Ready, set, go! As soon as the calendar page turns to November, off with the Halloween costume and on with the Sugar Plum regalia! That’s ‘cuz the newest Disney live-action movie, THE NUTCRACKER AND THE FOUR REALMS, will open that night at the wonderful, retro El Capitan Theater on Hollywood Boulevard. Playing “the Ballerina,” in her movie-acting debut is America’s sweetheart Misty Copeland.
It’s a movie with a live stage show! Eighteen Los Angeles dance troupes, ranging from modern dance, jazz, hip-hop, samba, Bollywood — and oh, ballet — will mount the El Cap stage for as many film screenings, and toss off a ‘cracker-esque interlude of their choosing.
The opening-night act is particularly swell: on November 1, Los Angeles Ballet will tread the El Capitan boards. Tickets for that night, $45 each, include a reserved seat, popcorn, bottled drink, fairy floss, tote bag, and a poster.
Then the following night, adding a new flavor to the proceedings, Debbie Allen Dance Academy will perform an short excerpt from Debbie Allen’s Hot Chocolate Nutcracker.
Thereafter …
| Los Angeles Ballet | Thurs Nov 1, 7 pm |
| Debbie Allen Dance Academy | Fri Nov 2, 7:30 pm |
| Pasadena Dance Theatre | Sat Nov 3, 10 am |
| Protégé Peforming Arts | Sat Nov 3, 1:10 pm |
| Rage Entertainment Complex | Sat Nov 3, 4:20 pm |
| L.A. Ballet Academy | Sun Nov 4, 10 am |
| Calabasas Dance Academy | Sun Nov 4, 1:10 pm |
| Empowerment Movement Dance Company | Sat Nov 10, 1:10 pm |
| L.A. Dance Ensemble | Sun Nov 11, 10 am |
| Gotta Dance | Sun Nov 11, 1:10 pm |
| USC Chamber Ballet Company | Mon Nov 12, 10 am |
| Samba Soul | Mon Nov 12, 1:10 pm |
| Grandeza Mexicana Dance Academy | Sat Nov 17, 10 am |
| Center Stage Dance Academy | Sat Nov 17, 1:10 pm |
| Degas Dance Studio | Sat Nov 17, 4:20 pm |
| Revolution Dance Center | Sun Nov 18, 10 am |
| L.Y.T.E Dance Academy | Sun Nov 18, 1:10 pm |
| Miss Melodee’s Studios | Sun Nov 18, 4:20 pm |
Choreography is by Liam Scarlett. The music was adapted from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker by James Newton Howard. Gustavo Dudamel conducted the orchestra, while Lang Lang was the piano soloist. It sounds sumptuous on the trailer. I cannot imagine a more fun time for a family than to see this movie at the El Cap, with a live component to it. Happy Holidays, all.
Disney’s THE NUTCRACKER AND THE FOUR REALMS | Nov 1 – 18 | El Capitan Theatre