Local celebs to add extra sparkle to Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's 'The Nutcracker'

“The Nutcracker” is a Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre holiday tradition going back to the company’s inception in 1969. This year, they’re also continuing a more recent tradition of featuring local celebrities in cameos during the show.

From football favorites to TV stars, PBT has tapped a wide variety of Pittsburgh’s famous faces to take the stage during the ballet’s “party scene.” This year, they’re welcoming an unprecedented 17 guest cameos at performances from the show’s opening on Friday to its closing on Dec. 28.

“It’s been phenomenal,” said former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch. He and his wife, Latasha Wilson-Batch, will both perform on the show’s opening night on Friday. But this isn’t their first year participating; both have been in “The Nutcracker” before.

Last year, he got to surprise the kids that his Best of the Batch Foundation brought to the Benedum Center performance with his cameo. “When we came out, you could hear all the kids. They didn’t realize we were going out there.”

Despite his athletic background, Batch said that show attendees shouldn’t expect him to do extensive dancing.

“I have two left feet. I don’t know if that would go over well; I’d be stepping on everybody. I’m trying hard to work on a routine, but that eight-count stuff is not for me,” he laughed.

His foundation is currently also running its Batch-A-Toys holiday gift drive. Those wishing to help by donating or volunteering can visit batchfoundation.org.

Several elected officials will also appear in “The Nutcracker,” including mayor-elect Corey O’Connor and Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato.

“I love being able to step outside the normal and be able to do something, especially around supporting and amplifying arts in our region,” Innamorato told TribLive.

She added that, as a native daughter of Allegheny County, she grew up going to see “The Nutcracker” around Christmas. “Being able to come full circle and be able to be up onstage during the party scene sounds really exciting. I get to take my partner and his kids and we get to go experience it together, which is really exciting.”

Innamorato is scheduled to appear at the Sunday matinee performance on Dec. 21. This is her first year appearing.

“I think the holiday season — especially around here — is just really magical,” she said. “It’s a lovely time of year. It’s exciting to be able to participate in it in this new and exciting way.”

PBT has performed the same production of “The Nutcracker,” a Pittsburgh-based iteration choreographed by former PBT artistic director Terrence S. Orr, for 23 years. The production is a giant holiday spectacle, with five different scenes, more than 150 costumes and more than 1,500 costume accessories, with costume and set design by Emmy Award winner Zack Brown.

In addition to these guest stars, more than 100 artists — both professionals and from the PBT School — will dance together to Tchaikovsky’s classic score.

The last guest star of the show’s run will be Dr. Holly Hatcher-Frazier from the reality television series “Dance Moms.” Her involvement in “The Nutcracker” began a couple of years ago when she attended the show with her daughter and posted on social media about how much she loved it.

“It was breathtaking, it was beautiful, just everything about it was so nostalgic, so well-executed,” she said.

One of the artists who performed in “The Nutcracker” saw her posts, and the following year she was invited to participate. “I was so touched,” she said.

While Hatcher-Frazier has been involved in dance recreationally in the past — and, of course, her daughter Nia is a dancer — she doesn’t have formal training. Nonetheless, she had a great experience last year and she’s looking forward to doing it again.

“The audience was wonderful. I felt invigorated and cheered on and inspired,” she said. “It really felt very seamless and natural and very much like a party. It really felt like we were having a party onstage.”

She will perform at the closing performance on Dec. 28 at noon.

Additionally, guest stars throughout the run will include musician Frzy; KDKA-TV reporter and anchor Megan Shinn; Miss Pennsylvania 2025 Victoria Vespico; and iHeart Radio traffic reporter and podcaster Bonny Diver.

PBT will also give back to the community with this show. They are running a food drive for Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank through Dec. 19. Those wishing to participate can drop off non-perishable food items at PBT’s Studios, 2900 Liberty Ave. in the Strip District. Those who donate will receive a discount coupon for select “The Nutcracker” performances.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s “The Nutcracker” will run at the Benedum Center in Downtown Pittsburgh from Dec. 5-28. To get tickets, visit pbt.org.