invades the room to attack the cats. Meanwhile, the cruel Tsar of the Mice challenges the Nutcracker to mortal combat and all seems lost.

With the ingenuity of despair Marie and Misha save the Nutcracker by combining forces to banish the frenzied cats and dogs and they conquer the Tsar of the Mice with their feather pillows. In relief and sheer exhaustion, Marie, Misha and the Nutcracker collapse on the bed.

The bed begins to move again but this time it carries them on a magical journey. Through ice-laced trees and feathery snowflakes they see the Snow Queen, supported by two Icicles. Marie, Misha, and the Nutcracker dance joyfully with the snowflakes and the Snow Queen bestows upon them a magnificent gift: a beautiful ice-boat attended by unicorns.

Intermission

ACT II The ice-boat carries the children and the Nutcracker to the secret Kingdom of the Sugar Plum Fairy, who lives in a beautiful Fabergé egg at the centre of a golden palace, carefully guarded by her loyal courtiers. Nikolai and

Baba, transformed into the Grand Duke and Duchess, are there to greet them.

Naturally, the courtiers are eager to discover how their unexpected guests happened to find the palace and beg the Nutcracker, Marie, and Misha to recount their marvellous adventures. As a reward for the children's courage and compassion, the courtiers order a splendid banquet that mingles grown-up food with childhood favourites.

The first course, much to the children's delight, is Chocolate, with a delicate Spanish flavouring. The second, Coffee, heralds the pleasures of adulthood – and oddly enough, quite the opposite of anyone's expectations, its sinuous fumes put the child-courtiers to sleep! Embarrassed by the courtiers’ inattentiveness, Misha and Marie wake everyone up just in time to enjoy the spectacle of four inept royal chefs trying to catch the poultry course.

The Nutcracker Synopsis

There follow two dances that hint at the loving nature of parenthood: a bright, cheerful Trepak for the Nutcracker and a dance for Baba as a shepherdess with lambs and a Sheep-princess pursued by a Fox.

At last four zany Waiters bring in a magical table while the chefs attempt to put the finishing touches on the great repast. When the feast is finally prepared, Marie and Misha assume the places of honour and enjoy a food fight in what may be their last chance to misbehave as young children. Suddenly all traces of winter have gone, and the palace gates burst open to admit a single Bee and a host of Flowers to dance in the warm spring breeze.

In the midst of all this excitement, Marie and Misha have noticed that the Nutcracker has fallen deeply in love with the Sugar Plum Fairy. All at once the world of the Sugar Plum Fairy begins to vanish and the children find themselves in their own room being put to bed by Baba. As Marie and Misha fall back to sleep just before daybreak, the Nutcracker and the Sugar Plum Fairy bid them goodbye. Somehow during this night the children have passed together through the magical yet natural portal between childhood and adolescence, and somehow they know that their lives will never again be quite the same. Henceforth, like their friend the Nutcracker, they will set forth to find and follow their own dreams.

— Penelope Reed Doob

The Nutcracker By the Numbers

Number of performances of James Kudelka’s The Nutcracker 446 since its premiere on December 21, 1995: Number of people who have attended The Nutcracker since its premiere: 997,393 Number of children and their families who have attended The Nutcracker for free through Share the Magic: 45,586

Cost to build The Nutcracker in 1995: $2.7 million

Box office revenue from The Nutcracker since 1995: $47.1 million

Number of dancers who have performed the role of Peter/The 21 Nutcracker, originally created by Rex Harrington in 1995: Number of ballerinas who have performed the role of the Sugar 15 Plum Fairy, originally created by Martine Lamy in 1995: 233 (50 Dancers, 98 Number of performers in each performance: Students, 65 Musicians, 20 Singers)

Number of stage crew backstage of each performance: 63

Number of students from Canada’s National Ballet School and 98 public schools in Toronto who perform in each show:

Number of Junior Associates of Canada’s National Ballet 17 School who perform as lambs and baby mice in each show: 11 (Baba, Chocolate, Snowmaiden, Female Number of roles Tiffany Mosher has danced in The Nutcracker: Bear, Sheep, Coffee, Bee, Flower, Party guest, Servant and Courtier).

59 (1 rat, 1 horse, 2 bears, 1 ram, 1 rooster, 1 mouse Tsar, 8 Cossack mice, 8 Number of animals in The Nutcracker: baby mice, 8 dog soldiers, 10 cat soldiers, 6 unicorns, 1 fox, 1 sheep, 9 lambs and 1 bee)

Number of costumes in each performance: 187

12 (1 Designer, 1 Person to Buy Fabric, 1 Fabric, Dyer 1 Costume Cutter, 2 Number of people involved in the creation of The Sugar Plum Stitchers, 1 Costume Fairy costume: Decorator, 1 Wig Maker,

1 Milliner, 1 Jewelry Maker, 1 Point Shoe Maker, 1 Footwear Coordinator)

Number of layers of tulle in The Sugar Plum Fairy’s tutu: 19

Time to put on the makeup and wig for the dancer who 1 hour performs the role of Uncle Nikolai:

