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Fun Facts for The Nutcracker

(Dallas / Fort Worth, TX – November 2009)… Texas Ballet Theater’s Artistic Director Ben Stevenson O.B.E. is proud to present The Nutcracker, a family favorite holiday tradition, November 27 – December 6, 2009 at the AT&T Performing Arts Center Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House in Dallas and December 11 – 24, 2009 at the Nancy Lee & Perry R. Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth.
The following is a series of interesting facts about Texas Ballet Theater’s production:

  • The Nutcracker is based on the story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King written by E. T. A. Hoffman.
  • Texas Ballet Theater’s The Nutcracker is performed in 2 different theaters – the Winspear Opera House in Dallas and the Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth.
  • A crew of 30 stagehands and 10 wardrobe/dressers work behind the scenes at each performance.
  • The Nutcracker uses 398,300 watts of electricity during each performance.
  • The Christmas tree featured in the first act magically grows to over 40 feet.
  • Over 300 pounds of snow is used during the run, made from a combination of plastic and flame retardant ½ inch paper squares.
  • More than 100 local children perform in various roles during the engagement. Many of these children are enrolled in classes at either the Dallas or Fort Worth Academies of the Texas Ballet Theater School.
  • Texas Ballet Theater’s wardrobe department begins refurbishing costumes in June to be ready for the November / December engagement.
  • Over 200 costumes are used in Texas Ballet Theater’s The Nutcracker.
  • 10 miles of thread was used to build the costumes.
  • Texas Ballet Theater’s wardrobe department may spend 200-300 hours to create 1 tutu.
  • An average of 17 loads of laundry are done after every performance.
  • Several gallons of vodka are also used during the engagement to clean the costumes.
  • Quick costume changes are made in the wings offstage or sometimes in the backstage hallway.
  • Some dancers need a new pair of pointe shoes after each performance.

Ticket Information
Tickets for The Nutcracker are now on sale and can be purchased by calling the Texas Ballet Theater ticketing hotline at 877-828-9200. Patrons may also visit the box office at Texas Ballet Theater’s Administrative Offices, 6845 Green Oaks Road, Fort Worth, 76116. Tickets for the Dallas engagement are $19 to $109 per person, depending upon seating location. Tickets for the Fort Worth engagement are $19 to $99 per person, depending upon seating location. For more information, visit www.texasballettheater.org.

About Texas Ballet Theater
Founded in 1961, Texas Ballet Theater is the premier professional ballet company in North Texas. Under Artistic Director Ben Stevenson O.B.E., the ballet brings unprecedented talent, beauty and artistic expression to the stages of the Nancy Lee & Perry R. Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth and the new AT&T Performing Arts Center Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House in Dallas. For more information, please visit www.texasballettheater.org.

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