Unc School of the Arts the Nutcracker Stevens Center December 14
"Wheeeeeeeee!," he happily yelled equally we drove around a curve in the road. My ii-year one-time son, James is locked and loaded in his carseat talking a mile a minute, by and large gibberish. "Mama that was FUN!" he yelled. His unexpected excitement pulled me out of my decorated heed and I laughed out loud. "You're right, bud," I said with a smile equally I looked dorsum at him. "Driving around a curve is fun!"
1 of the things I treasure most about being a mom is rediscovering life through my son's lens. The routine is more remarkable, and the everyday feels more like an adventure. He finds joy in the places that we now have for granted.
I was still thinking nearly that sweet moment later that night as I headed to The Stevens Center for the campus preview night of The Nutcracker. The Nutcracker, now in its 50th year in Winston-Salem is presented by the University of Due north Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) and opens to the public on Friday, December 9th. This yr'due south production includes ten performances and runs through December 19th. It is one of the most celebrated traditions in boondocks.
My friend Marissa, who you might think coming together here, greets me backstage with a hug. Marissa is the Wardrobe Supervisor for The Costume Shop at UNCSA and she has graciously invited me backstage for a peek before the prove.
"And then, what exercise you lot want to meet? She asks. "Everything!," I say thinking like James.
Watching The Nutcracker at Christmastime through the years has always felt similar magic. The lights, the jewels, the sparkles, the vibrancy, the snow – all of the beautiful details that take you lot away from the everyday seem to just catamenia together and fill the stage effortlessly. Simply backstage that magic is attributed to hours upon hours of carefully planned logistics that are managed from offset to terminate.
The Costumes
More than than 100 students dance in each operation of The Nutcracker and 195 costumes are used in the product. Some of the students will trip the light fantastic upward to 6 unlike parts in a run. Marissa introduces me to a few students who are working wardrobe for the night and and so walks me through her organizational process. We start with fabric cubbies filled with shoes and accessories for each character, and then into the costume room filled with racks upon racks of meticulously maintained garments that are shared betwixt performers for each production. It took 10,000 hours and over 2.five years to construct all of the original costumes.
She explains a fleck more of how she works. "We have xl-one women dancing equally snowflakes this production only nosotros only have eighteen costumes. Then it's a matter of logistics to fit those twoscore-one women, with their forty-one dissimilar body shapes and sizes, into these xviii costumes. That'south the constant challenge but information technology makes it heady."
We walk over to the closet of character heads, each built on bicycle helmets with interchangeable padding to fit different performers. The teeth are fabricated out of fake fingernails and the eyes are sunglass lenses. The fur is made from yards upon yards of tulle that has been gathered and advisedly stitched together in rows.
We walk through the wigs and the mustaches and the makeup, all maintained and applied by students that are majoring in wig and makeup blueprint.
Product & Pattern
Beneath the orchestra pit, nosotros pass handpainted props patiently waiting for their big moments and we caput upwardly to the stage. I wait up at the backdrops that volition later prepare the dreamy scenes. All of construction and painting of the original scenery and props was done past students, faculty, staff and alumni of the School of Design & Production and took 18,000 hours to complete. A lively group from production dressed in black walks by on their way upward to the stage. Lx individuals brand upwardly the production staff and technical crew.
Nearby Female parent Ginger'due south costume is hoisted loftier higher up to make space; the character stands 13 ½ feet alpine, from the top of her hat to the bottom of her clothes when she takes the stage.
The Young Talent
Onstage, some of the evening's leads are working in a bit more rehearsal time before getting dressed. You could experience their commitment; complacency has no place here. "These kids are so focused," Marissa chimes in. "This is everything for them." They are filled with promise and excitement. I am reminded that the magic of The Nutcracker extends beyond the stage. More than three,500 students take danced in The Nutcracker in the past 50 years.
Each yr, guest artists (often alumni) join the cast for select shows. This twelvemonth features alumna Megan LeCrone (New York Urban center Ballet soloist) as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Martin Harvey (London Royal Ballet) as the Cavalier Prince for two evening performances on Wednesday, December 14th and Thursday, December 15th. These guest performances, while captivating and inspiring, are also a reminder that some of the all-time and brightest ballet talent of the futurity are appearing on The Stevens Centers' stage today.
As I get out the stage I pass by high school kids doing one another's makeup and parents leading their little ones to get them dressed for their roles. I remember of friends who fondly remember "that time" when they performed in The Nutcracker when they were young.
I caput out into the empty theater to soak it in from a dissimilar perspective, walking past the orchestra pit which volition soon be filled with young, talented musicians. School of Music students comprise the Nutcracker orchestra and make it the largest in the Triad.
Then much young talent; and so many moving parts. It seems simply fitting that proceeds from the show directly fund student scholarships.
Customs Spirit
When I open the door to walk into the entrance hall the energy shifts dramatically. Out here there is loud, vivacious chatter nigh daily doings and the holiday flavour. It's campus dark so there are loads of students eager to watch their friends and peers take the stage. At that place are lilliputian girls dressed up with large bows, and ladies in sequins and fur. I walk past a bazaar with pretty nutcracker souvenirs. Anybody is ready for the magic of The Nutcracker. And honestly, then am I.
My friend Catherine joins me and nosotros take our seats. The lights dim and the audience roars. One past ane the painted backdrops descend, the lights sparkle, the music reaches a crescendo and the costumed dancers bring all they have to the phase. I smiling a big smile as I forget the backstage tricks and am filled with wonder. I lean over to my friend and whisper, "This is so fun!,". And for a few hours I call up what it feels like to experience life like a child.
To find performance times and buy tickets for The Nutcracker, click hither.
Source: https://towniesws.com/2016/12/09/why-uncsas-the-nutcracker-never-loses-its-magic-sponsor-giveaway/
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