Tchaikovsky – Memphis Flyer

If your holiday thing is the Nutcracker and you are not real nuts about seeing an adaptation, all I have to say is that sometimes a remake gets it right. Really right. That is definitely the case with Nut Remix, a modern reinvention of Tchaikovsky’s classic Nutcracker, by the savvy and talented team from New Ballet Ensemble & School.

The performance is set on Beale Street. The mash-up of dance and music styles really works. From ballet to breakdancing and flamenco to Memphis jookin, this uniquely Memphis production will mesmerize you from start to finish. This year, the production will be screened at the drive-in for your safety. If you’ve seen the production on stage and have made it your annual holiday tradition or if you’re seeing it for the first time, I can’t think of a better place to experience the magic of Memphis. Just remember to register for your tickets in advance. As part of the school’s mission to make the arts accessible to everyone, this screening is pay-what-you-can with a suggested donation of $40 per car.

Andrea Zucker/Courtesy New Ballet Ensemble & School

Nut Remix

Be sure to do it soon. After last week’s screening, word got around. According to New Ballet, “We sold out our original goal of 150 cars for next week’s screening, and we are now increasing our capacity to accommodate more viewers.”

Experience this uniquely Memphis reimagining of the Nutcracker with the whole family from the comfort and safety of your car.

New Ballet’s “Nut Remix,” Malco Summer Drive-In, 5310 Summer, Thursday, Dec. 17, 6:30 p.m., pay-what-you-can with a suggested donation of $40 per car.

It looks like Christmas does come twice a year. With theaters closed and limited opportunities for in-person performances, Ballet Memphis has decided to head in a different direction this year for its annual marquee Nutcracker series. With the help of new sponsors and partners, the musical will be free to view through various channels during the winter months.

“This is different than broadcasting a stage performance; we are creating an immersive cinematic experience that will take dance off the stage and allow us to present a new viewing experience for the audience while telling the classic Nutcracker story,” says Ballet Memphis president and CEO Gretchen Wollert McLennon. “We are delighted to share this with the community and give the gift of joy and celebration during what will be an unprecedented holiday season.”

Ballet Memphis

2020’s production of Nutcracker: A Gift From Ballet Memphis will be shot on-location and at Ballet Memphis studios. Tchaikovsky’s original score will be performed by Memphis Symphony Orchestra.

The first performance will air live on WKNO on Friday, December 11th, at 8 p.m., and will continue to be rebroadcast as part of the station’s Christmas programming. Afterwards, Ballet Memphis plan to distribute the film to other public channels across Tennessee, Malco theaters, schools, and other digital platforms. All viewings will remain free.

Rather than being a simple camera recording, this year’s filmed version of the Nutcracker will be redesigned from the ground up for digital audiences. “It was important to me that we bring in cinematography from the very beginning,” says Ballet Memphis artistic director Steven McMahon. “This is much more than just a stationary camera recording the stage and what we have always done. This is a completely new way of presenting dance that lets us engage with audiences like never before.”