Other fantastical touches6/11/2023 ![]() These shorts range in length from a few minutes to half an hour long, and in subject matter from a Mickey Mouse adventure to social propaganda to abstract interpretations of jazz music. So Disney shelved Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, and other projects for a while, and from 1943 to 1949, the studio produced 31 shorts, bundled into six features. Due to the financial underperformance of Pinocchio, Fantasia, and Bambi, and the limitations World War II put on the potential worldwide box office, Disney’s financiers at Bank of America would only continue supporting the studio’s animated projects if Walt Disney stuck to the less costly work of producing shorts. Why haven’t those package films been remembered in the same breath as the animated Disney films that bookend them? The answer is mired in the history of Disney’s financial affairs, and World War II’s impact on the animation industry. The decade kicked off with three all-time classics - 1940’s Fantasia, 1941’s Dumbo, and 1942’s Bambi - but the balance of the ’40s was devoted to so-called “package films,” six anthology features that bridged the gap before the classics picked up again with 1950’s Cinderella. Tickets are available a Harmony School of Creative Arts, 1503 Mormon Mill Road in Marble Falls the Marble Falls H-E-B on RR 1431 and GYMACT of Marble Falls, 2413 Commerce St.The 1940s were a strange period in the history of Disney animation. Reserve seating is $20 in advance and $22 at the door.Īll the performances are at the Marble Falls High School auditorium, 2101 Mustang Drive. ![]() Children 3 and younger are admitted free of charge. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door for adults and students 13 and older and $5 in advance and $8 at the door for ages 4-12 and 65 and older. Harmony’s Fantasy Nutcracker takes the stage at 7 p.m. “It takes a lot of work, but I think it’s going to be a great show,” VanBerg said. In fact, VanBerg said the Harmony production features 75 people - children and adults - moving on and off stage. We have young ladies who are trying out for ballets across the country and making it.”Īll that means people attending this year’s production can expect to be transported around the world as Clara, the Nutcracker and, yes, the Mouse King take them there along with a complete cast of dancers, actors and performers. “Jane Allen has done an incredible job with the ballet and dance program. “Now that our dancers have matured, the dancing is such high quality,” she said. She credits that to the development of the dancers. VanBerg believes this year’s production of “The Fantasy Nutcracker” could be one of the best - if not the best - Harmony has produced. But the ballet and story just makes it such an incredible experience.” The music takes you on a journey itself, even if there wasn’t a ballet. “The music, of course, is illuminating by itself. “It’s an exciting ballet,” VanBerg said about both the original and Harmony’s version. But that doesn’t stop people of all ages from enjoying the Harmony production, sometimes year after year as it’s become a Highland Lakes tradition. On that sense, “The Fantasy Nutcracker” makes for a great introduction to the ballet for children. “It’s still ‘The Nutcracker’ but has more fantastical elements, so children will really enjoy it.” “I’ve regard it to the gifts, so kids today can understand and follow the story,” she said. So VanBerg tweaked the story to create “The Fantasy Nutcracker.” While those gifts symbolize places around the world such as China (for tea) and Arabia (for coffee) and made perfect sense to the audiences during the original performances of “The Nutcracker,” VanBerg didn’t think today’s children would really pick up on the symbolism. “When it was written, the opening party scene included gifts like coffee, tea, chocolate and marzipan,” said Kathleen VanBerg, artistic director of Harmony’s School of Dance. But that hasn’t diminished the love people still have for this traditional Christmas ballet as it continues to take the stage around the world.Īnd one stage will be in the Marble Falls High School auditorium when Harmony School of Creative Arts performs “The Fantasy Nutcracker.” Though it follows the traditional story line complete with Peter Tchaikovsky’s score, people familiar with the ballet might notice a few nuances added by Harmony’s instructors and artistic director.īut it’s all done so children can really understand and follow the ballet’s story. Petersburg, Russia, things were a bit different than they are today. MARBLE FALLS - When “The Nutcracker” first entertained an audience on Dec.
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