Nutcracker at Allentown Symphony Hall
By Sara Hauff Doran
Many children and adults alike can remember the first time they saw “Nutcracker” at Allentown Symphony Hall. The combination of beautiful music, graceful ballet dancing and the majestic Symphony Hall make for lasting memories.
For its 22nd production of “Nutcracker” on December 12 and 13, Repertory Dance Theatre (RDT) has brought back live music by the Allentown Symphony Orchestra. In addition, the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Performing Arts Women’s Choir, directed by Ellen Ditmar, will be performing.
Last year, RDT’s decision not to hire a live orchestra for “Nutcracker” saved nearly $25,000 but disheartened some of its devoted patrons. It was “disappointing for everyone involved” when the decision was made to cut costs by using canned Tchaikovsky music for its public performances, says Jennifer Haltzman Tracy, RDT’s executive director and co-artistic director.
The audience enjoys seeing the progress dancers have made over the years and the new roles they are performing in
“It’s a leap of faith in hiring the orchestra this year,” Tracy says.
In addition, ticket prices have gone up five dollars this year to cover costs. (Tickets are now $20 and $40.) Tracy explains that in 2007, the first year RDT solely produced “Nutcracker,” it lost money due to the costs of hiring the orchestra and renting Symphony Hall.
“We don’t want to make it a hardship for people to enjoy ‘Nutcracker.’ We’re hoping people will say, ‘Let’s go support both organizations’,” she says.
During its school matinees on December 10 and 11, RDT will not use the live orchestra since tickets for school matinees are only $7 and therefore too low to cover the cost, Tracy says. Ronald Demkee, Associate Conductor of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra–who has conducted “ Nutcracker” for almost 20 years in the Lehigh Valley–says he was “surprised and disappointed” when the orchestra was not hired to perform last year.
“The audience has come to expect the orchestra and the production lacked the vitality that comes with live music,” Demkee says. “It is special; I hope the public will support it.”
The Allentown Symphony, in its 57th season, is the smallest symphony orchestra in America to own its own performance hall, the historic 1,200-seat Symphony Hall. It was originally built around 1896 as the Central Market Hall but was later converted to a theater in 1899 and renamed the Lyric Theatre.
In 1953, with the help of community leaders, the Allentown Symphony Association bought the hall as a permanent home for its symphony orchestra, and renamed it Symphony Hall.
Tracy says that the monies generated from “Nutcracker” helps fund RDT’s community outreach education programs that allow for free classes.. “It’s a professional training ground for talented students who cannot afford [dance training],” she adds.
Since 1997, RDT has conducted an after-school dance education program called Talent Identification Program (TIP) that provides a free dance education to urban at-risk and disadvantaged students.
Matthew Harvey, who was in the TIP program and is now a professional dancer, has returned to dance the lead role of “Cavalier” in RDT’s “The Nutcracker.”
“I get chills when I think about it. He never would have been involved in dance if we didn’t select him,” Tracy says.
RDT’s “Nutcracker” includes a cast of about 100 including several professional dancers, about 70 student dancers who auditioned from area dance studios as well as some of the dancers’ parents in the opening party scene.
During the many rehearsals, dancers learn not only their parts but also other roles in case of injuries.
“The audience enjoys seeing the progress dancers have made over the years and the new roles they are performing in,” she says.
There are three “Nutcracker” productions in the Lehigh Valley on the same weekend but the RDT is the only one to use live orchestral music. “Each ‘Nutcracker’ has its own distinct flavor to it — all are very different and have their own following,” Tracy says.
This year, RDT is bringing back its “Land of the Sweets Party” including activities, treats and mingling with dancers following the December 12 show in the Rodale Room at Symphony Hall. Advance tickets are $7 for children and $3 for adults. For show and party tickets, visit www.allentownsymphony.org or call 610-432-6715.
Sara Hauff Doran of Bethlehem specializes in articles on entertainment and is an avid “Nutcracker” fan.
