Barbie’s Fairy World

Imagine a version of the classic Nutcracker ballet in which the heroine, Marie, lives under the shadow of her socialite mother in 1960s New York City; the fairy world she enters in the production’s second half is ruled by Ken and Barbie; and the music ranges from Justin Timberlake to Mantovani. If you’re searching for something a little different this season, stop here. After three years off, it’s back—the Ballet of the Dolls’ nutty Nutcracker (not so) Suite.

The original Dolls’ Nutcracker premiered almost twenty years ago in the loft where the company’s artistic director and Nutcracker choreographer Myron Johnson lived. And although the Ritz Theater has much better sightlines than that loft, Johnson says it’s still like inviting people into your home. “That’s the way it feels.”

This year’s Nutcracker will be more like the Dolls’ first one. But then, the Dolls’ Nutcracker changes every year it’s performed—new music, new costumes, a new theme for the snow scene. (In the past, Johnson’s done gospel snow, Hollywood snow, and snow in a hospital.) What stays the same is an emphasis on the story’s emotion. Often the traditional Nutcracker becomes a showcase for dancers’ technique. That’s “never really been enough” for Johnson. “I like to be invested and moved,” he says.

Nutcracker (not so) Suite isn’t your aunt’s fruitcake. But that may just be why you’ll enjoy it. People assume that because the Dolls’ Nutcracker is unconventional, it’s not heart-warming, says Johnson. But the opposite is true: The ballet’s unpredictability makes it more engaging and more moving. Dec. 14–31. 345 13th Ave. NE, Mpls., 612-436-1129

Reach Lightsey Darst at lightseyd@msn.com.