Review: Denver Ballet Presents The Nutcracker

Colorado Ballet performed The Nutcracker for the first time in two years at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House this holiday season. Everyone was eagerly waiting for the 2020 performances, as new costumes and scenery were to be unveiled, but of course, that was not to be. This year, we finally got to see the costumes created especially for Colorado Ballet by renowned designers Thomas Boyd and Holly Hynes. From embroidered floral details to delicate snowballs of frosty tulle, to hand-painted embellishments and impressive armatures, the stunning artistry of Colorado Ballet’s new sets and costumes is not to be missed.

“After 16 wonderful years of performing in sets and costumes originally fabricated in 1986, Colorado Ballet is thrilled to premiere its very own production this year,” says Gil Boggs, artistic director. “We are incredibly thankful to our brilliant designers Thomas Boyd and Holly Hynes, and our many fantastic scenic and costume makers from around the country, for bringing this spectacular production to life. We look forward to sharing our new Nutcracker with audiences in-person at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House this holiday season.” This year, the performance did not disappoint. The dancers seemed eager to be back onstage and in the spotlight, and the costumes and scenery were breathtaking. Much like Giselle earlier this year, the sets had a three-dimensional quality that added a lot to on-stage presentation. The small children wore masks on stage for COVID safety, but this did nothing to impact how beautiful the show was, as the masks were perfectly tailored to match their costumes. This is the perfect show to check out this holiday season if you want a classy, nostalgic, and altogether beautiful experience.

PERFORMANCE DATES & TIMES

Thu. Dec. 9 – 7:30 p.m. Fri. Dec. 10 – 7:30 p.m. Sat. Dec. 11 – 1 p.m.* Sat. Dec. 11 – 6:30 p.m. Sun. Dec. 12 – 1 p.m. Sun. Dec. 12 – 6:30 p.m. Thu. Dec. 16 – 7:30 p.m. Fri. Dec. 17 – 7:30 p.m. Sat. Dec. 18 – 1 p.m. Sat. Dec. 18 – 6:30 p.m. Sun. Dec. 19 – 1 p.m. Sun. Dec. 19 – 6:30 p.m. Tue. Dec. 21 – 1 p.m. Tue. Dec. 21 – 6:30 p.m. Wed. Dec. 22 – 1 p.m. Wed. Dec. 22 – 6:30 p.m. Thu. Dec. 23 – 1 p.m. Thu. Dec. 23 – 6:30 p.m. Fri. Dec. 24 – 1 p.m.  (*) Audio Described Performance