Two Nutcrackers? Sweet!

  • <br>Enterprise staff
  • Monday, March 3, 2008 11:42am

More is always better when it comes to the traditional holiday ballet, “The Nutcracker.” This season, Olympic Ballet Theatre and Ballet Bellevue debut their annual staging of Tchaikovsky’s spirited dance and music composition in new local venues.

Olympic Ballet Theatre opens its 26th season Saturday, Dec. 2 at the Edmonds Center for the Arts, located at 410 Fourth Ave. in Edmonds. This year’s production will showcase special featured artists, Whitney Simler and Corbin Popp, from Broadway’s “Movin’ Out.”

Returning to Olympic Ballet’s production is the Christmas Tree that grows before the audience’s eyes and the Booming Cannon. The unique and creative choreography of John and Helen Wilkins is joined by the new and innovative choreography of Daniel Wilkins, which includes a grand sword fight and a daring “Arabian.” This year’s performances will also include guest artists from Wilkins’ own company, danielandsomesuperfriends, New York City Ballet, Spectrum Dance Theater and Evergreen City Ballet.

OBT’S production of “The Nutcracker” runs at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 and Sunday, Dec. 3 in Edmonds, and again at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16 and Sunday, Dec. 17 at the Everett Civic Auditorium.

Tickets are $12-$30, available at OBT’s offices in the Frances Anderson Center, 700 Main St., Edmonds, at www.olympicballet.com, by calling OBT at 425-774-7570, at Ticketmaster outlets and 206-292-ARTS.

A Victorian Christmas dream comes to life in Bothell for a second weekend as Ballet Bellevue presents “The Nutcracker” at the Northshore Performing Arts Center.

Ballet Bellevue’s Artistic Director Viktoria Titova, formerly of the Bolshoi Gregorovich, leads the spectacle and is joined by 36-piece live orchestra. Titova is joined by Evgeny Lushkin, former Principal Dancer with the St. Petersburg Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia, as the Prince. Conductor Philip Tschopp, artistic director/conductor of Bellevue’s Cascadian Chorale since 1993, leads the live orchestra.

Ballet Bellevue’s performances take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 at the Northshore Performing Arts Center, located at 18125 92nd Ave. NE in Bothell.

Tickets are $29.50-$44.50, reserved, available by calling 425-489-6018, www.npacf.org, www.ticketswest.com; charge-by-phone, 800-992-TIXX or at TicketsWest outlets at select neighborhood QFC stores and Rudy’s Barbershops, or the NPACF office at 425-489-6018.

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