Charleston Ballet Theatre's The Nutcracker

Event Details

Our Charleston-set Nutcracker has been a holiday classic for over three decades and has been expanded to performances at both Gaillard Auditorium and now at the N. Chas. Performing Art Center.

Charleston Ballet Theatre's Nutcracker, set in the Lowcountry of the 1860's features familiar Charleston names and landmarks, making this holiday classic a truly unique Charleston Christmas time experience.

Dec. 10 & 11 Gaillard Auditorium and Dec. 16 & 17 at NPAC
Cost: Tickets range $25 - $45 (military and student discount available

MUTTCRACKER:
Everyone loves to go home for the holidays and this season some lovable homeless pups will get their chance when Charleston Ballet Theatre and the Charleston Animal Society join forces for their holiday adpotion promotion The Muttcracker.

Charleston Ballet Theatre Adminstrative Director Kyle Barnette and Resident Choreographer Jill Eathorne Bahr immediately took to the idea that was first suggested by their friends at Ft. Wayne Ballet in Indiana who tried the event last year with their Nutcracker and found great success for the ballet and their local ASPCA chapter.

‘The idea of adding an exciting new element to our Nutcracker matched with the ability to help some wonderful, needy dogs find homes for the holidays is one the greatest opportunities I could imagine for CBT,’ states Barnette. ‘Everyone on staff here at the ballet are dog owners and lovers and we’ll do whatever we can to help our new friends at the Charleston Animal Society!’

After meeting with Associate Executive Director Marc Edwards, Barnette and Edwards came up with the plans to get some loveable pups ready for their Nutcracker debut. During Nutcracker performances both at Gaillard Auditorium and the North Charleston Performing Arts Center, alumni dogs from the Charleston Animal Society will appear in the opening street scenes of the show and possibly in the following party scene. Dancers will be walking the dogs across the stage as part of the holiday market atmosphere of the beginning of the Nutcracker, which takes place in Charleston in the 1850s. Before the show and at intermission, audience members will have the opportunity to meet the star dogs as well as others who are in search for a home for the holidays. The Charleston Animal Society will be present at all shows, ensuring the safety of their wonderful friends on and offstage.

Adding dogs to a show could certainly bring its challenges but choreographer Jill Eathorne Bahr isn’t worried in the least. ‘We are all dog lovers at CBT. It’s all worth it to make sure as many sweethearts as possible find a home for the holidays,’ Bahr says. ‘Every dog deserves that chance and we’re happy to help any way we can.’

Barnette concurs, ‘As long as we even bring new awareness to the good work of the Charleston Animal Society, we will know we’ve done some good. We can’t wait to get started!’

Audiences can look for the dogs at all of the CBT public performances of The Nutcracker as well as the school matinees at both venues. Tickets to all Nutcracker performances are already on sale and can purchased online at charlestonballet.org or through Ticketmaster and Ticketmaster outlets.