Directed by Ted Sothern
December 13-16, 2012
E. M. Pearson Theater, St. Paul, MN 55104
FINAL DAY SPECIAL: Good Sunday, December 16, 2012 ONLY.
$15 Student Rush prices for ALL SEATS. Available at the door one hour or less before the 2pm or 6pm performances. (Check availability of seating by clicking on TICKETS above to view the seating chart)
Story of The Enchanted Toy Shop
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 traveled from her wintery wonderland to spread the beauty and love 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 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 presents its 4th annual, must-see holiday event for the whole family. Directed by Ted Sothern, every scene is infused with the stage magic he is known for in the Twin Cities. The company leads a cast of sixty living dolls, swirling snowflakes, tiny reindeer and more.
Performances are scheduled at the E.M. Pearson Theater, Concordia University in St. Paul on Thursday, December 13, 7:00 p.m., Friday, December 14, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, December 15, 2:00 and 7:30 p.m., Sunday, December 16, 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
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.
New this season: Artistic Director, Ted Sothern takes the helm. He is a native of Minneapolis and trained with Frank Bourman before joining Minnesota Dance Theater, where he danced for both Loyce and Lise Houlton. While a soloist with Washington Ballet, he toured China, the Philippines, and performed in the olympic Arts Festival in Seoul, Korea. he has been a member of American Repertory Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theater (NCDT) and Southern Ballet Theater. having performed many works by choreographers including Sal Aiello, Vicente Nebrada, Judith Jamison, Alvin Ailey, William Forsythe, Balanchine and Petipa has made him at home in classical or contemporary roles. Sal Aiello choregraphed the role of Hans/Nutcracker Prince on him while he was a principle dancer with NCDT. he has toured Japan extensively with Ballets Grandiva performing a variety of classic, contemporary and comedic ballets. Locally he has appeared with Ballet of The Dolls and Saint Paul City Ballet. During Ted’s performing career he was commissioned to create a pas de deux to Vivaldi’s Summer which toured in Tokyo, Japan. he also created a jazz ballet set to the music of Ella Fitzgerald and Etta James which was restaged for the Minnesota Fringe Festival. As an Artistic Partner for Saint Paul City Ballet, his choreographic credits include Scenes from A Christmas Carol, Coppelia, The Sleeping Beauty, La Boutique Fantasque, The Enchanted Toy Shop, Cinderella and Not An Etude.
Also: Andrew Lester reprises his leading role as the Sailor Doll fresh off his win as a 2012 Sage Awards Outstanding Performer and Michelle Ludwig is introduced as the CanCan Doll.
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.