Number of pounds Uncle Nikolai’s Act I coat weighs: 9.5

Number of pairs of pointe shoes used for The Nutcracker since 1995: 6,381

43 (1 bear wears red; 6 unicorns wear white for first time – white, Sugar Number of pointe shoes used in every performance of Plum Fairy, Snow Queen, The Nutcracker: Sheep, Bee, Snow Maidens x 18, Chocolate x 4, Coffee x 2, Flowers x 8) Cost of pointe shoes used in every performance of $3870 The Nutcracker:

Number of loads of laundry done following each performance: 9

Number of pounds of paper released in the snow scene in each performance: 10

Number of celebrity Cannon Dolls who have fired the cannon to begin the battle scene including Mats Sundin, Margaret 892 Atwood, Chris Hadfield, Kurt Browning, Doug Gilmore, Rick Mercer and many more:

Cost of the orchestra per performance: $21,000

Number of books based on The Nutcracker choreographed by 1 James Kudelka:

Number of performances cancelled due to snow: 0

James Kudelka, O.C. Choreographer, The Nutcracker

James Kudelka is widely acknowledged as one of North America’s most innovative choreographers. His mastery of both classical ballet and modern, contemporary dance has earned him commissions from companies – some 25 in all – as stylistically diverse as American Ballet Theatre, Chicago’s Hubbard Street Dance and Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal.

Even as a student at Canada’s National Ballet School, Mr. Kudelka demonstrated a choreographic interest in exploring innovative approaches. While adept in the classical ballet vocabulary, he infuses it with a contemporary sensibility acquired from his intense interest in modern movement idioms.

Mr. Kudelka’s work covers an impressive range, from virtuoso pas de deux, through large- scale and always arresting adaptations of such classics as Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Cinderella, to boldly innovative creative collaborations with dancers, designers and musicians.

Mr. Kudelka has never been afraid to tackle psychologically challenging subject matter in his story ballets – he views dance as a primary medium of artistic discourse – and through his gift for movement metaphor infuses poetic, emotional meaning into his many non-narrative works.

After nine distinguished years as Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada (1996 to 2005), Mr. Kudelka continues to undertake collaborative projects that engage and challenge him as a choreographer.

Santo Loquasto Set and Costume Designer, The Nutcracker

Santo Loquasto is a designer for dance, theatre and film. He has collaborated with choreographers Jerome Robbins, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Kenneth MacMillan, Agnes de Mille, James Kudelka and Mark Morris. Twyla Tharp's Push Comes to Shove marked the beginning of a long-term relationship with American Ballet Theatre. As designer for the Paul Taylor Dance Company, he has designed a total of 49 pieces.

Mr. Loquasto received his first Tony in 1977 for costume designs for The Cherry Orchard. In 1989, he won both the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for his set design of the New York Shakespeare Festival's Café Crown and, in 1990, he again won both awards for his costume design for Grand Hotel. For his other work in theatre, he has received an Obie, the Joseph Maharam Award, both Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desks Awards and a total of 17 Tony nominations.

For film, Mr. Loquasto has received Academy Award nominations for production design for Woody Allen's Bullets Over Broadway and Radio Days and for costume design for Allen's Zelig. Other film credits include Desperately Seeking Susan, Big and, most recently, Blue Jasmine.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Composer, The Nutcracker

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born in Votkinsky, Russia in 1840. At the age of four, he composed his first song and soon began piano lessons. When Tchaikovsky was 19, his studies for a career in law gave way to his childhood love of music to which he would devote his life. In 1861, he entered the St. Petersburg Conservatory of Music and by 1866, Tchaikovsky had begun to teach theory of composition in Moscow and became a local celebrity with his compositions.

In 1876, Tchaikovsky was able to turn his attention fully to composing through the patronage of Nadezhda von Meck. With the aid of her funding, he completed many of his most well-known works including Eugene Onegin, Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty, among others. In 1890, von Meck suddenly announced that she was bankrupt and could no longer support Tchaikovsky. Her claim was false and, although the composer was no longer financially dependent on her, it was a shattering blow to his self-esteem. This occurred during his writing of the score for The Nutcracker and added to the difficulties he was having composing for what he considered an uninspiring scenario.

The last three years of Tchaikovsky’s life were filled with great despondency and he did not live to see the success of The Nutcracker.

Jennifer Tipton Lighting Designer, The Nutcracker

Jennifer Tipton is well known for her work in dance, theatre and opera. Her recent work in theatre includes On Borrowed Time, directed by Joel Grey at Two River Theater Company and In The Year Of 13 Moons, directed by Robert Woodruff at the Yale Repertory Theater. In opera, her recent work includes Don Giovanni, directed by Daniel Witzke at Opera San Jose and La Clemenza Di Tito, directed by Sir David McVicar at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. In dance, Ms. Tipton’s work includes Alexei Ratmansky’s Shostakovitch Trilogy for San Francisco Ballet and American Ballet Theatre as well as Paul Taylor’s American Dreamer.

Ms. Tipton teaches lighting at the Yale School of Drama. She received the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize in 2001, the Jerome Robbins Prize in 2003 and the Mayor’s Award for Arts and Culture in New York City in April 2004.

In 2008, Ms. Tipton was made a United States Artists Gracie Fellow and a MacArthur Fellow.