Tech Savvy Mama

Parenting in the Digital Age

DC Readers: The Washington Ballet’s Nutcracker at the Warner Theater (w. ticket giveaway!)

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This weekend we were guests of The Washington Ballet and were treated to a fabulous performance of Septime Webre’s The Nutcracker at the historic Warner Theater. Set in Georgetown, this special holiday performance features a DC spin on the classic tale.  It includes the heroic George Washington as the Nutcracker, King George III as the Rat King, shimmering cherry blossoms on the Potomac, famous monuments as part of the scenery, and journey to The Land of Snow with an amazing sparkling snow scene. 
The Nutcracker is a wonderful way to start- or continue- a family holiday tradition especially since The Washington Ballet is providing 4 tickets to a local family as a giveaway!  Yes, you could win 4 tickets to attend a performance at the Warner Theater on any of the following dates and times: 12/21 at 7pm; 12/22 at 2 pm; 12/22 at 7 pm, or 12/26 at 5:30 pm.  Giveaway instructions are below!
Whether attending the Nutcracker for the first time or the 50th, I always find that my kids get more out of the performance when they have some background knowledge and know what to expect. 
Like my fellow teacher and bloggy pal, Amy from TeachMama, I prepped Little Miss Techie and Captain Computer for the 2 hour performance by reading books, listening to the music, and talking about the ballet.  I had planned on including links to the things we’ve been doing to prepare for the performance but Amy summed it up so nicely on her blog by providing the following fabulous tips:
Because my kiddos are young and they’ve yet to see The Nutcracker, before our show I’ll definitely do a bit to prepare them. Here’s what I’ve got planned:
  • The Washington Ballet Videos — I’ll show the kids some highlights of The Washington Ballet’s The Nutcracker and some clips of TWB rehearsing and dancing and Septime Webre talking.  Great way to give little ones some idea about what to expect at e show!
  • Peter Tchaikovsky on Starfall – My kids are Starfall nutty, so directing them to this particular page will be helpful for getting them ready for the very basics of the story and the incredible music and sounds they’ll hear.
  • Nutcracker Activity Guide — Extremely helpful pdf guide to everything Nutcracker, this guide was created by the San Francisco Ballet and includes facts, history, play-by-play of the ballet, Nutcracker Mad Libs, Word Searches, and games.  It’s catered to the SF Ballet, but it can be helpful for anyone I believe. 

Great tips Amy!  Thanks!  Read Amy’s full post about The Washington Ballet’s Nutcracker and hop on over and enter her Nutcracker ticket giveaway before Wednesday 12/15 for another chance to win!

Christianne Campbell by Theo Kossenas
Now that we’ve attended the performance, I thought I’d share some tips to make your experience at The Nutcracker even more enjoyable.
  • Talk to your children about what it means to be a good audience member at a live performance before you go.  Alyssa Porambo, Manager of The Washington Ballet’s Public Relations, provides the following advice: “The most important thing is to prepare them for what they are about to experience – let them know that they need to sit still and watch the dancers, but let them know that it’s going to be fun and exciting as well!”  During our performance the 3 mother-daughter pairs in front of us talked throughout the performance.  The girls played musical chairs during the performance that blocked the view of other theater-goers.  And the people behind us brought snacks in crinkly packages.  My kids get hungry too but we make sure that we have quiet bags so we don’t disturb others around us.  Take your snacks out of their crinkly original packaging and put it in Ziplocs.
  • Parking– There are plenty of garages across the street from and around the Warner Theater but if you are attending a Sunday matinee or a 7 pm performance, you might look for spots on the street first.  They are free and will have you on the road sooner than having to wait to exit the garage.
  • Plan to get there 30 minutes prior to the performance.  If you get there earlier, shop at the Sugar Plum Shoppe in the Lobby for Nutcracker ornaments, books, tutus, and other delightful goods that benefit The Washington Ballet.  You can also head downstairs to have your photo taken with The Sugar Plum Fairy for $10.  Getting up close and personal with one of the ballet dancers in her Sugar Plum Fairy costume was a highlight for Little Miss Techie and Captain Computer!   Pay cash for your photo and pick it up at intermission or after the performance.  We found the line to have a photo taken during intermission was much longer than before the show.
  • Brush up on ballet etiquette.  Artistic Director Septime Webre greeted the audience prior to the start of the performance.  He provided some ballet vocabulary for the audience.  Clapping and saying bravo for male dancers, brava for female dancers, or bravi for men and women after a performance was much appreciated but gently reminded the audience that there is no talking during the ballet.  Clearly not heard by the people in the row in front of us!
  • Performance length is 2 hours with a very quick intermission.  When the curtain closes and the house lights turn on at the end of Act 1, hop out of your seats and over the others in your aisle to head straight to the restrooms.
  • Read the Nutcracker playbill before the curtain rises for a wonderful summary of the action in each act.
Jade Payette by Steve Vaccariello
GIVEAWAY: 4 tickets to attend a Nutcracker performance at the Warner Theater on any of the following dates and times: 12/21 at 7pm; 12/22 at 2 pm; 12/22 at 7 pm, or 12/26 at 5:30 pm.
ENTER: Leave a comment telling me why you want to take your family to see the Nutcracker featuring The Washington Ballet this holiday season before Noon on Thursday, December 16.  Entries must include your email or Twitter handle so I can contact you when you win!  I will provide the winner with a phone number to contact The Washington Ballet by 4 pm on Friday, December 17 to reserve their tickets and will send a voucher to redeem at the box office.
For extra entries, leave a comment as specified above and do any of the following:
  • Update your Facebook status to read: TechSavvyMama.com is giving away 4 tickets 2 see the Nutcracker by The Washington Ballet at Warner Theater: http://bit.ly/gxRp7D  Leave a comment letting me know you’ve done so!
  • Tweet this daily: @TechSavvyMama is giving away 4 tickets 2 see the Nutcracker by The Washington Ballet at Warner Theater: http://bit.ly/gxRp7D Leave the link to your Tweet in your comment and get 1 entry per Tweet!
If you don’t want to worry about winning tickets, here are the remaining Nutcracker performance dates and times:
  • Tuesday, December 14, 2010at 7pm 

  • Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 7pm

  • Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 7pm

  • Friday, December 17, 2010 at 7pm

  • Saturday, December 18, 2010 at 2pm

  • Saturday, December 18, 2010 at 7pm

  • Sunday, December 19, 2010 at 1pm

  • Sunday, December 19, 2010 at 5:30pm

  • Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 7pm

  • Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at 2pm

  • Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at 7pm

  • Thursday, December 23, 2010 at 2pm

  • Thursday, December 23, 2010 at 7pm

  • Friday, December 24, 2010 at 1pm
S
  • unday, December 26, 2010 at 1pm 

  • Sunday, December 26, 2010 at 5:30pm

Tickets range in price from $31-94 each and are available through the Warner Theatre, by phone via Ticketmaster at 202-397-7328, or online through The Nutcracker at the Warner Theatre Ticketmaster link.

Huge thanks to The Washington Ballet for providing press passes to facilitate my review and tickets as a reader giveaway.  Images courtesy of The Washington Ballet.  All opinions are my own.  Nutcracker ornaments from Sugar Plum Shoppe and photo with The Sugar Plum Fairy were personally purchased.

Thanks for reading Tech Savvy Mama through your feed!

Original post by Tech Savvy Mama
©2012

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Elaine says

    I’ve heard great things about this version of the Nutcracker and I would love to take my kids. Helen has a great love of dancers – surprising one recent ballet dancer she saw with an enormous hug. Connor just loves theatre. All kids. He’s a champ.

    hipmamae@gmail.com

  2. Thien-Kim aka Kim says

    Sophia’s been watching videos of the Nutcracker. I think it’s her dream come true if she could see it live. It has everything a little girl wants: prima ballerinas, poofy dresses, lots and lots of dancing!

  5. parentingBYdummies says

    We’d love to take The Dudes to see The Nutcracker. I’ve always wanted to see it myself since I was a young girl and I’ve never gotten the opportunity to do it yet. I’d take Mimi and the 2 Big Dudes because Dumb Dad & Dude #3 are NOT cut out for the ballet!

  6. DiPaola Momma says

    Starting at age six (around the same time I started dancing myself) my dad made it an annual tradition that we go to The Nutcracker. I never had a “Christmas” dress it was always my “Nutcracker” dress. When I was 11 I danced the role of the Sugar Plum fairy. That was the only year I didn’t get a dress, I got my costume. We did this until I left for the Navy. In fact I was married in early January and dad insisted I be home early enough that year that I could go to the ballet with him for the last time as his “little girl”. I’d love to start this tradition for my husband and daughters.

  11. Noelle says

    We’ve been going to local performances of The Nutcracker for years, but I’ve always wanted to take the girls to see the Washington Ballet’s performance at The Warner Theater! Thanks for the chance to win some!

  14. MusingsfromMe/Jill says

    My son has not seen the Nutcracker. I took my daughters to see it when they were 4 and 6. As my son is the youngest, I occasionally forget to do things with him. Seeing the Nutcracker is a performance I would love him to see. He painted a nutcracker in art class. Loves the story.

    JillAnneBerry @ msn . com

  17. nmbonomo says

    We would love to go to the Nutcracker because my boys have announced that “boys don’t go to ballets, only football and baseball and basketball” I need to show them that boys do in fact, do ballet. My home has much too much testosterone and I need to balance out the sports with balls.

  30. Guadalupe says

    I’d love to win tickets to the Nutcracker for my granddaughters. They’re at the perfect age to see it live!

    narcedalia at aol.com