Nutcracker by the Numbers

Do you consider yourself a Nutcracker "nut?" Even if you think you know everything about the RPO and Rochester City Ballet's annual production of this magical holiday favorite, we bet we can still surprise and delight you with these fun facts! The Nutcracker returns to historic Eastman Theatre November 25, 27, 28 and 29. Kids' tickets start at $12.

Nutcracker by the Numbers

1999
The RPO, Rochester City Ballet, and the Bach Children’s Chorus have collaborated every year together since 1999 to create Rochester’s longest running production of The Nutcracker.

credit Erich Camping

9,000
About 9,000 people attend The Nutcracker in historic Eastman Theatre every holiday season!

credit Erich Camping

10
The orchestra pit is located 10 feet below the stage, where 58 RPO musicians will perform.

175
175 local kids play pages, holly sprites, angels, party children and more. In fact, many RCB dancers got their start in the annual RPO/RCB Nutcracker!

credit Erich Camping

50 pounds of shredded polyethylene snow is dropped onstage each performance for the “land of snow” scene.

credit Erich Camping

50
The Bach Children’s Chorus includes up to 50 young voices every year. The chorus includes kids age 8 to 15!

258
39 handmade tutus adorn RCB dancers, and the cast wears 258 total costumes!

51 pairs of ballet slippers are hand painted to match certain costumes, most of which are the green ballet slippers worn by the Holly Sprites in Act II.

credit Erich Camping

29 painted drops making up the scenery for The Nutcracker.

460 stage lighting fixtures make up The Nutcracker, which require a total of 250 lighting cues!

credit Erich Camping

Special thank to the Rochester City Ballet's production and wardrobe team and the Bach Children's Chorus for sharing some of these numbers with us!

Meet the (cover) artist: Denise Fabrizio

Denise Fabrizio's winning art, "Ribbons"

Welcome to the second installment of "Meet the (cover) artist," a series of monthly blog posts that highlight the artist and artwork featured on the RPO’s program books, known as Bravo. These eight works of art were chosen anonymously from a collection of almost 7,000 at the Rochester Contemporary Art Center’s (RoCo) annual 6X6 exhibition, which invites anyone to create a piece of art on a six-by-six inch square space, using whatever medium they prefer. Last month, we introduced you to Denise Hocking, a professor and scientist at the University of Rochester, whose acrylic painting of birch trees in the fall graced our Oct./Nov. issue.

For the holiday season, the RPO selected a colorful watercolor painting of ribbons, reminiscent of the ribbons that dancers use to tie on their pointe shoes, in honor of the annual performances of  The Nutcracker, onstage this weekend at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. For 16 years, Rochester City Ballet and the RPO have teamed up to present the city’s only full-length, live music performance of Tchaikovsky's classic holiday ballet. Fabrizio's "Ribbons" honors the Orchestra's relationship with the Rochester City Ballet and symbolizes holidays at the RPO!

Stay tuned next month for more behind-the-scenes on the Bravo program art!

Name: Denise Fabrizio of Rochester, N.Y.

Occupation: Retired teacher, artist

How did you hear about the RoCo 6X6 exhibit? I have been a member of RoCo for years and have previously entered the 6X6 exhibit.

How did you develop the concept for your art? I was doing watercolor still life and added a few ribbons to the composition. That evolved into all ribbons with maybe one object.

What inspires your creativity? Color, light, and shadow.

What theme(s) are you trying to convey through your 6X6 piece? As in all the ribbon pieces, I am trying to use an everyday object in a way that creates an almost abstract composition.

What is your favorite style(s) of music? Eclectic musical tastes- rock, reggae, Latin, some hip hop.

Denise Fabrizio of Rochester, N.Y.

Magical Nutcracker with Rochester City Ballet

This Thanksgiving, be transported by Tchaikovsky’s timeless score and the captivating dance and costumes of The Nutcracker. This year marks the 15th anniversary of this enchanting production by the RPO and Rochester City Ballet. Performances take place at 2 and 7 PM daily Friday, Nov. 29 through Sunday, Dec. 1 in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre.

The classic tale of Clara and her magical nutcracker is brought to life by talented dancers from the Rochester City Ballet, guest artists from America's top ballet companies, 175 community children, and the Bach Children’s Chorus – with Tchaikovsky's wonderful music performed live by your RPO, conducted by Michael Butterman (The Louise and Henry Epstein Family Chair).

RCB Artistic Director Jamey Leverett has created new choreography for The Nutcracker’s signature Land of Snow scene. “The whole show is nostalgic and exciting, with the snow scene being one of the most magical moments in the entire production,” Leverett said. “We’ve updated this classic section to showcase the incredible technique of our dancers and make the scene that much more special.”

Children's tickets start at only $10! Click here for tickets online, or call the Eastman Theatre Box Office at 585-454-2100.

Get ready for The Nutcracker with story readings at Barnes & Noble, Pittsford (Nov. 8, 7 PM), Penfield Library (Nov. 9, 11 AM), Greece Library (Nov. 9, 11 AM), and Strong Museum of Play (Nov. 11, 11 AM and 1 PM). 

Fans are invited to answer Nutcracker trivia questions on Facebook throughout the month of November for a chance to win two tickets to the Sunday evening show. To follow performance preparations and see behind-the-scenes photos of costumes and rehearsals, visit the RCB Facebook page.