Milwaukee Ballet’s Artistic Director Michael Pink believes the impact of his newly reimagined The Nutcracker will be immediate.
“I can guarantee you that the first time the curtain goes up in that party scene, there will be so many people in the audience [gasping], and a lot of people will be saying, ‘I want to wear that,’” Pink says. “It’s so elegant and so beautiful – it’s really a million-dollar moment.”
New costumes, set designs and even magic tricks are all part of Pink’s creative vision for the production, which hasn’t been fully refreshed since the ’90s. “When you invest in a Nutcracker, you’re building it for 25 years,” Pink says. “It’s an incredible undertaking. … You’ve got to build it to last, and last and last and last. So that’s what we’re doing.”
But Pink is also taking cues from the audience, and being careful to show respect to the special moments that have made this show a Milwaukee tradition for decades. He’s hoping the new designs will help enhance moments like the epic battle and the beloved snow scene.
“The Nutcracker needs no introduction, everybody has expectations,” Pink says. “I’m very hopeful people will feel that our journey and our adventure is continuing on. It’s not getting stuck in one place.”
Catch the holiday classic Dec. 8-26 at the Marcus Center’s Uihlein Hall.
Shop Milwaukee Magazine‘s holiday sale and get two issues for the price of one, plus a free tote bag!
MIAD Holiday Sale
NOV. 30-DEC. 2 | MILWAUKEE INSTITUTE OF ART & DESIGN
Give the gift of art this holiday season by shopping the creative collections of Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design students. It’s a one-stop shop with everything from sculptures and paintings to jewelry and handmade greeting cards for sale.
John Gruenwald: Solo and Collaborative Printmaking
DEC. 1-MARCH 1 | WAREHOUSE ART MUSEUM
Printmaking is artist John Gruenwald’s master craft. For years, artists have flocked to his Milwaukee print shop to collaborate. See three decades of his work, as well as those who worked alongside him, including Jan Serr and JoAnna Poehlmann.
Henry IV Part 1
DEC. 8-17 | MILWAUKEE YOUTH ARTS CENTER
Henry IV is preparing for war, but his son is out at taverns with a gang of ne’er-do-wells. See the First Stage Young Company Performance Project of William Shakespeare’s epic on royal succession.
Caroling at the Fireplace
DEC. 12 | SHARON LYNNE WILSON CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Caroling, opera-style: That’s what the Florentine Opera’s Baumgartner Studio Artists bring to this holiday party, with five vocalists and a pianist in the cast.
John McGivern’s Home for the Holidays
DEC. 15 | OAK CREEK PERFORMING ARTS AND EDUCATION CENTER
TV host and award-winning comedian John McGivern shares heartwarming holiday stories from his childhood on Milwaukee’s East Side. In addition to plenty of laughs, there’s also a musical performance.
Milwaukee Jazz Institute – Big Band Holiday
DEC. 20 | SHARON LYNNE WILSON CENTER FOR THE ARTS
The Milwaukee Jazz Institute’s Big Band is sporting a stacked lineup of the Midwest’s top jazz artists. The program promises soulful, swingin’ and jazzy takes on your favorite songs of the season.
This story is part of Milwaukee Magazine’s September issue.
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