December 14-16, 2012
TICKETS on sale May 2012
$TBD Adults, $TBD Seniors (62 and older) and Children (12 & under), $TBD Groups of 10 or more
E. M. Pearson Theater at Concordia University, 312 N Hamline Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104
Story of The Enchanted Toyshop
There once was a world-famous toymaker who created exquisite dancing dolls.
Unbeknownst to the toymaker and his helpers, the toyshop was enchanted and during long winter nights the dolls came to life. The magical Snowflake Fairy and her Sprites traveled from their wintery wonderland to spread the beauty and joy of the season.
It came to be that the toymaker created his most ingenious dolls ever… a dancing couple, the CanCan and Sailor dolls. The toymaker was filled with pride but he did not know it was their love for each other that made these dolls so exceptional.
The CanCan and Sailor dolls were to be separated and sold to different families but the Snowflake Fairy intervenes. She made the Cancan and Sailor dolls real, they traveled to the Land of the Snowflakes and everyone lived happily ever after!
Saint Paul City Ballet offers a new twist on the favorite toy transformation stories by blending elements of “La Boutique Fantasque” (first produced by Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes to music by Rossini) with familiar holiday compositions such as Tchaikovsky’s “Waltz of the Snow Flakes” and Waldteufels’ “Skaters Waltz.” In The Enchanted Toy Shop, two dancing dolls (CanCan and Sailor) come to life each night and fall in love, but when each is purchased by a different family they need a bit of magic from the Snowflake Fairy to assure a happy ending. The production, with 90 performers is led by the Company of Saint Paul City Ballet.
The Enchanted Toyshop is the perfect way to introduce young children to the power and beauty of classical dance, much like the Nutcracker. Set in Europe during the Victorian era, this charming 85-minute ballet is based on La Boutique Fantasque from Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. The Rossini score has been complimented by Tchaikovsky’s Waltz Of The Snow Flakes and Waldteufel’s Skater’s Waltz and is woven seamlessly together in dazzling theatrical staging by SPCB’s Artistic Partners, Ted Sothern, Jennifer Murry and Georgia Finnegan Amdahl.
New this season: SPCB welcomes Greg Drotar to the role of the toy maker. Greg has a long distinguished career that includes choreographic, directorial, performing and teaching credits. Highlights of his performing include Jerome Robbins’ Les Noces, Nureyev’s Nutcracker, MacMillan’s Romeo & Juliet and Balanchine’s Symphony in C and Four Temperaments and was in the original cast of Bob Fosse’s Dancin’ on Broadway.