Germantown Ave. will appear in a new version of The Nutcracker ballet

A new production of the ballet The Nutcracker will use Germantown, Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill for its backdrop.

This version being produced by the Philadelphia Dance Theater, which is located at 7500 Germantown Avenue in Mt. Airy.

Artistic Director, Joy Delaney Capponi, came up with the idea of putting having the The Nutcracker set in Northwest Philadelphia.

In a statement by the theater, Capponi said the timing seemed right. Now that the ballet company performs at the new Kurtz Center at William Penn Charter School something new seemed appropriate, “With the new wonderful performing arts theater in the community, the timing was ripe for this new and vital work to be presented.”

Local resident and artist, Chris Fox, designed the scenery and backdrops. Act I takes inspiration from the Thomas Mansion on Wissahickon Avenue. Constructed in 1869, this remarkable Gothic style home will be featured in the opening party scene at a typical Victorian Christmas gathering.

The Land of the Snow will feature the Northwest’s favorite sledding spot “Tommy’s Hill” evoking the feeling of our native trees and sloping hills in Fairmount Park. Act II will feature several of Germantown Avenue’s merchants where Clara and her Prince will climb the porches to explore the shops and delight in the local sweets from vendors, bakers, and shopkeepers.

Oh one more thing, product placement is also option. The theater company said local merchants can feature their shops on the front porches throughout Act II.

The Nutcracker will show Friday Nov 25 at 7 p.m. and Saturday Nov 26 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. at Penn Charter’s Kurtz Center, 3000 West School House Lane in East Falls.