The wagners collection is the largest known collection of nutcracking devices in the world. She says, like clara in the story, i became entranced with the toothy, wooden nutcracker. She taught multiple productions of the nutcracker, and became enamored of nutcrackers. Leavenworth nutcracker museum is a museum dedicated to nutcrackers, located in leavenworth, washington. His name used to be hugely famous, but nowadays, it. Wagner didnt collect nutcrackers when she was young. Proving that nutcrackers are still a big deal, arlene wager of the leavenworth nutcracker museum was the first guest on late night host conan obriens new tbs show in november 2010. This is designed to quickly educate the nondance oriented about this wonderful story ballet. Wagner studied ballet under alexandra danilova, and subsequently became a ballet instructor. The story of the nutcracker ballet scene descriptions. Nutcracker collection adds to holiday spirit lipscomb. Its an irresistible tale of a toy soldier that turns into a prince.
The dark, romantic roots of the nutcracker few people today remember e. She says, like clara in the story, i became entranced with. Hoffmanns prussian christmas story the nutcracker and the. We invite you from the bottom of our hearts to visit our country germany. Arlene wagner, the nutcracker lady from the nutcracker museum in leavenworth, washington, says that the bronze hands, as it was dubbed, was discovered in 1930 in a grave near taranto, italy. The oldest metal nutcracker known dates to the 3rd4th century b. This 188 page deluxe coffee table book published for the leavenworth nutcracker museum, shows pictures of over nutcrackers from the 16th century to today. Dec 15, 2014 nutcrackers have a long history dec 15, 2014. Leavenworth nutcracker museum leavenworth, washington. Arlene and husband george put on the nutcracker ballet. Tchaikovskys nutcracker ballet is here, presenting a toy soldier nutcracker to. The show premiered there in december 1961, playing as a. Sep 04, 2012 the narrated story of the nutcracker ballet in under 5 minutes.
She and her husband george have been collecting nutcrackers ever since. This time, it was a nutcracker a 6 tall nutcracker, to be exact. The nutcracker site provides a central location for nutcracker ballet information. The museum opened its doors in 1995 as a private showing of the immense nutcracker collection of george and arlene wagner, and soon after that a washington. The company produced the nutcracker ballet each year. If youre off to see graeme murphys moving reimagaination of the nutcracker, nows the time to get acquainted with the story, which follows a ballerina, clara, through the glamour and romance, tragedy and travels of her life. The nutcracker in 3d released on dvd as the nutcracker. Hoffmann s 1816 fairy tale the nutcracker and the mouse king. Hoffmanns original story, the nutcracker and mouse king, maries claras, journey becomes a fevered delirium that transports her to a land where she sees sparkling christmas forests and marzipan castles, but in a world populated with dolls. The book the art and character of nutcrackers by arlene wagner is a good book for buying vintage nutcrackers for cheap and the book erzgebirgische volkskunst by hellmut bilz also has a section on 20th century vintage nutcrackers.
Dec 25, 20 the dark roots of the nutcracker and the man who wrote it this is the time of year when one mans work is widely if indirectly celebrated. Art and character of nutcrackers wagner, arlene, leavenworth nutcracker museum on. If you dont want to damage the mouth, you can put the nut in a small felt bag. His original story, called the nutcracker and the mouse king, was a bit darker and scarier than the story told in the modern ballet. Now that the mouse king is dead, an ancient spell has been broken, and the nutcracker is transformed into a handsome prince.
The first official guest was arlene wagner, curator of. Dec 16, 2010 the war also played an important role in introducing americans to the german way of cracking nuts, according to arlene wagner, who curates the leavenworth nutcracker museum. Her facility will be profiled in an upcoming segment of cbs news sunday morning program. And of course the characters from the nutcracker ballet are favorites with children of all ages. Are you now hoping arlene is conans first guest, or are you still.
