Casting for the first couple of weeks...remarkably few debuts, but a few highlights:

** Gonzalo Garcia makes his NYCB Nutcracker debut on Nov 24 (matinee)
** Justin Peck becomes the next in line of Mother Ginger men
** Megan LeCrone debuts as Dewdrop
** Lauren King, Kathryn Morgan and Erica Pereira as Marzipan
** Troy Schumacher as Candycane

** Sugarplum/Cavalier partnership of interest: Ana Sophia Scheller and Gonzalo Garcia

It's also nice to Benjamin Millepied consistently back in the casting - he's been fighting an on & off foot injury for years, so I hope the pain is finally gone.

MIA so far (though quite possibly off guesting): Jared Angle, Woetzel, Marcovici, Martins, Evans, de Luz, Kistler, Ringer, Sylve, Taylor

New York City Ballet Principal Casting December 4 -9, 2007

Tue. Eve. Dec 4, 2007 at 6 pm [Kaplow]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: Bouder Cavalier: Veyette
Dewdrop: Mearns Hot Chocolate: Hankes, T. Angle
Coffee: Reichlen Tea: Ulbricht
Candy Cane: Gold Marzipan: King
Mother Ginger: Tworzyanski Drosselmeier: Kramarevsky+

Wed. Eve. Dec.5, 2007 at 6 pm [Karoui]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: Reichlen Cavalier: Hanna
Dewdrop: M. Fairchild Hot Chocolate: Pazcoguin, R. Fairchild
Coffee: Abergel Tea: Hendrickson
Candy Cane: Suozzi Marzipan: Dronova
Mother Ginger: Danchig-Waring Drosselmeier: La Fosse+

Thur. Eve. Dec. 6, 2007 at 6 pm [Kaplow]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: Whelan Cavalier: Neal
Dewdrop: Kowroski Hot Chocolate: Muller, la Cour
Coffee: Arthurs Tea: Carmena
Candy Cane: *Schumacher Marzipan: Tinsley-Williams
Mother Ginger: J. Peck Drosselmeier: Hendrickson

Fri. Eve. Dec. 7, 2007 at 8 pm [Karoui]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: Borree Cavalier: Millepied
Dewdrop: Bouder Hot Chocolate: Lowery, Ramasar
Coffee: Muller Tea: Laurent
Candy Cane: Ulbricht Marzipan: Morgan
Mother Ginger: Tworzyanski Drosselmeier: Froman


Sat. Mat., Dec. 8, 2007 at 2 pm [Karoui]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: Hyltin Cavalier: J. Stafford
Dewdrop: Scheller Hot Chocolate: Keenan, R. Fairchild
Coffee: Lowery Tea: Ulbricht
Candy Cane: Gold Marzipan: *Pereira
Mother Ginger: J. Peck Drosselmeier: Kramarevsky+

Sat. Eve., Dec. 8, 2007 at 8 pm [Karoui]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: M. Fairchild Cavalier: Garcia
Dewdrop: LeCrone Hot Chocolate: Muller, la Cour
Coffee: Pazcoguin Tea: Paradiso
Candy Cane: Severini Marzipan: Dronova
Mother Ginger: Danchig-Waring Drosselmeier: La Fosse+


Sun. Mat., Dec 9, 2007 at 1 pm [Béran+]

George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM

Sugarplum: Scheller Cavalier: Veyette
Dewdrop: Hyltin Hot Chocolate: Beskow. Danchig-Waring
Coffee: Arthurs Tea: Schumacher
Candy Cane: Hendrickson Marzipan: Laracey
Mother Ginger: Tworzyanski Drosselmeier: Froman

Sun. Eve., Dec. 9, 2007 at 5 pm [Béran+]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: Borree Cavalier: Millepied
Dewdrop: M. Fairchild Hot Chocolate: Lowery, Ramasar
Coffee: Abergen Tea: Carmena
Candy Cane: Villalobos Marzipan: King
Mother Ginger: J. Peck Drosselmeier: HendricksonNew York City Ballet Principal Casting November 27 - December 2, 2007

Thur. Eve. Nov. 29, 2007 at 6 pm [Kaplow]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: Borree Cavalier: Millepied
Dewdrop: Bouder Hot Chocolate: Muller, la Cour
Coffee: Lowery Tea: Carmena
Candy Cane: Severini Marzipan: Dronova
Mother Ginger: Tworzyanski Drosselmeier: Froman

