On mantel and on stage, Chicago loves its nutcrackers
By MARY HOULIHAN For Sun-Times Media
Where to catch a performance
◆ 'The Nutcracker,' the Joffrey Ballet. Dec. 6-28. $31-$132. Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress. (800) 982-2787; ticketmaster.com
◆ 'The Nutcracker,' the House Theatre of Chicago. To Dec. 29. $25-$45. Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division. (773) 769-3832; thehousetheatre.com.
◆ 'The Nutcracker,' the Ruth Page Civic Ballet. Dec. 7, 7 p.m.; Dec. 8, 1 and 5 p.m. Northeastern Illinois University, 5500 N. St. Louis. $18, $25. A Brunch with Clara on Dec 8 at 1 p.m. is $50, $85. (312) 337-6543; ruthpage.org. Dec. 21, 5 p.m.; Dec. 22, 3 p.m., College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington, Grayslake. $12-$30. (847) 543-2300; http://jlc.clcillinois.edu/events.asp.
◆ 'Great Russian Nutcracker,' the Moscow Ballet. Dec. 8, 3 p.m. $26-$120. Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River, Rosemont. (800) 982-2787; ticketmaster.com.
◆ 'The Nutcracker,' To Dec. 28. $15. Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Dr., Lincolnshire. (847) 634-0200; marriotttheatre.com.
◆ 'The Nutcracker,' the Hyde Park School of Dance. Dec. 14, 2 and 7 p.m.; Dec. 15, 2 p.m. $10, $20; age 4 and under free. A Sugar Plum Tea takes place after the Dec. 15 performance. $20, $40; age 4 and under free. Mandell Hall, University of Chicago, 1131 E. 57th. (773) 493-8498; hydeparkdance.org/events/nutcracker.html.◆ 'The Nutcracker,' Salt Creek Ballet. Dec. 7, 1 and 5 p.m. $20-$40. Center for Performing Arts, Governors State University, 1 University Parkway, University Park. (708) 235-2222; centertickets.net. Dec. 14, 1 and 5 p.m.; Dec. 15, 2 p.m. $20-$44. North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. (847) 673-6300; northshorecenter.org.
Article Extras
Christmas memories come in all forms - even the scary kind. I remember standing in front of my Aunt Lou's fireplace with my siblings, all of us staring up at the row of soldier-like nutcrackers standing at attention on the mantel. As youngsters, we never wanted to get too close to those menacing little figures with the snappy jaws.
Nicole Lorenz has holiday memories of a different kind when it comes to nutcrackers. She grew up in Zwickau, Germany, where her grandfather carved and painted nutcrackers for holiday gifts.
'My earliest memory of Christmas is sitting at my grandfather's feet and watching the shavings fall to the floor,' says Lorenz, who for the past 12 years has traveled from Dresden, Germany, where she now lives, to sell colorful nutcrackers at the Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza (running through Dec. 24).
These nutcrackers are the real thing, says Lorenz. Her company sells the creations of village woodcarvers from the Ore Mountains region in the southeastern part of Germany, where the colorful nutcrackers have been made since the 18th century.
And, yes, the nutcrackers made of sturdy oak do work. 'But I don't recommend it as the paint will start to chip off,' Lorenz says. 'They really are meant to be decorative.'
Of course, those little wooden figures also come to full-size life in another holiday tradition - the numerous and varied productions of 'The Nutcracker' ballet set to the music of Tchaikovsky. The Joffrey Ballet has been elemental in building this tradition in Chicago. Artistic director Ashley Wheater, who over his career has danced nearly every male role in 'The Nutcracker,' feels it's a tradition that brings families together.
'Dance is a universal language, and this story ballet is a magical journey that has enchanted generations of children who come back as adults with their own children,' Wheater says.
A different version of 'The Nutcracker,' a drama with music and dance, is becoming a tradition at the House Theatre of Chicago. Choreographer/director Tommy Rapley says returning audiences feel it 'just wouldn't be Christmas without the show. It's really exciting for us as a company to see it build into a tradition.'
The roots of this tradition just might be the Chicago Cultural Center's 'Dance-Along Nutcracker,' where youngsters get hands-on experience.' It took place Sunday.
'What I love about this is that it's so accessible,' says Jennifer Minkin of ARCC Ballet, who teaches dance moves before each performance. 'It's a great introduction for young children who perhaps can't sit through a longer ballet.'
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