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San Francisco Ballet - Tomasson's The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker, San Francisco Ballet, photos bottom left: Pauli Magierek and David Arce in Tomasson's Nutcracker; bottom right: Maria Kochetkova and Davit Karapetyan in Tomasson's Nutcracker.

San Francisco, CA--Not only is San Francisco Ballet is the oldest professional ballet company in the U.S., it also enjoys recognition as one of the nation's and world's finest companies.  San Francisco Ballet has enjoyed a long and rich tradition of artistic “firsts” since its founding in 1933, introducing the first American productions of Swan Lake, Nutcracker, and American Coppélia. One of its recent "firsts" occurred in 2007 when audiences in approximately 60 to 70 select cinemas in the United States, Canada, and Europe bought tickets to watch San Francisco Ballet’s acclaimed production of Nutcracker, choreographed by San Francisco Ballet Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson. San Francisco Ballet presented the first American production of Nutcracker in 1944, with Tomasson’s production premiering in 2004.

The production featured scenic design by Tony Award-winner Michael Yeargan, costume design by Tony Award-winner Martin Pakledinaz, lighting design by James F. Ingalls, and projections by Wendall K. Harrington. Set in early-20th-century San Francisco, this production included more than 200 colorful characters, larger-than-life scenery, and magical surprises that mesmerize.

As one of the three largest ballet companies in the United States, San Francisco Ballet presents more than 100 performances annually around the globe. Under the direction of Helgi Tomasson for more than two decades, the Company has achieved an international reputation as one of the preeminent ballet companies in the world, having won the Laurence Olivier Award for “Outstanding Achievement in Dance.”