ATLANTA (July 22, 2019) – After 25 years, more than 500 performances and three different versions of the beloved holiday classic, Atlanta Ballet invites audiences to experience the magic of The Nutcracker at the Fox Theatre for its final run of performances at the historic venue from December 7-24, 2019. Starting in 2020, Atlanta Ballet will perform The Nutcracker at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. 

“It has been an honor to call the Fox Theatre ‘home’ every December for more than two decades,” says Arturo Jacobus, President & CEO of Atlanta Ballet. “We are grateful for our longstanding relationship with the Fox Theatre, and we wish them the best with their future holiday programming.”

Atlanta Ballet has a long history of performing its productions of The Nutcracker at the Fox Theatre. After dancing under George Balanchine at New York City Ballet, Atlanta Ballet Artistic Director Emeritus Robert Barnett was granted permission by the esteemed choreographer to bring his version to Atlanta Ballet. Atlanta Ballet performed Balanchine’s The Nutcracker at the Fox Theatre for the first time in 1975, and annual performances of the production continued there until it was moved to Atlanta Civic Center in 1985. After years of performing Balanchine’s Nutcracker at the Atlanta Civic Center, Atlanta Ballet brought the production back to the Fox Theatre in 1994 – the year Barnett retired. In 1995, former artistic director John McFall premiered his version of the holiday tale at the Fox Theatre, which ran every December for more than two decades. Under the direction of Atlanta Ballet’s fourth artistic director, Gennadi Nedvigin, and presented by The Carlos Family In Honor of Thalia N. Carlos, Atlanta Ballet debuted its newest production of The Nutcracker at the historic venue in December 2018, featuring choreography by Yuri Possokhov.

With larger-than-life sets, stellar lighting and groundbreaking projections developed by a world-class creative team that includes Tony Award-winning and -nominated designers, Atlanta Ballet’s newest production of The Nutcracker features a new generation of theatre technology. As one of the top major performing arts facilities in the metro Atlanta area, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre is well equipped to support the needs of this ultra-high-tech production.

“While we are going to miss its twinkling marquee, iconic starry sky, elaborate Moorish décor and, of course, our dear friend ‘Mighty Mo,’ we are thrilled to introduce audiences to a brand-new, state-of-the-art Nutcracker experience at the incredible Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre,” Jacobus says. “We look forward to continuing to make memories with longtime Nutcracker-goers as well as establishing new traditions with the next generation of Nutcracker audiences at this world-class venue.”

“We are delighted to welcome this gorgeous production and fantastical story ballet to our venue and celebrate one of the city’s most beloved holiday traditions,” said Michele Swann, General Manager/CEO of Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

In addition to offering audiences a spectacular theatre experience, Atlanta Ballet aims to extend the number of Nutcracker performances, giving local Atlantans and tourists alike more opportunities to escape from reality and enter the enchanting dream world that is The Nutcracker.

“The Fox Theatre holds a special place in the hearts of so many families who have established a tradition in attending Atlanta Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker every holiday season, and we are excited to celebrate the legacy that is ‘The Nutcracker at the Fox’ at every performance throughout this final run,” says Nedvigin. “We are lucky to have the opportunity to present future productions of The Nutcracker at such a remarkable facility that is specifically designed for performing arts. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre will serve as an ideal venue for audiences to experience this cutting-edge production in all its high-tech glory.”

Atlanta Ballet is committed to sharing and educating young audiences on the empowering joy of dance, and will continue its community engagement program Kids In Step – a student matinee series where thousands of students have the opportunity to enjoy an abbreviated performance of The Nutcracker as well as a special behind-the-scenes glimpse of the magic that happens backstage. Atlanta Public Schools (APS) has renewed its commitment to send second graders and young students from across Atlanta to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre for this one-of-a-kind theatre experience.

“APS is thrilled to continue sending our students to Atlanta Ballet’s performances of The Nutcracker at this exciting new venue,” says Dr. Meria Joel Carstarphen, Superintendent at Atlanta Public Schools. “Research shows that students who are immersed in arts experiences show more empathy, tolerance and critical thinking. Exposing our second graders in an arts and culturally rich-infused environment like The Nutcracker at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre has the potential to not only enhance learning outcomes for students, but also inspire them to ensure they thrive and grow as learners and patrons of the arts.”

For more information about Atlanta Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker and to purchase tickets, please visit www.atlantaballet.com/nutcracker. Performance tickets start as low as $35 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased by phone at 1.855.285.8499, in person at the Fox Theatre Box Office and the Atlanta Ballet Box Office. For groups of ten or more, please call Atlanta Ballet Group Sales at 404.873.5811, ext. 1207.

Atlanta Ballet gratefully acknowledges the support of The Carlos Family in Honor of Thalia N. Carlos, PNC Bank, Jones Day Foundation, Arrow Exterminators, The Home Depot Foundation, The Zeist Foundation, The Sara Giles Moore Foundation and The Imlay Foundation.

Updated July 23, 2019

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About Atlanta Ballet:

Founded in 1929, Atlanta Ballet is one of the premier dance companies in the country and the official state Ballet of Georgia. Atlanta Ballet's eclectic repertoire spans ballet history, highlighted by beloved classics and inventive originals. After 90 seasons, Atlanta Ballet continues its commitment to share and educate audiences on the empowering joy of dance. In 1996, Atlanta Ballet opened the Centre for Dance Education, which is dedicated to nurturing young dancers while providing an outlet for adults to express their creativity. Atlanta Ballet's roots remain firmly grounded in the Atlanta community and continue to play a vital role in the city's cultural growth and revitalization. For more information, visit www.atlantaballet.com, follow us on Twitter @atlantaballet, and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/atlantaballet.

 

Media Contact:

Julia Berg
Director of Public Relations – Atlanta Ballet
404-873-5811 ext. 1203
jberg@atlantaballet.com