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PLAYHOUSE 90: THE NUTCRACKER (TV)

Summary

One in this dramatic anthology series. This program is a special live performance by the New York City Ballet of Tchaikovsky's classic Christmastime ballet choreographed by George Balanchine and broadcast on Christmas night. Narrator June Lockhart introduces the ballet by telling the story of "The Nutcracker" to a young girl. The story begins with a Christmas Eve party at the house of the Silberhaus family where the children, including Clara and Fritz Silberhaus, play running, jumping and marching games as their parents watch. When the owl grandfather clock in the hall strikes the hour, Clara's godfather, the mysterious Herr Drosselmeyer, appears with his nephew bringing presents for the children. The boxes contain lifesized Colombine and Harlequin dolls that dance, and a marching soldier. He gives the children a hobbyhorse, and gives Clara his greatest invention, a wooden nutcracker in a general's uniform. Fritz in a jealous rage pulls the toy away from his sister and breaks the nutcracker. After midnight Clara comes downstairs and falls asleep with her new nutcracker doll. Herr Drosselmeyer appears while she sleeps and repairs the toy. Meanwhile Clara dreams of an army of giant mice who battle the now-lifesized nutcracker general and gingerbread soldiers. The Nutcracker is transformed into a prince (actually Drosselmeyer's nephew) and the two begin a magical journey into a world of dancing snow flakes. They arrive at Candyland where the Sugar Plum Fairy introduces them to the delicious inhabitants including Coffee, Tea, Peppermint Candy Canes, Marzipan, Mother Ginger and her eight children, and Dew Drop and the Candy Flowers who all dance for Clara and her prince. The program concludes with a preview of clips from the following week's "Playhouse 90" production "Face of a Hero" featuring James Gregory, Henry Hull and Anne Meachem. Includes commercials. (This is a black-and-white copy of a color telecast.)

Details

  • NETWORK: CBS
  • DATE: December 25, 1958 Thursday 9:30 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:30:00
  • COLOR/B&W: B&W
  • CATALOG ID: T83:0205
  • GENRE: Dance
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Ballet; Christmas; Fairy tales
  • SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1956-1961
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Commercials - All State Insurance companies
    • TV - Commercials - Arpege perfume by Lanvin
    • TV - Commercials - Gas companies
    • TV - Commercials - Instant Maxwell House coffee
    • TV - Commercials - Kimberly Clark Corporation
    • TV - Commercials - Kleenex table napkins
    • TV - Commercials - Kleenex tissues
    • TV - Commercials - Piels beer
    • TV - Commercials - Thunderbird alcohol by Gallo
    • TV - Promo - "Playhouse 90: Face of a Hero"
    • TV - Promo - "Playhouse 90: The Wings of the Dove"
    • TV - Promo - "The Late Show"

CREDITS

  • John Houseman … Producer
  • Jack Landau … Producer
  • Charles H. Schultz … Associate Producer
  • Russell Stoneham … Associate Producer
  • Ralph Nelson … Director
  • E.T.A. Hoffmann … Writer, Based on the story by
  • Leo Lerman … Writer, Narration written by
  • Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky … Composer
  • Robert Irving … Conductor
  • George Balanchine … Choreographer, Ballet created by
  • New York City Ballet Orchestra, The … Symphony Orchestra
  • New York City Ballet, The … Dance Company
  • George Balanchine … Cast, Herr Drosselmeyer, Dancer
  • Diana Adams … Cast, the Sugar Plum Fairy, Dancer
  • Allegra Kent … Cast, Dewdrop, Dancer
  • Judith Green … Cast, the Marzipan Sheperdess, Dancer
  • Arthur Mitchell … Cast, Coffee, Dancer
  • Roy Tobias … Cast, Chocolate, Dancer
  • Barbara Walczak … Cast, Chocolate, Dancer
  • Kenneth Petersen … Cast, the Mouse King, Dancer
  • Deni Lamont … Cast, Tea, Dancer
  • Edward Villella … Cast, Candy Cane, Dancer
  • Una Kai … Cast, Frau Silberhaus, Dancer
  • Roland Vazquez … Cast, Dr. Silberhaus, Dancer
  • Shaun O'Brien … Cast, a Party Guest, Dancer
  • June Lockhart … Narrator
  • Bern Bennett … Announcer
  • Debbie Paine … Cast, Clara
  • Robert Maiorano … Cast, Her Prince
  • Julia Meade … Talent, Gas products commercial
  • Jack Lemmon … Talent, "Playhouse 90: Face of a Hero" promo
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