After 57 years, 'The Nutcracker' deemed longest running production


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SALT LAKE CITY — It was only minutes until the curtain raise at the Capitol Theatre, but backstage and in the dressing rooms, there was a sort of choreography before "The Nutcracker" officially began.

10-year-old Rylee Rogers knew that soon, all eyes would soon be on her.

"She has every bit of the magic that the role of Clara possess," said Ballet West's, children's ballet mistress, Kati Snarr. "I don't know one little girl in the whole world, even if she's never had a ballet class, that doesn't want to be Clara. There's ballet dancers backstage that didn't get to be Clara that are company dancers. Everybody walks down the hall and knows Clara. The Clara is where that dream of ballet starts, I think."

500 children auditioned for Ballet West's production of "The Nutcracker" which is the longest running in America with 57 years now. 276 young dancers perform in four casts.

"It's just so fun because you get to work with the awesome company dancers, such pretty and amazing dancers and you get to make new friends," Rogers said.

The story of "The Nutcracker" is an American favorite because it tells a story of hope.

"It's a hopeful story of a wonderful dancer and her dreams," Snarr said. "And how this relates to Christmas, there's lights and sound and packages and beautiful things."

The production and performance of "The Nutcracker" is always fasted paced for the dancers and stage crew backstage.

"Children are running back and forth, taking things on and off stage," Snarr said. "Transformations happen every second and everyone, from dressers to props to everyone who dances, is always on their toes."

In Act One, Rogers has to change costumes just off stage in exactly 30 seconds.

"I'm sort of nervous for the quick change," Rogers said. "I might not make it, I might."

And speaking of quick, getting from one side of the stage to the other, behind-the-scenes, proves to be very tricky for the dancers.

"The Nutcracker" is a beloved tradition for generations and a gift of talent from so many that the audience can't see. And from those who make it so memorable, audiences and performers continue going back for more.

"It's pretty hard, but it's fun also," Rogers said. "It's just a dream come true."

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