Retelling a Night of Confections Gloriously Dusted With Snow
by JENNIFER DUNNING for the New York Times

What distinguished the production presented by the Joffrey Ballet School on Saturday night at the Skirball Center was the appearance of Gary Chryst as the eccentric Herr Drosselmeyer, whose Christmas gift of a nutcracker sets the ballet's story in motion.

Mr. Chryst was one of the great Joffrey Ballet stars of the 1970's, a performer of unusual individuality and intense physical energy who went on to play lead dance roles on Broadway and choreograph musicals and revues. How would so dynamic a dancer transform himself into a crotchety geezer?

published: December 20, 2005