The New Nutcracker
All-new director, sets, choreography meet tradition at Interlochen this holiday
You’ve seen it before, the legendary, 123-year-old story about the nutcracker doll that comes to life for a little girl. But you’ve never seen it like this.
Not with a company of 43 Interlochen Arts Academy ballet students who’ve rehearsed for more than 120 hours, or with a newly conceived and built set on the stage, or with beautiful new costumes, or with twists in the composition and choreography by an all-new dance director recently recruited from across the globe.
Welcome to the all-new "The Nutcracker" at Interlochen 2015.
THE DONOR AND THE SET
Interlochen has a history of performing "The Nutcracker" for many years, but the show’s set was showing its age. Drs. Nicholas and Elaine Mischler – whose own daughter Elizbaeth danced in "The Nutcracker" at Interlochen in the 1990s – made two significant gifts to create an all-new set for the 2015 production and beyond.
"I think so the moment you walk into the theatre – what people are going to expect to see – will be visually totally different," said Joseph Morrissey, the new director of dance at Interlochen.
Then in September 2014, Interlochen Presentations Technical Director Brent Wrobel and his team took over, beginning with the hiring of New York–based designer
Edward Morris. By 2015, construction began, with clocks, lanterns, boxes, furniture all being built in the cavernous production warehouse on campus.
THE BIG HIRE
Then in August, Interlochen announced the hire of Morrissey to lead the storied dance department. Young (32) and full of dance experience (Hong Kong, Boston, New York, Italy, Russia and more), Morrissey knew among his top priorities was to execute an excellent performance of the famous holiday ballet in just a few short months.
And if any piece of work was familiar to Morrissey, it was this one.
"It was actually the first ballet I did as an eight-year old," he said. "One year later I was in the "˜Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker’, surrounded by all these amazing dancers and box office names."
At his many stops along his education and career across multiple continents, it was The Nutcracker that stayed with him.
"I’ve danced as the party boy, a rat, in the chocolate dance, as the Nutcracker prince, Arabian, as a party father, the snow king"¦and others," he recalled.
Taking over a company of 43 students at Interlochen, Morrissey was sure of a few things:
The standards would have to be high, and some changes would be in order for "The Nutcracker" in 2015. "You have to be a little crazy to do a whole new Nutcracker, but we want to open with a bang."
"I was quite spoiled in Boston, but the standard was set. The dance value, the production value, the overall experience. I just want to give back the same experience I felt as a nine-year-old," he said.
So the changes began. First the music.
"I’m really big on the music," Morrissey said. "It’s really what guides me and we wouldn’t be here without it. So it’s really what inspires me to create. Of course I know it like the back of my hand and I have to remind myself they [students] might not. But it’s so important to know and embrace it. It can fuel you to dance better. I tell them, "˜let that gorgeous music calm you down or let it pump you up."
Among the first changes was to have a live piano accompanist at every dance rehearsal.
Morrissey then tackled the score and choreography, implementing changes to make the story more compelling while maintaining consistency and tradition audiences will expect.
"I’m not interested in inventing anything. I’m interested in telling a story that dancers would like to dance and as an audience member I would like to watch. It’s not a radical change; it’s tasteful and traditional, but in a fresh, new way," Morrissey added.
He envisions more of a focus on the Nutcracker character himself, the addition of "a beautiful new snow scene," and that overall, "the audience will follow the story like a movie. There should not a be a dull moment."
PREPARING FOR THE BIG SHOW
Morrissey soon connected with Wrobel’s production team, making sure his story changes matched the new sets and costumes already underway. "We needed 50 pounds of dry ice on the stage for that cloud scene," he added. "We upgraded the palace of sweets, added a brand new box for the dolls"¦lots of small things that will make a big difference in the production."
"This has been a long process, but very rewarding," Wrobel noted.
And the dancers themselves? They’ve been rehearsing leaps, pirouettes and much more for nearly four months.
"I only hear enthusiasm and excitement," Morrissey said. "They are all stepping up and embracing the challenge of it all. It’s really catered for them, a brand new full-length ballet for them."
The dance company has a few local connections, including Traverse City’s own Ella Dorman, who will debut as sugar plum fairy, which Morrissey reminds is "a really big deal."
Morrissey said audience members will experience "magic, romance, dancing, and great music that people will take into their hearts and spirits."
Nutcracker will be performed and accompanied live by the Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra December 10, 11 and 12 with shows at 7:30pm each night plus a matinee performance on Saturday the 12th at 2pm. Tickets are $28 for adults, $25 for seniors and $10 for youth. Ticket typically sellout so inquire soon. Purchase via tickets.interlochen.org or by calling (231) 276-7800.
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