Fri. Eve. Nov, 30, 2007 at 8 pm [Karoui]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: Whelan Cavalier: Neal
Dewdrop: Reichlen Hot Chocolate: Lowery, Ramasar
Coffee: Abergel Tea: Villalobos
Candy Cane: Gold Marzipan: Morgan
Mother Ginger: Danchig-Waring Drosselmeier: La Fosse+


Sat. Mat., Dec. 1, 2007 at 2 pm [Kaplow]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: Somogyi Cavalier: Hanna
Dewdrop: Scheller Hot Chocolate: Hankes, T. Angle
Coffee: Muller Tea: Laurent
Candy Cane: Suozzi Marzipan: Laracey
Mother Ginger: Tworzyanski Drosselmeier: Froman

Sat. Eve., Dec. 1, 2007 at 8 pm [Karoui]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: Kowroski Cavalier: Askegard
Dewdrop: Mearns Hot Chocolate: Beskow, Danchig-Waring
Coffee: Reichlen Tea: Carmena
Candy Cane: Gold Marzipan: Dronova
Mother Ginger: J. Peck Drosselmeier: Kramarevsky+


Sun. Mat., Dec 2, 2007 at 1 pm [Karoui]

George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM

Sugarplum: Scheller Cavalier: Garcia
Dewdrop: *LeCrone Hot Chocolate: Muller, la Cour
Coffee: Pazcoguin Tea: Schumacher
Candy Cane: Villalobos Marzipan: Tinsley-Williams
Mother Ginger: Danchig-Waring Drosselmeier: La Fosse+

Sun. Eve., Dec. 2, 2007 at 5 pm [Karoui]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: Whelan Cavalier: Neal
Dewdrop: Reichlen Hot Chocolate: Lowery, Ramasar
Coffee: Arthurs Tea: Paradiso
Candy Cane: Gold Marzipan: Morgan
Mother Ginger: J. Peck Drosselmeier: Kramarevsky+
New York City Ballet Principal Casting November 23 - 25, 2007


Fri. Eve. Nov, 23, 2007 at 8 pm [Karoui]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: Kowroski Cavalier: Askegard
Dewdrop: Bouder Hot Chocolate: Lowery, Ramasar
Coffee: Reichlen Tea: Ulbricht
Candy Cane: Gold Marzipan: Dronova
Mother Ginger: Danchig-Waring Drosselmeier: La Fosse+


Sat. Mat., Nov. 24, 2007 at 2 pm [Karoui]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: M. Fairchild Cavalier: *Garcia
Dewdrop: Hyltin Hot Chocolate: Hankes, T. Angle
Coffee: Arthurs Tea: Hendrickson
Candy Cane: Suozzi Marzipan: *Morgan
Mother Ginger: *J. Peck Drosselmeier: Kramarevsky+

Sat. Eve., Nov. 24, 2007 at 8 pm [Kaplow]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: Borree Cavalier: Millepied
Dewdrop: Bouder Hot Chocolate: Muller, la Cour
Coffee: Lowery Tea: Carmena
Candy Cane: Ulbricht Marzipan: *King
Mother Ginger: Tworzyanski Drosselmeier: Froman


Sun. Mat., Nov. 25, 2007 at 1 pm [Karoui]

George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM

Sugarplum: Kowroski Cavalier: Askegard
Dewdrop: Bouder Hot Chocolate: Lowery, Ramasar
Coffee: Reichlen Tea: Ulbricht
Candy Cane: Gold Marzipan: Dronova
Mother Ginger: Danchig-Waring Drosselmeier: La Fosse+

Sun. Eve., Nov. 25, 2007 at 5 pm[Karoui]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: M. Fairchild Cavalier: Garcia
Dewdrop: Hyltin Hot Chocolate: Hankes, T. Angle
Coffee: Arthurs Tea: Hendrickson
Candy Cane: Suozzi Marzipan: Morgan
Mother Ginger: J. Peck Drosselmeier: Kramarevsky+

** The 15th brings with it the first major series of debuts, headlined by Kathryn Morgan's debut as the SugarPlum.


New York City Ballet Principal Casting December 11-16, 2007

Tue. Eve. Dec 11, 2007 at 6 pm [Kaplow]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: Whelan Cavalier: Woetzel
Dewdrop: A. Stafford Hot Chocolate: Lowery, Ramasar
Coffee: Krohn Tea: Ulbricht
Candy Cane: Severini Marzipan: Morgan
Mother Ginger: Danchig-Waring Drosselmeier: Kramarevsky+

Wed. Eve. Dec.12, 2007 at 6 pm [Béran+]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: Reichlen Cavalier: Hanna
Dewdrop: M. Fairchild Hot Chocolate: Pazcoguin, R. Fairchild
Coffee: Muller Tea: Hendrickson
Candy Cane: Gold Marzipan: Dronova
Mother Ginger: Tworzyanski Drosselmeier: La Fosse+

