Ballet Western Reserve’s ‘Nutcracker’ has a Jazz Age theme

UY D’ASTOLFO

dastolfo@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Ballet Western Reserve will present an old favorite but with a very different approach when it stages “The Nutcracker” in Jazz Age-style for its annual holiday show.

The school and dance company took a break from “Nutcracker” – which had become its tradition – the past two years, presenting instead “Wizard of Oz” and a holiday revue.

But while it is returning to its roots, BWR is still thinking outside the box.

The Jazz Age theme will permeate the show, with 1920s dance styles, costumes, and live music by the Jazz Ensemble of Youngstown State University.

The ballet will be performed Friday evening and the afternoon of Dec. 9 at Stambaugh Auditorium.

Jackie Cunningham, artistic director of BWR, explained how the jazz theme and the collaboration with YSU came to fruition.

“We knew we wanted to do ‘Nutcracker’ again but we needed to make it different,” she said. “I have a love for jazz music. I also grew up watching old movies and have always been inspired by them. We brainstormed and thought, ‘this is an opportunity,’ and we met with Phylllis Paul [dean of the College of Creative Arts at YSU].”

Putting the musical program together wasn’t as simple as learning existing sheet music.

Much of the iconic Tchaikovsky score had already been arranged in jazz format, but not all of it. So Cunningham did a little digging and found swing-era arrangements by Glenn Miller, Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington that filled some of the gaps.

The performance team, which also includes Dana School of Music Director Randall Goldberg, and professor Kent Engelhardt, had to get creative for the rest.

“We had some holes,” said Cunningham. “I talked with Randall and Kent and we came up with jazz music that would fill in the gaps.”

Benny Goodman’s “Sing Sing Sing” will introduce the battle scene. The instantly recognizable anthem opens with ominous drums and quickly builds into a rhythmic frenzy.

Ellington’s smooth classic “Take the ‘A’ Train” will be the musical backdrop as the guests arrive for the party scene, and “Satin Doll” will be played later when the toys dance.

For the snow scene, Miller’s “Moonlight Serenade” will fit the mood.

Speaking of the party, the BWR has added a few famous guests – played by local celebrities – from the Jazz Era, including F. Scott Fitzgerald (author of “The Great Gatsby”) and his socialite wife, Zelda. Even Charlie Chaplin makes an appearance, emerging in one famed scene in place of the Toy Soldier.

The production has several other Roaring ’20s references, said Cunningham, including a segment where dancers do The Charleston.

Both the BWR and the Dana School hope the show will be followed by future collaborations.

“We’re thrilled to see our jazz program participate in Ballet Western Reserve’s jazzy ‘Nutcracker’,” said Goldberg. “It is an excellent opportunity for our students, and we hope this is a wonderful beginning to a great partnership.”