George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™ by the Numbers
The whole town will be buzzing when the curtain goes up on PNB’s new production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™, freshly imagined by celebrated author and illustrator Ian Falconer (Olivia the Pig), plus Tchaikovsky’s timeless score, more than 150 roles, and McCaw Hall all aglitter with new décor and surprises! Over 50 drapers, stitchers, first hands, […]
Stowell & Sendak Nutcracker A Look Back in Pictures
As we prepare for the farewell season of PNB’s Stowell/Sendak Nutcracker, here’s a look back in pictures at how this cherished holiday tradition got its start. If you’d like to read more about our beloved Stowell/Sendak Nutcracker, check out our archived blog posts: 30 Magical Nutcracker Moments Just How Big is PNB’s Nutcracker Blog by Kristen Ramer […]
Q&A: Giselle Designer Jérôme Kaplan
Costume designer Jérôme Kaplan discusses his designs for PNB’s Giselle, from the romantic peasant village to the haunting world of the Wilis in Act II.
Inside the Ballet: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
By Peter Boal As the hints of mid-summer weather start to be felt, along comes George Balanchine’s enchanting production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This production is unique to PNB, not in choreography, but in the wondrous set and costume designs created for us by Martin Pakledinaz. Marty chose designs elements that were particular to the […]
PNB Artistic Director Peter Boal’s Staging of Giselle
Peter Boal shares his vision for staging Giselle at PNB, drawing on his experience dancing the ballet and his approach to honoring this romantic masterpiece.
The Story of A Midsummer Night’s Dream
The First Act takes place in a forest near the duke’s palace. Oberon, King of the Fairies, and Titania, his queen, quarrel over the Indian child they both want. Oberon orders Puck to bring the flower pierced by Cupid’s arrow (which causes anyone coming under its influence to fall in love with the first person […]
Local Color: Painting Sets for a New Giselle
Go behind the scenes at PNB’s scenic shop to watch artists paint the sets for Peter Boal’s staging of Giselle, bringing the ballet’s world to life on stage.
30 Magical Nutcracker Moments
You already know how this story goes.There’s a sense of anticipation when the lights in the theater go down. A hush comes over the audience and the orchestra tunes their instruments. The conductor walks out and we hear the first few notes of Tchaikovsky’s wonderful score. The curtain goes up and the magic begins… Part of […]
A History of Giselle
“In Westphalia, the former Saxony, all is not dead which lies buried. When we wander there through the old oak groves we can hear the voices of the olden time, and the re-echoes of those deeply mysterious magic spells in which there gushes a [great] fullness of life …A mysterious awe thrilled my soul—when…wandering through […]
GISELLE…Ballet’s Great Tragedy
The History ~ Since its premiere in 1841, Giselle has become one of the most popular ballets of all time and is considered ballet’s great tragedy. Giselle represents the greatest achievement of ballet’s Romantic era. After it fell out of repertory at the Paris Opera, it returned to the West via Russia and had been handed down through generations of […]