Hoffmans 1816 story, the nutcracker and the mouse king, which. She and her husband, george, have been collecting nutcrackers ever since. The nutcracker on the twentyfourth of december, dr. This is a very simplified look at the story of the nutcracker ballet. The leavenworth nutcracker museum was founded in 1995 by george and arlene wagner who donated their huge nutcracker collection and the building in which it is housed. Read this christmas story and find out why it has charmed generations of people.
Dec 06, 2018 wagner didnt collect nutcrackers when she was young. The room is filled with the magical christmas spirit. Dec 19, 2016 in celebration of the 200th anniversary of e. It was a christmas eve and marie was waiting for uncle peter. Arlene wagner became interested in nutcrackers in the late 1960s when she purchased some for her dance studio. Housed in the leavenworth nutcracker museum, which is also a national heritage foundation site, the wagners collection is on display to the public. The museum became a nonprofit 501c3 foundation and others have donated nutcrackers, and now it contains over 7000 specimens, probably the worlds largest collection of nut. Written by arlene wagner published by collectors press, inc. As she falls back asleep on the couch, her thoughts are filled with exciting, happy memories of the christmas eve party and the dancing dolls. Learn about the history of the leavenworth nutcracker museum. Meet the staff at the leavenworth nutcracker museum.
Its the washington ballets annual performance of tchaikovskys the nutcracker at dcs warner theatre now through dec. This nutcracker pack was made free nutcracker learning pack ages 2 to 9 over 60 pages with cursive, math and langauge activities with a 30 page tot pack see more. The bestknown nutcrackers bring to life, through wood and paint, the colorful, fiercelooking, bearded soldiers from e. The untold story is a 2010 britishhungarian 3d christmas musical fantasy film adapted from the ballet the nutcracker. The art and character of nutcrackers by arlene wagner. Curator at the leavenworth nutcracker museum in leavenworth, washington. Although woodworkers made nutcrackers of many character shapes. Founded by arlene wagner and her husband george in 1995, the museum housed over 6,000 nutcrackers in 2010. The story of a nutcracker vintage childrens classics alexandre.
The nutcracker by eta hoffman illustrated by maurice sendak. The narrated story of the nutcracker ballet in under 5 minutes. Dec 31, 2006 arlene wagner became interested in nutcrackers in the late 1960s when she purchased some for her dance studio. In 1995 they founded the leavenworth nutcracker museum, a national heritage foundation. Dec 12, 2011 the book the art and character of nutcrackers by arlene wagner is a good book for buying vintage nutcrackers for cheap and the book erzgebirgische volkskunst by hellmut bilz also has a section on 20th century vintage nutcrackers. Conans first guest the curator of a nutcracker museum. Beyond visions of sugarplum fairies and wooden men wi. Collecting nutcrackers explore the nutcracker tradition. Arlene continues to work at the museum as curator and museum. The nutcracker prince musters his toy infantry and the cavalry. Dec 08, 2014 according to arlene wagner of the nutcracker museum, nutcracker soldiers were made in the erzgebirge region of germany around 1800. During the last 40 years, the wagners, both 84, have amassed more than 5,000 nutcrackers from 47 countriesone of the largest and finest collections of its kind in the worldwhich they display at their leavenworth nutcracker museum.
Ivan vsevolozhsky and marius petipa adapted hoffmanns story for the ballet. Nutcracker performance listings are provided by state and city and by the company performing the nutcracker ballet. Dec 17, 2017 the nutcracker, by new york city ballet author. Arlene george and arlene wagner founded the leavenworth nutcracker museum in 1995. The war also played an important role in introducing americans to the german way of cracking nuts, according to arlene wagner, who curates the leavenworth nutcracker museum.