Thur. Eve. Dec. 13, 2007 at 6 pm [Kaplow]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: Hyltin Cavalier: J. Stafford
Dewdrop: Mearns Hot Chocolate: Beskow, Danchig-Waring
Coffee: Lowery Tea: Carmena
Candy Cane: Ulbricht Marzipan: Tinsley-Williams
Mother Ginger: J. Peck Drosselmeier: Froman

Fri. Eve. Dec. 14, 2007 at 8 pm [Béran+]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: Kowroski Cavalier: Askegard
Dewdrop: Bouder Hot Chocolate: Muller, Tworzyanski
Coffee: Krohn Tea: Laurent
Candy Cane: Hendrickson Marzipan: King
Mother Ginger: Danchig-Waring Drosselmeier: Kramarevsky+


Sat. Mat., Dec. 15, 2007 at 2 pm [Kaplow]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: *Morgan Cavalier: Garcia
Dewdrop: *Lowery Hot Chocolate: *Collins, R. Fairchild
Coffee: *Ostrom Tea: *Renko
Candy Cane: *Peiffer Marzipan: *Piskin
Mother Ginger: Tworzyanski Drosselmeier: Hendrickson


Sat. Eve., Dec. 15, 2007 at 8 pm [Béran+]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: Borree Cavalier: Millepied
Dewdrop: Reichlen Hot Chocolate: Hankes, T. Angle
Coffee: Abergel Tea: Ulbricht
Candy Cane: Gold Marzipan: Laracey
Mother Ginger: J. Peck Drosselmeier: La Fosse+


Sun. Mat., Dec 16, 2007 at 1 pm [Béran+]

George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM

Sugarplum: A. Stafford Cavalier: J. Angle
Dewdrop: LeCrone Hot Chocolate: Keenan, Tworzyanski
Coffee: Arthurs Tea: Paradiso
Candy Cane: Suozzi Marzipan: Pereira
Mother Ginger: Danchig-Waring Drosselmeier: Froman

Sun. Eve., Dec. 16, 2007 at 5 pm [Béran+]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: Bouder Cavalier: Veyette
Dewdrop: Hyltin Hot Chocolate: Beskow, Danchig-Waring
Coffee: Pazcoguin Tea: Schumacher
Candy Cane: Villalobos Marzipan: Zungre
Mother Ginger: J. Peck Drosselmeier: Hendrickson

http://www.suisu.com/beran/biographieUK.html

The biography of Philippe Béran, who will be guest conducting during the Nutcracker season. Sounds like an interesting man - he has degrees in physics and music, and taught math & science during his early years as a conductor.

The 2000th performance of the Nutcracker will be celebrated with a very special casting

New York City Ballet Principal Casting December 18-23, 2007

Tue. Eve. Dec 18, 2007 at 6 pm [Béran+]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: Hyltin Cavalier: *R. Fairchild
Dewdrop: Mearns Hot Chocolate: Lowery, Ramasar
Coffee: Reichlen Tea: Hendrickson
Candy Cane: Ulbricht Marzipan: Dronova
Mother Ginger: J. Peck Drosselmeier: Kramarevsky+

Wed. Mat. Dec.19, 2007 at 2 pm [Béran+]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM

Sugarplum: Morgan Cavalier: T. Angle
Dewdrop: LeCrone Hot Chocolate: Muller, Tworzyanski
Coffee: Ostrom Tea: Renko
Candy Cane: Peiffer Marzipan: Laracey
Mother Ginger: Danchig-Waring Drosselmeier: Froman

Wed. Eve. Dec.19, 2007 at 6 pm [Kaplow]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM


2000th Performance! ***Special Casting!
Sugarplum: ***
Borree
Kistler
Kowroski
Mearns
A. Stafford
Whelan Cavalier: ***
J. Angle
Askegard
Garcia
Hanna
Martins
Millepied
Neal
Woetzel
Dewdrop: ***
Bouder
Hytlin
Scheller Hot Chocolate: Beskow, Danchig-Waring
Coffee: Krohn Tea: Carmena
Candy Cane: Gold Marzipan: Zungre
Mother Ginger: Tworzyanski Drosselmeier: La Fosse+


Thur. Eve. Dec. 20, 2007 at 6 pm [Kaplow]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: Borree Cavalier: Millepied
Dewdrop: Lowery Hot Chocolate: Collins, R. Fairchild
Coffee: Arthurs Tea: Paradiso
Candy Cane: Hendrickson Marzipan: Piskin
Mother Ginger: J. Peck Drosselmeier: Froman

