'THE NUTCRACKER'

This weekend the IU Musical Arts Center will welcome the timeless holiday tradition "The Nutcracker."\n"The Nutcracker" is a classic story of Christmas by the German author E.T.A. Hoffmann. The story features Clara Stahlbaum, a young German girl who dreams that a Nutcracker she received for Christmas turns into a prince. The ballet was born when Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) set the story to music in 1891. Ever since, the ballet has become a Christmas tradition that conjures up childhood fantasies and the world of the imagination.\nThe IU production is six months is the making with choreographer Jacques Cesbron, stage designers C. David Higgins and Robert O'Hearn and guest conductor Kevin Noe as the main anchors of the production. Their efforts, along with a stroke of fate, make the IU performance perhaps the finest in the state.\n"This is probably the best 'Nutcracker' production is the state of Indiana," Higgins said. After the Ballet Internationale in Indianapolis closed in November, the IU production became the No. 1 Nutcracker in Indiana, Higgins said.\nHiggins said that one of the main advantages the production has is the MAC stage. A little known fact about the MAC is that it is the world's largest opera and ballet theater -- it is 110 feet deep with the stage constituting another 60 feet. \n"This makes it possible to have rear projection and trap doors," he said.\nRear projection is lighting with images from behind the backdrop, which makes it possible for the audience to enjoy the sky, sunset and stars in "The Nutcracker."\n"This is comparable to a professional ballet company," Higgins said.\nThough various companies have done many variations on the design and choreography for "The Nutcracker," the approach in the IU production does not deviate far from the original.\n"It's a pretty traditional interpretation of the story," said Higgins.\nThe set and costumes in use for this production were designed in 1998. However, Higgins said, through the years costumes and sets are eventually replaced with newer versions. This year's production does have its own new features, including a new costume for the Mirlitons, which are French dolls. \nThe ballet part of the production, though, is more inventive this year, said Cesbron.\n"The battle scene is better, sharper, and there are more attacks," Cesbron said. The Mouse King has a bigger belly and is more active.\nWhat is also unusual this year is senior Christopher Nachtrab pulled double duty this semester. He played Puck in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and for "The Nutcracker" he will be playing Drosselmeyer. Even though students in this "Nutcracker" production were in the fall ballet, few students can accomplish two consecutive productions in such a short time span, said Nachtrab.\n"It is hard work and tiring but rewarding," he said. \nAnother unusual feature of this year's cast is that it includes 17 freshmen, making it one of the youngest in a while, said Higgins. He added that the entire community is taking a grand interest with this production because 94 local children will be appearing in the show.\nThe overall impression, Higgins said, would be the result of the enormous resources available to the IU Ballet Theatre.