The Westmoreland Ballet Company takes “The Nutcracker” off the stage and into the community with a new video production of the beloved holiday classic.
Filmed at indoor and outdoor locations around the county, the video will debut online at 7 p.m. Friday. It also will stream at 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Introducing the video on its website, the company said “with the pandemic causing restrictions on theater shows, we knew we had to do something different. So, we are bringing this Christmas tradition straight to you.”
“It was a ridiculously ambitious project, but I think we genuinely met our goal,” said company founder Judy Rae Tubbs, who directed and choreographed the show. “We took it off the stage and into the real world.”
The goal was not only to provide a new “Nutcracker” experience, but also to showcase the natural beauty and opportunities that abound in the region, Tubbs said.
“We wanted to give exposure to Westmoreland County and how wonderful our local communities are,” she said. “We hope people from outside the area will see it and say, ‘Let’s visit there. Let’s indulge ourselves in this beautiful small-town atmosphere.’”
Filming commenced Sept. 26 with the battle between the toy soldiers and the rats playing out at Fort Ligonier, followed the next day with the snow dance scene on the Ligonier Diamond.
Other locations included Saint Vincent Basilica in Unity and The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Invisible Man Brewing and White Rabbit Cafe and Patisserie, all in Greensburg. The marble staircases of The Palace Theater and the county courthouse also provided backdrops.
The story follows a young girl named Clara who befriends a nutcracker that magically comes to life on Christmas Eve to wage battle against an evil Rat King.
About 30 dancers ranging in age from preschool to high school were joined by several professional dancers and Tubbs’s former students from the now-defunct Laurel Ballet, which performed “The Nutcracker” for 26 holiday seasons at The Palace.
Music for the video was provided by the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, which had accompanied the Laurel Ballet over the years.
“We were able to take our quality recording featuring our great musicians and remix and remaster it, to pair the music with all the unique locations,” said WSO Executive Director Endy Reindl.
”(‘The Nutcracker’) has been a tradition in this community for 26 years, so this makes it 27,” he said. “Obviously, getting people into The Palace was not happening this year, so this keeps that wonderful tradition going.”
The video was filmed and produced by Headspace Media of Latrobe.
The fee for the broadcast is $20 per device, with tickets available at westmorelandballet.com.