Fri. Eve. Dec. 21, 2007 at 8 pm [Otranto+]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: Bouder Cavalier: Garcia
Dewdrop: A. Stafford Hot Chocolate: Hankes, T. Angle
Coffee: Abergel Tea: Ulbricht
Candy Cane: Suozzi Marzipan: Dronova
Mother Ginger: Danchig-Waring Drosselmeier: La Fosse+


Sat. Mat., Dec. 22, 2007 at 2 pm [Stelluto+]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: Whelan Cavalier: Woetzel
Dewdrop: LeCrone Hot Chocolate: Keenan, Tworzyanski
Coffee: Muller Tea: Laurent
Candy Cane: Severini Marzipan: Morgan
Mother Ginger: J. Peck Drosselmeier: Hendrickson

Sat. Eve., Dec. 22, 2007 at 8 pm [Otranto+]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: *Mearns Cavalier: Hanna
Dewdrop: *Pereira Hot Chocolate: Pazcoguin R. Fairchild
Coffee: Lowery Tea: Carmena
Candy Cane: Ulbricht Marzipan: Tinsley-Williams
Mother Ginger: Tworzyanski Drosselmeier: La Fosse+


Sun. Mat., Dec 23, 2007 at 1 pm [Otranto+]

George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM

Sugarplum: Scheller Cavalier: Ramasar
Dewdrop: Hyltin Hot Chocolate: Hankes, T. Angle
Coffee: Krohn Tea: Schumacher
Candy Cane: Villalobos Marzipan: King
Mother Ginger: Tworzyanski Drosselmeier: Kramarevsky+

Sun. Eve., Dec. 23, 2007 at 5 pm [Stelluto+]
George Balanchine's The NutcrackerTM
Sugarplum: A. Stafford Cavalier: Danchig-Waring
Dewdrop: Bouder Hot Chocolate: Lowery, Tworzyanski
Coffee: Pazcoguin Tea: Ulbricht
Candy Cane: Gold Marzipan: Pereira
Mother Ginger: J. Peck Drosselmeier: Hendrickson

I was going to write a proper review, but the mind is too jarred...

I suspect that tonight's performance of 'The Nutcracker' was one that the NYCB would have preferred to forget. It's not the dancing was poor - far from it - but the vast majority of the dancing in the Land of the Sweets was marred by the nearly continual sounding of a very loud alarm which persisted, off and on, for almost the entire length of Act 2. The only saving grace was that it did drown out the noisy kids behind me .

(I have learned to enjoy the low level noise - the oohs and ahs and occasional yells of triumph when the mice are defeated - that accompanies the younger crowd in the Nutcracker, but it's another thing to have a constant conversation/whining/arguing behind you and then to be yelled at by a child that they need their binoculars when you say 'shh'. There are clearly some parents in the area who have no idea of common courtesy and who clearly have brought up their kids to think that the ballet theatre is no different from the movie theatre. Then again someone who buys partial view seats - which have to be bought in person or by phone where appropriate warnings can be made - and then complains loudly about the view, is probably not a frequent live theatre goer).

In any case, the kids were no match for the alarm. It was not clear what triggered the alarm - which I think was coming from where the spotlights are located), but my guess would be that the company could not disable it without fire/police personnel (to prevent people from turning off an alarm if there was actually a fire). I suspect that it wasn't very audible to the dancers, and given that they have a matinee tomorrow, the company probably wanted to avoid at all costs running over and thus having issues to do with union regulations regarding time off between performances.

But it really was very disruptive for those in the 4th ring (and probably elsewhere) for almost the whole 2nd act, and since the company made no effort to halt the performance to address the issue, it would have been nice to at least have the ushers positioned post performance to offer apologies. I strongly suspect that there may be more than a few requests for refunds - at a minimum of $40 for a full view seat, it's not a cheap night out for a family.

The performers were in fine form despite a clearly unsettled audience. Even I, used to watching rehearsals in sometimes chaotic settings, found it hard to focus.

Among the highlights were Daniel Ulbricht in Tea - probably a rare occasion when a principal does this role. Additionally, I was very impressed by Vincent Paradiso's first act soldier - extremely powerful, but precise in the series of 3/4 tours. I've seen dancers in this role slowly run out of steam, but Paradiso never wavered.

