Chris Van Allsburg, known for his book "The Polar Express" will design the new production for the Grand Rapids Ballet, and the set will be built by designer Eugene Lee, known for his work on SNL.
More from the Grand Rapids Press:
A $2.5 million fundraising campaign, in part, is providing for the 42-year-old company's first entirely new production of "The Nutcracker" in three decades… The company today unveiled plans for the new production to debut in Grand Rapids in December. "After 30 years of offering the current 'Nutcracker' to West Michigan audiences, a new tradition will be born this holiday season," said Grand Rapids Ballet executive director Glenn Del Vecchio.
The company says the production will debut in Grand Rapids in December and travel in future years.
Van Allsburg grew up in Grand Rapids and "The Polar Express" movie was based on his book.
The inspiration to have Van Allsburg design the ballet for Grand Rapids came from Maurice Sendak's production of "The Nutcracker" for Pacific Northwest Ballet.
Here's a look at that:
http://youtu.be/Z6SV8EXw5jM
