Oregon Ballet Theatre Tickets

Both the ballet performance and the theatrical sets were outstanding. This was my 8 year old daughter's first opportunity to enjoy OBT's Nutcracker ... and she loved it. Unfortunately, due to the performance's 7:30 PM start time, she started getting very sleepy during the second act. We'll be back again. One suggestion ... when we arrived at front of the Keller Auditorium at around 6:15 PM, we were somewhat confused as to where to line up to enter the building. There was a long line of people waiting, but I couldn't tell what the line was for. As we waited at the end of the line, we noticed that some patrons were entering the building through the door at the south end of the building front. After inquiring, we soon realized that we could enter immediately since we already had our tickets in hand. I'm assuming that the long line was for "will call". In future, it may help to have improved signage, or to have staff directing patrons who already have tickets to enter through the other doors.

Very well done. Some new things added since last seen two years ago. We heartily approve. Set is beautiful. Seeing with live orchestra improves enjoyment tenfold. Already looking forward to next year.

OBTs production of the nutcracker is always beautiful, with very few missteps in the dancing and well-done sets and costumes. For die-hard fans that need their yearly fix, I am sure it's satisfying, as it was for other members of my party at the performance. I, personally, have two beefs: 1) no live orchestra at most of the performances. This takes away from the magic of seeing a live ballet and makes the ticket price seem a little too high. The hall was full -- are you telling me they can't afford the orchestra for every performance? 2) I understand that the choreography is meant to remain consistent and faithful to Ballanchine's, but I wish they would take some liberties with the production and have a few changes and surprises each year so it isn't just one big Deja Vu. Step it up a bit -- make it fresher! Changing the size of the snowflakes doesn't count!

My family and I were disappointed with this year's performance of the OBT Nutcracker. There were many kids and few high caliber dancers. The story didn't feel as strong or as emotional. I came for ballet and got a lot of children doing basic dancing. Even the key dancers felt weaker than normal. I hope next year is better.

I've seen the Nutcracker over twenty times in my lifetime and this is by far the worst production of it that I have ever seen. If it wasn't for my kids seeing it for the first time I actually would have walked out. This is also the only production of the Nutcracker that I've seen that did not receive a standing ovation except for the one mother who was there to see her child. I actually felt embarrassed for them and gave them a courtousy clap.

We had. Amazing front row seats at a steal of a price! It was beautiful and amazing especially because we can see the facial expressions of the dancers. My daughter really enjoy the orchestra as well.

It was my 7th time seeing the OBT and it just continually gets better with each performance. This year it meant a bit more to me, as it was the only thing Christmasy that I was able to do. It was also impressive night with the former Trail Blazer as a part of the cast. Outside of his height, he was did not seem out of place.

Sorry, this was awful. The ballet dancers were fine. Overall not my cup of tea. I left after 3 songs.

We love the Nutcracker. It was fantasic. It was my granddaughters first Nutcracker and she loved it. The only problem was I wanted to get her a Nutcracker souvenier and there wasn't any for sale. It would have made a wonderful keepsake for her.

overall i think obt's performance of the nutcracker is great! this was our 2nd year in a row taking our kids (8 and 5). i highly recommend going when the live orchestra is playing because it makes a huge difference...maybe not to the kids...but for the parents. plus you can use it as a teaching tool, i.e. witnessing the orchestra in the pit warming up, watching the conductor, etc. there are a few details of this interpretation of the ballet that i don't care for, but in general, it is lively, short and the quality of the dancing is very good. it is a special treat for our children and an early christmas present. i think the tickets are outrageously expensive so we definitely will not go again for another few years.

Susannah Mars ~ who else could vocalize for an entire hour without stopping? She was remarkable. The musicians and dancers were mesmerizing, all in synch. The entire team that composed this Revue are obviously passionate in every way.

I hadn't heard any news about Holiday Revue; it had been my sister's idea to try to do something festive for the holiday season and so she had picked this event as something that was relatively reasonable in terms of price. It ended up being amazing! While I've never been an avid fan of ballet, the musical performances included were absolutely riveting. Susannah Mars was a breathtaking singer and she essentially drove the entire performance for me. Although the dancers were beautiful in their costumes, they were definitely the side dish for me - it was all about Mars' performance! However, the dancers were hilarious when they were performing alongside Mars' "8 Days of Hanukkah". You need to keep your eyes out for the opening dance on that number! It was also great to hear such a great mix of the more mainstream holiday music with lesser known songs - I still have "Lime Green Jello Marshmellow Cottage Cheese Surprise" stuck in my head. All in all, what a great way to get into the holiday spirit, and the show is brief - only about an hour or so - and so even people who normally stay away from ballet shows can rest easy because that hour goes by in a snap. I'm so glad to hear that OBT will be taking this event on as an annual tradition now; I'm definitely taking my parents next year!

The music and dancing were a real treat. The singer was excellent and it's great to have an alternative to the Nutcracker. The pieces were light and playful. The performance lasted less than an hour, which may be good or bad depending on your needs. We wished it had been a little longer.

It was a magical matinee - I take my granddaughter to this every year - it is our one day out together for the whole day - just the two of us. The dancers were spectacular - colors - lights - music outstanding!

It was more like a musical than a ballet! more musical than choreographed art.

Too much strutting around the stage. Expected more dancing, second half was great.

I loved this staging of the Nutcracker. I especially loved having snow falling throughout the snowflake dance It seems like in past years the snow only fell toward the end, but with the snow falling throughout that scene,it gave the whole show a wonderful ethereal feeling. It was just the right length did not seem overly long and all the dancing was wonderful. Even Matt Zafino's walk on part was very well done : )

We missed the live orchestra, but the dancing was wonderful.

All of the pomp and circumstance is gone. The set is so dark I thought I was viewing film noir. Many of the adult roles are replaced with children -- though children are a part of the ballet, they cannot dance like an adult. Also many of the favorite character dancers are replaced with these politically correct automatons. This appears to be a children's production, for and by children. It almost appears they didn't have enough money to put on the ballet; with the poor set and lack of adult dancers.

We had an enjoyable evening for the most part, but I was disappointed in two ways. First, the music was recorded. I expected live music in the orchestra pit. Recorded music just does not have the same range and sound. Secondly, the performing dancers were not the OBT's principal dancers. They were company dancers and apprentices. They were good, but OBT did not have their best performers on stage. Maybe Nutcracker is less interesting to the more advanced artists, but it seemed to be a second rate effort from a company that is better than that.