Kudos also to Damian Woetzel and Wendy Whelan for performing a faultless pas de deux despite the alarm-accompaniment. I would agree that the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy is perhaps not ideal for Whelan - she is a bit brittle and past her technical peak, but few match her in depth of feeling. And her partnership with Woetzel was a smooth as silk - Kistler, aside, these are the senior two dancers in the company. Woetzel - the reason I came to this performance - continues to amaze. His pirouette skills at age 40 are probably the envy of many dancers half his age, and his menage of jetes was not the highest perhaps, but with beautiful turnout, stretch and pointed feet.

I'm afraid I wasn't really able to concentrate on Abi Stafford's Dewdrop, but what registered in my jarred brain was positive.

(Edited to add that other comments have suggested that the alarm was backstage. My impression was that it was loudest up top and I could see a light - of the type that generally accompany an alarm - flashing up in the ceiling recess from which the spots are operated. This may not have been the only alarm going off, but suggests to me that it was not solely a backstage problem - in addition, I don't think the dancers could hear the alarm much over the orchestra because they seemed pretty much unruffled.

I also still think that NYCB would get a lot of mileage out of an apology message on the website - there are going to be a bunch of annoyed people out there, at least some of whom might look to the website for info on getting a refund. Some acknowledgment of the problem, and apology - whether or not the company was at fault - may help to soothe ruffled feelings.)

Kate

In the New York Sun, Joel Lobenthal reviews the Saturday matinee performance of December 15, 2007, which featured a good number of first performances in roles:

NY Sun

Just back from the 2000th NYCB performance of Balanchine's Nutcracker, which was mercifully free of loud alarms.

The first act was as normal, with the '2nd cast' of kids. I didn't think this performance had quite the zing of the performance on the 11th - whether it was the cast or things getting a bit 'stale' after nearly a month of performances (who's going nuts by now...). The first act mime didn't seem as effective, and I thought that some 'moments' got lost due to slight misses in timing or placement. For instance, the final fight between the mouse king and the nutcracker was so far to one side of the stage that it didn't get the focus which it needs.

The opening of Act 2 hinted at the special events to come - not one, but three Dewdrops came out to greet Clara & her Prince. Other than the mention in the program, which clearly not everyone noticed, there was no indication of the importance of the evening, and some people seemed a bit confused. I think it might have helped, given the number of ballet novices that attend the Nutcracker, if they could have had some kind of banner or notice in the foyer announcing that it was the 2000th performance.

The splitting of the roles was well down. Maria Kowroski was the first Sugar Plum Fairy, dancing the section with the angels. Wendy Whelan and Damian Woetzel - in what seemed a clear nod to their status as the senior principals in the company - were given the honor of dancing the whole first section of the grand pas deux. And the honor was warranted - they are the epitome of elegance and smooth partnering. [Darci Kistler is the senior most dancer in the company, but very limited in rep, so Woetzel and Whelan are really the two seniormost dancers who are still really actively dancing) Jared Angle and Benjamin Millepied, mirroring each other, did the cavalier's first solo. The turning section was turned into a trio, with Gonazalo Garcia doing turns in second, flanked by Philip Neal (?) and Charles Askegard doing alternate series of beats (one in the air at a time). Flanking the NYCB veterans, Garcia looks a bit heavy and less than clean - hopefully some time with NYCB will refine him as it has done for Joaquin de Luz.

Following them, three more Sugar Plums (Kistler, Borree, Stafford) did the next section with six cavaliers - three pairs would do the supported pirouettes, then one set of cavaliers would step back, and the sequence would be repeated with the next three men supporting their respective partners.

For the Dewdrops - Sterling Hyltin and Ashley Bouder alternated the actual solo, with Sara Mearns doing the the finale (I don't think Mearns danced in the divertissiment, but didn't have binoculars and have not seen Mearns dance before).

Kistler was the finale Sugar Plum. It was fine tribute to her many years in the company as her artistry could shine without - as has been unfortunately common in recent years - her being faced with choreography that is no longer within her technical abilities.

Tom Gold all but owns the role of Candy Cane - there's no-one who seems to enjoy the role more. I was a bit disappointed with Antonio Carmena's Tea - his delayed splits were not very high and his splits seemed to run out of energy. He's capable of much more, so I hope this was just a case of Nutcracker overload.

Kate

The NY Times has posted a video with clips from the 2000th performance which shows some of the multiple SP moments I was describing as well as a close up which reveals the secret of the SP's sliding arabesque...

http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=c ... 7a675a55b7

Alistair MacAulay reviews the performance here

I find it a bit cheeky that none of the Cavaliers or the other Dewdrops are mentioned by name. The Sugarplum's Adagio is a pas de deux - she can't dance it alone. And some of the Cavaliers danced far more than some of the named Sugarplums.