American Repertory Ballet (ARB) announces its 2017 Nutcracker season, November 18 through December 23, at venues across New Jersey: Union County Performing Arts Center (Rahway), McCarter Theatre Center (Princeton), Patriots Theater at the War Memorial (Trenton), South Orange Performing Arts Center (South Orange) and State Theatre New Jersey (New Brunswick). This season, because of popular demand, ARB adds a sixth venue to its roster – Axelrod Performing Arts Center in Deal Park.
“Nutcracker is our annual celebration of family and community, of childhood and fantasy, hope and joy,” says Douglas Martin, Artistic Director. “It brings us together, slows down the hectic pace of our daily routines and helps us focus on what really matters, family and community.”
ARB’s Nutcracker is a holiday classic set to Tchaikovsky’s beloved score with a cast of over 100 performers, featuring the professional, international dancers of American Repertory Ballet and select students from Princeton Ballet School, the official school of ARB. A holiday tradition since 1964, ARB’s production is the longest-running Nutcracker in New Jersey and one of the longest consecutively-running in the United States.
American Repertory Ballet officially kicks off Nutcracker season on November 18 at Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway. On November 19, ARB presents a sensory-friendly production of Nutcracker. This abridged, one-hour performance is especially for children and adults with special needs and is made possible by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders as part of the UC Sensory-Friendly Theatre series.
Nutcracker performances continue at McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton during Thanksgiving weekend and at Patriots Theatre at the War Memorial in Trenton, featuring the Trenton Children’s Chorus, on December 2. The performances at State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick will feature a live orchestra and Princeton Girl Choir, under the direction of Maestro Michael Pratt, December 15 through 17.
Because ARB’s Nutcracker has been such a holiday favorite among student audiences, a second School-Time Matinee was recently added at the State Theatre New Jersey and at South Orange Performing Arts Center, December 7 through December 9, the company will perform three School-Time Matinees and three public performances over the weekend.
“We are proud to present our Nutcracker at times when schools can bring children to the theater and introduce them to live, professional performance art, ˮ says Julie Diana Hench, Executive Director. “Nutcracker is a great introduction to ballet, an educational opportunity, and adds to the magic of the holiday season.”
With the addition of the Axelrod Performing Arts Center in Deal Park for three performances, December 22 and December 23, ARB brings the joy of this holiday classic to even more communities throughout the state.
Terra Momo restaurant group will once again partner with ARB this season. Terra Momo will offer ARB’s Nutcracker ticket holders 20 percent off a meal at any of its three restaurants: Eno Terra in Kingston, Mediterra in Princeton, or Teresa Caffe in Princeton.
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Union County Performing Arts Center
1601 Irving Street
Rahway, NJ 07065
(732) 499.8226
Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 19, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. (Sensory-Friendly performance)
McCarter Theatre Center
91 University Place
Princeton, NJ 08540
(609) 258-2787
Friday, November 24, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.
Friday, November 24, 2017 at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 25, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 25, 2017 at 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 26, 2017 at 1:00 p.m.
Alumni Gathering:
The 13th annual Nutcracker Alumni Gathering will immediately follow the November 25, 2017, 5:30 p.m. performance in the McCarter Theatre West Lobby. RSVP: Lisa de Ravel at lderavel@arballet.org or 732.249.1254 x17. Tickets to the performance must be purchased separately.
Patriots Theater at the War Memorial
1 Memorial Drive
Trenton, NJ 08608
(877) 987-6487
www.ticketfly.com/event/1535810-american-repertory-ballets-trenton
Saturday, December 2, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.
South Orange Performing Arts Center
1 SOPAC Way
South Orange, NJ 07079
(973) 313-2787
Thursday, December 7, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. (School-Time matinee)
Friday, December 8, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. (School-Time matinee)
Friday, December 8, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. (School-Time matinee)
Friday, December 8, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 9, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 9 at 7:00 p.m.
State Theatre New Jersey
Featuring Live Orchestra and Choir
15 Livingston Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 246-7469
Thursday, December 14 at 10:30 a.m. (School-Time matinee)
Friday, December 15 at 10:30 a.m. (School-Time matinee)
Friday, December 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 16 at 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 16 at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 17 at 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 17 at 5:00 p.m.
Axelrod Performing Arts Center
100 Grant Avenue
Deal Park, NJ 07723
(732) 531-9106
Friday, December 22 at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 23 at 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 23 at 7:00 p.m.
ABOUT AMERICAN REPERTORY BALLET AND PRINCETON BALLET SCHOOL
American Repertory Ballet’s mission is to bring the joy, beauty, artistry and discipline of classical and contemporary dance to New Jersey and nationwide audiences and to dance students through artistic and educational programs. The organization comprises: the preeminent professional classical and contemporary ballet company in the state; Princeton Ballet School, one of the largest and most respected non-profit dance schools in the nation; and ARB’s Access & Enrichment initiatives, including the long-running and acclaimed DANCE POWER program. The performing company is a classical and contemporary ballet company committed to presenting ballets from the 19th and 20th centuries alongside new and existing works by choreographers from today. Founded in 1963, the company is currently under the artistic leadership of Douglas Martin, former principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet. To learn more, visit arballet.org.
American Repertory Ballet/Princeton Ballet School is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization.