Here a Nut, There a Nut

The Nutcracker is everywhere.

by Janet Anderson

The ubiquitous banners are fluttering on Broad Street, so the Sugar Plum Fairy and all those cute little kids can't be far behind.

The Nutcracker has become such a holiday staple, you might be surprised to learn that the original performance in St. Petersburg, Russia, 116 years ago was considered something of a dud. It took Walt Disney, who used some of Tchaikovsky's score in Fantasia, and Russian expat George Balanchine, who was looking for a seasonal moneymaker for his then-fledgling New York City Ballet, to revive the old sugar plum.

Which brings us to the Pennsylvania Ballet's two-act staging of the Christmas classic, loading in at the Academy of Music as it has — in one form or another — every holiday season since 1968. Last year, PAB polished up its iconic Balanchine version with new sets and costumes, transforming the well-known production into something glitteringly new (Dec. 12-31, $24-$129, Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999, paballet.org). But PAB's holiday story goes deeper than magic Christmas trees and mouse kings: In 1999, a young mother-to-be was rushed out of the Academy during a show to give birth to a daughter, Angela Sheehan. This year, now-8-year-old Angela takes the stage as an angel. PAB soloist Gabriella Yudenich also made her stage debut as an angel; her parents, Barbara Sandonato and Alexei Yudenich, performed in PAB's first Nutcracker back in '68.

It may be oozing with history and tradition, but PAB's is certainly not the only Nutcracker around. 

Brandywine Ballet in West Chester sets its magical tale in the Victorian era, choreographed for the troupe by the late New York City Ballet dancer Richard Hoskinson (Dec. 12-21, $20-$35, Asplundh Concert Hall, Philips Memorial Building, West Chester University, 610-696-2711, brandywineballet.com).

The Rock School for Dance Education has taken the plotline out of its original E.T.A. Hoffmann story setting, relocating it in 1776 Philadelphia. Instead of dancing candy canes and snowflakes, the 150 well-trained pre-professional children participating in this family-friendly production frolic with Benjamin Franklin and George Washington (Dec. 13-14, $25, Haverford School, Centennial Hall, 450 W. Lancaster Ave., Haverford, 215-551-7010, ext. 1776, therockschool.org).

If that doesn't stretch your imagination far enough, consider ContempraDance Theatre's Philly-Nutt-Crak-Up, a hip-hop take on the classic. They're moving to music by Fatboy Slim, James Brown, Cyndi Lauper — and even a bit of Tchaikovsky representing the old-school. The cast includes the Rappin' Sugar Plum Fairy, Hip-Hoppin' Rats, City Hall Dolls and Captain Philadelphia (Dec. 12-14, $22-$28, Painted Bride Arts Center, 230 Vine St., 215-925-9914, paintedbride.org).

What's next, Nutcracker on Neptune? 'Tis the season for feats of the imagination, I suppose.

(j_anderson@citypaper.net)