The curator, arlene wagner, was conan obriens first guest on his tbs show. Nutcracker ballet returns to warner theatre with d. Cowritten, directed, and coproduced by andrei konchalovsky, the film stars elle fanning, nathan lane, and john turturro with charles rowe and shirley henderson as the. The dark roots of the nutcracker and the man who wrote it this is the time of year when one mans work is widely if indirectly celebrated. Arlene wagner also known as the nutcracker lady and her husband have amassed more than 5,000 pieces. Arlene wagner, founder and curator of the leavenworth nutcracker museum, stands in one of her aisles in 2001. In a nutshell, you could say that arlene and george wagner, of leavenworth, wash.
Nutcrackers continue to be a favorite of collectors chicago. Uncle peter got a funny looking nutcracker toy as her gift. According to the museums website, wagner is a former ballet teacher who. So that is why i began this website, so children could learn more about the fascinating world of nutcrackers. Written by arlene wagner design by michael mcivor published by olympic press, seattle wa 2014 hardcover book 1 pages, 812 x 11 inches isbn 09785535. Once again drosselmeyer calls upon his magic and the nutcracker is transformed into a handsome boy. It was a tradition for uncle peter to give marie presents the night before christmas. The house grows dark, and clara steals back into the room to look at her precious nutcracker.
In the 1970s and 80s, she was the artistic director of a small ballet company in renton, washington. I was even going to take her to the ballet and thought this would be a good way to lead up to it. Hoffmann, in which young marie stahlbaums favourite christmas toy, the nutcracker, comes alive and, after defeating the evil mouse king in battle, whisks her away to a magical kingdom populated by dolls. The story of the nutcracker ballet by deborah hautzig. The museum, founded 21 years ago by former ballet instructor arlene wagner. The war also played an important role in introducing americans to the german way of cracking nuts, according to arlene wagner, who curates the. For that theme this year is a fun learning pack with a nutcracker theme. On display were 62 nutcrackers and nutcracker devices from the collection of arlene wagner, affectionately known as the nutcracker lady, which are now a part of the leavenworth nutcracker museum located in leavenworth, wash. Just as the mouse king is about to overpower the nutcracker doll, clara distracts him, allowing the nutcracker to strike the winning blow. Stahlbaums children were not allowed to set foot in the family parlor.
Nov 30, 1997 the bestknown nutcrackers bring to life, through wood and paint, the colorful, fiercelooking, bearded soldiers from e. There is so much to learn about nutcrackers, not only about the familiar wooden toy soldier nutcracker but the many different tools men have devised to open the shell of the nut. Regardless of whether you wish to relive old memories anew, or to trace the roots of your family origins, or simply to get to know us better, youll be glad you made the trip. The nutcracker simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. He hung the picture in our living room for the next few days to observe the interactions of my little siblings with the giant nutcracker while. Arlene wagner says these openmouthed nutcrackers always make people laugh. He hung the picture in our living room for the next few days to observe the interactions of my little siblings with the giant nutcracker while he allowed his own design process ideas to incubate. Written by arlene wagner and printed by collectors press, inc. The art and character of nutcrackers book by arlene wagner. Be sure to check out the nutcracker site before you decide where you will see a holiday performance of the nutcracker. Wellmade nutcrackers are practical and collectible. The dark roots of the nutcracker and the man who wrote it. The nutcracker story read aloud stories for kids, bbc kids.
Leavenworth nutcracker museum doyenne arlene wagner will be the first guest on conan obriens new variety show, premiering monday night on tbs. Dressed in a traditional bavarian dirndl, arlene wagner greets visitors with a. I wanted to introduce my daughter to the story of the nutcracker because it is something i love about christmas. According to arlene wagner of the nutcracker museum, nutcracker soldiers were made in the erzgebirge region of germany around 1800. From the return of the masturbating bear to seth rogens surprising engagement story. Hoffmanns tales were so bizarre, sigmund freud wrote about them in the uncanny. Instead, it was originally a story written in 1816 by prussian author e. Apr 29, 2016 this is the nutcracker story for kids. Hoffmann, but most everyone is familiar with his most famous creation. Dec 20, 2008 in a nutshell, you could say that arlene and george wagner, of leavenworth, wash.
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