Nutcracker-o-rama
| • | Twenty ways to get into spirit of Christmas |
| • | Here comes Santa Claus — at your favorite mall |
| • | St. Nick parades |
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor
If you're nuts about the "Nutcracker" ballet, choose from several:
• Hawai'i Ballet Theatre — 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 and 15, 2 p.m. Dec. 9 and 16, Leeward Community College Theatre. Charlys Ing directs a magical blend of local and Mainland dancers; "Sugar Plum Tea With Santa," after matinees; Starbucks coffee and hot chocolate after evening shows. $22 for adults, $17 for children 12 and under. 839-1596.
• Hawai'i State Ballet — 7 p.m. Dec. 14 and 21, 2:30 and 7 p.m. Dec. 15 and 22, 2:30 p.m. Dec. 16; and 2:30 and 6 p.m. Dec. 16, Mamiya Theatre, Saint Louis Center for the Arts. John Landovsky directs; $22, $18 and $16 ($2 discount for seniors and children). 947-2755, 783-2747.
• Honolulu Dance Theatre — "King Kalakaua's Nutcracker," a creation of Matthew Wright, premieres 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Hawai'i Theatre, where it repeats at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15. King Kalakaua and Princess Ka'iulani surface in this Christmas tribute to the people of Hawai'i, with Tchaikovsky's music intact. $15-$24; discounts for military, seniors and students. 528-0506.
• Ballet Hawai'i — 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21-22, 2 p.m. Dec. 23, Blaisdell Concert Hall. The biggest production, with live accompaniment from the Honolulu Symphony conducted by Stuart Chafetz, and "name" leads such as the American Ballet Theatre's Ashley Tuttle as the Sugar Plum Fairy and "Centerstage" co-star Ethan Stiefel as her Cavalier Prince, plus lots of local luminaries. Staged by Pamela Taylor-Tongg. Tickets: $35-$55, at box office or Ticket Plus outlets (526-4400); opening night post-show champagne gala with the performers, $100 includes $55 VIP seating. Call 988-7578.
