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Don't buy a gift; give an experience. This year, The Washington Ballet celebrates 15 years of its very-DC version of The Nutcracker, through December 28 at the historic Warner Theatre in downtown Washington DC.
Set to Tchaikovsky's magical score, this celebrated production set in 1882 early Georgetown has become the signature Nutcracker in our nation's capital. The curtain rises and the audience is transported back in time to a Georgetown mansion, where party guests include Frederick Douglass, John Paul Jones, Harriet Tubman, Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. The Washington Ballet's iconic version is equal parts history lesson, mischief and humor. With General Washington as the heroic Nutcracker and George III as the Rat King, the story comes to life with over 100 dancers, intricate, stunning set designs and original custom costumes. Audiences will be captivated by stunning duets by Anacostia Native Americans and a springtime on the banks of the Potomac. Waltzing cherry blossoms, dancing cardinals and dancing sugar plums plus other enchanting adaptations make this unique production at the majestic Warner Theatre a special treat that continues to captivate audiences of all ages.
It was quite enjoyable seeing the incorporation of US history into this classic story. The stage sets and lighting for the event were very good allowing you to lose yourself in the dance and music. All of the performers did a good job with some moments of true brilliance. The use of soundtracks over live music is disappointing.
The Warner Theatre is exactly the right size for this production, elegant and intimate, yet large enough for comfort. All dancers, young and older, are beautifully prepared and convey joy and delight in their performances; wonderful choreography and costumes - an unforgettable entertainment. Do leave extra time for parking and for entering the theater - it is very well attended.
Every moment -- from start to finish -- was absolutely FABULOUS!!! I attended with three friends, and we all agree; it exceeded our expectations.
The ballet was enjoyable. It was a nice production and should satisfy anyone looking for their Nutcracker fix. It was however boiling in the theater. Everyone was stripping down to the least amount of presentable clothing to stay remotely comfortable. The lobby is so small in the Warner Theatre that is was a zoo with all of the kids seeing the matinee performance. It was impossible to move which made the heat that much more unbearable.
An interesting spin on the nutcracker. Dc style. The beginning was more of a children's play but as things continued the actual dancing picked up nicely.
I always enjoy the Washington Ballet production of the Nutcracker! I enjoy that they make it unique to Washington D.C. The only thing that I would love to see again with this production is a live orchestra again. I love the scenery for the dancing and I love that the production changes slightly each year.
It was about 90 degrees inside the crowded theatre. We suffocated and sweated for 2 hours and couldn't enjoy the show at Warner Theatre. Torture. Felt bad for the performers.
We really had a good time. Costumes were wonderful; ballet was beautiful. Music was perfect. Fun to see it after so many years. So many kids there, but all were very well behaved. The woman in front of me should have been kind of enough to stop playing around on her cell phone!
The idea was creative, but the choreography was lacking, the dancers were unable to keep up with the pre-recorded music and even on Saturday evening children talked, kicked seats and stood up throughout the show.
Had it not been for my grandaughter being a member of the cast I would not have attended. A BIG mistake on my part. The event was excellent. A must see for all!
They took extreme creative liberties with the original nutcracker and just made a ballet recital out of it. The actual nutcracker and rat king were barely in the ballet.
Unfortunately we were so distracted by the heat we were not able to enjoy the show as much as last year.
This was our second time going to see The Washington Ballet's Nutcracker. It is truly a favorite event during the holiday season. The dancers are first class and amazing. The props and scenery are so beautiful. The event is great for the entire family. My daughter said she felt like she was in NYC. I highly recommend this event. If you plan to go dress very light as it is extremely hot in the theatre.
This is consistently my favorite production of the Nutcracker. The costumes are always very creative, the DC touches that are inserted are cute, and the skill exhibited by the dancers is phenomenal. If I were rating the production alone, this is easily a 5 star event. However, the folks at Warner Theater need to learn how to regulate their heat. We walked up stairs to our seats in the balcony and encountered a wall of hot air. We mentioned it to the attendant and she said they kept it the heat up for the dancers and that they were working on it. I think a realistic estimate is that it was 85 degrees in the balcony. The dancers certainly don't need it to be that hot. We were fanning ourselves the whole time and were having trouble concentrating on what was happening on stage. In addition, the box seats in front of us apparently get drink service throughout the performance - watching a server constantly walk back and forth in front of you is incredibly distracting and often blocked our view. It may have been more than usual, because I believe she was bringing cups of ice to them since it was so hot. So bottom line, Warner needs to address some issues, and I will never book seats in the balcony again. Definitely go see this performance, but dress in layers
The performance was delightful as always but the theater was way too warm. Must have been 90 degrees inside which made it very uncomfortable.
It is a tradition with my youngest son. Each year we sit in different seats and have a little different perspective. The setting of the ballet on the Potomac is a nice touch.
Traffic was horrendous coming into DC. Others made the same comment - I have not seen it so bad before. I was driving in because I was going to the 7PM showing and figured most of rush hour would be headed out of town. I was wrong and missed trying out Chef Geoff's across the street. So I was in a bad mood when I entered the theater. The place is old, but very majestic. Clearly operating on a bit of a shoestring. Staff are very friendly and the operation seems to want to include young children in their plays to promote the arts. This impressed me. Then I saw the production. It also impressed me with the complexity of the dancing as well as the professionalism of the dancers. No it was not a perfect show, but the realness of it really struck me as a good thing. It was not polished and safe like other shows - the dancers did a great job and some took risks to make the performance better. The inclusion of the children was a hoot - they really livened up the event! The bathroom (men's) was in very good condition - no complaints there. The snack vendors were a bit pricy but I can see what they were supporting and have no issues with it. $13 for a popcorn, bag of twizzlers, and a bottle of water. Popcorn was OK. Twizzlers were fresh. I did not partake of the alcoholic beverages but most people seemed happy. This venue is not as stuffy as other venues - with the friendliness of the staff and the high ceilings and cool decor really adding to a pleasant ambiance.
The show was beautiful, and the ballet performances were unforgettable. The show started my season off with a bang.
Ballet for the common folk! Fast-paced, beautiful sets and costumes, tremendous humor - it is the most fun, lively ballet I have seen. While technically the performance is not top notch, it doesn't matter - it's a beautiful, fun, a wonderful spectacle. I will see it every year - highly recommend it!
Fantastic dancing and costumes. My only wish is that there was a live orchestra. Nonetheless, highly recommended.
