35 Years of The Nutcracker: A holiday tradition continues in Anniston

For the 35th Christmas season, Anniston’s Knox Concert Series presents the worldwide holiday favorite, The Nutcracker.

“The Nutcracker experience is the perfect Christmas treat for the entire family,” said Brenda Shaw, event co-chair. “Mice battle toy soldiers, snow falls, a Christmas tree grows to enormous size and, of course, a nutcracker turns into a prince. A lot of magical moments in a short two hours,” Ms. Shaw added.

The performance by The Alabama Ballet will be Sunday, December 4 at 2 p.m. at the Anniston Performing Arts Center.

Ms. Shaw said that Knox volunteers try to create an event around the gala performance. There will be a shopping boutique with nutcrackers and ornaments, a bake sale, and flower shop set up in the elaborately decorated lobby. “Thanks to generous sponsorship” she added, “our audience will see the same show in our lovely little hall as in they could in Birmingham, but for less than half the price. “

Betsy Davis, co-chair, said she is always amazed at the number of people making The Nutcracker a family tradition. “They come back year after year,” she said. And it is not just chil- dren. However, she adds, “it is such fun to see a little girl decked out in her pretty Christmas dress holding her big, burley dad’s hand at intermission.”

The ballet, which was first performed in Russia in 1891, features the famous Tchaikovsky music that is as much a part of the holiday season as the nutcracker figure itself.

The Alabama Ballet is one of only eight companies in the world licensed by The Balanchine Trust to perform this production that was featured in the 1993 film starring Macaulay Culkin as the Nutcracker Prince. The elaborate costumes match - sequin and bead - those worn by The New York City Ballet dancers whose choreographer, George Balanchine, created this version in 1954. His production, which focuses on a child’s view and includes many children, reinvigorated performances of The Nutcracker in all choreographies and today it is one of the two most-performed in the world.

The Nutcracker is co-sponsored by Wells Fargo, Honda of Alabama, Publix Super Market Charities and Mr. & Mrs. Art Moore. Tickets are $20 adults and $12 for children under 12. Information: www.knoxconcertseries. org.