MANSFIELD – Fans of Neos Dance Theatre will have three chances to see the company’s popular “A 1940s Nutcracker” performance this holiday season.
For the first time, Neos will be taking “A 1940s Nutcracker” on tour to three cities in northeastern Ohio. In addition to the original Mansfield performance on Dec. 9 and 10, Neos will be performing “Nutcracker” in Findlay on Dec. 3 and in Elyria on Dec. 15, 16 and 17.
“A 1940s Nutcracker” was first presented by Neos at Mansfield’s Renaissance Theatre in December 2015. The story follows the traditional telling of the “Nutcracker” ballet when, after a Christmas party at their home, a young Maria falls asleep and has a strange dream where her nutcracker doll comes to life.
Where the story differs is Maria’s dream following a surreal account of the events throughout her day, set in a 1940s-era Mansfield. Setting the backdrop of Maria’s adventures through Mansfield are historical scenes depicting local troops from World War II, tours of Malabar Farm, and downtown shopping.
It was always the aspiration of Neos co-founder and artistic director Robert Wesner to scale the show in this way, but the ability to do it so soon was a pleasant surprise. Neos cut its teeth on performing “Nutcracker” in two different communities last year, with performances in both Mansfield and Wooster.
“I felt like it brought a new community over to Mansfield to share what we’re doing, and to cross with Neos and the entire arts and culture sector,” Wesner said.
This year’s “Nutcracker” performance will incorporate the Findlay cast in Mansfield along with the Neos crew of roughly 25 people. The Mansfield Symphony Orchestra will also return to provide a live score.
An additional returning component will be the incorporation of “projection mapping,” a new technology that can turn common static objects into interactive displays. The video can be combined with audio, or triggered by it, to create audio-visual narratives.
Wesner explained the projection mapping is being done by a local visual effects specialist, working with a team of people to essentially draw the city of Mansfield as well as local iconography from Elyria and Findlay. Those drawings will then be created as 3D animation and serve as the backdrop to “A 1940s Nutcracker.”
“What the other communities have started to become is more of a blend of greater northern Ohio,” Wesner said.”There are pieces of the backdrop and animations that we do trade out; we can replace Mansfield pieces with other work that highlights some of the other communities.”
Additional performances also create more growth opportunity for Neos dancers. To protect the safety of the dancers, Wesner said the cast has made some adjustments to allow dancers to explore different roles based on performance dates.
“It gives the dancers a little bit more holistic opportunity to not over-use their bodies in one particular role, and it pushes what they can accomplish artistically over the course of a weekend,” Wesner said. “As you prepare for one role you’re thinking in one particular way, and when you trade it up you’re someone totally different.”
“A 1940s Nutcracker” will premiere for the holiday season at Findlay’s Marathon Center for the Performing Arts on Dec. 2 at 2 and 7 p.m. The show will play in Mansfield at the Renaissance Theatre at 8 p.m. on Dec. 9 and 2 p.m. on Dec. 10. Finally, the show will close in Elyria at the Stocker Arts Center with performances at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 15 and 16, and at 2 p.m. on Dec. 17.
Despite all performances taking place within a 200-mile radius, the traveling of dancers and equipment and costumes makes this season’s “Nutcracker” very much on tour, Wesner said. Not only does it showcase the growth of the “Nutcracker” show, but also Neos as a company.
“I believe as we are solidifying our audience base and growing it into different areas in Ohio, it will give us the security to continue investing our own dollars into it,” Wesner said. “We’re always looking for opportunities to expand and to improve the quality of artistic excellence we bring to the stage. I’m excited to see this all come to fruition.”
For more information about each performance of “A 1940s Nutcracker” visit Neos’ website.
