There are many indicators that the holiday season is upon us, and one such is the return of the Grand Rapids Ballet’s annual crowd-pleaser, “
The Nutcracker.”
And if you have not been in some time, now is the time to get there because this annual tradition got a major overhaul a few years ago with a true West Michigan touch.
But please don’t worry, the Nutcracker character has not been replaced by a Dutch man handing out windmill cookies. Rather he and the entire production have been totally updated to become a fresh theatrical rendering from the mind of one of our own, Chris Van Allsburg.
The world-famous illustrator Van Allsburg has successfully created in the past such children’s favorites as “The Polar Express” and “Jumanji,” and now can add “The Nutcracker” to the list of creative offerings he’s given the world as a part of this beloved holiday tradition in our city.
In addition, the new production features Broadway-quality sets by Tony Award winner Eugene Lee (“Wicked,” “Sweeney Todd,” and “Saturday Night Live”), festive choreography by Val Caniparoli, and live music from our very own Grand Rapids Symphony.
But this is the final weekend so don’t hesitate in securing tickets to this visually rich and updated performance with so many creative and talented members of our city on stage.