or


[10/20/11 - 11:15 AM]
Ovation's "Battle of the Nutcrackers" Programming Event to Feature the U.S. Television Premiere of Mariinsky Theatre's The Nutcracker on December 12
Nigel Lythgoe and Debbie Allen will introduce all of the productions and provide insight and commentary.

[via press release from Ovation]

OVATION'S "BATTLE OF THE NUTCRACKERS" PROGRAMMING EVENT TO FEATURE THE US TELEVISION PREMIERE OF MARIINSKY THEATRE'S THE NUTCRACKER ON DECEMBER 12

Hosted by Nigel Lythgoe and Debbie Allen, "Battle of the Nutcrackers" Includes a Full Week of Nutcracker Ballets from St. Petersburg, Berlin, London, and Moscow, Plus a Surprise Addition Airing Christmas Day

SANTA MONICA, CA - October 20, 2011 -- Ovation, the only multi-platform network celebrating all forms of artistic expression, is continuing its holiday tradition with the 5th annual "Battle of the Nutcrackers" programming event kicking off Monday, December 12. Co-hosted by Nigel Lythgoe, co-creator, executive producer and judge of "So You Think You Can Dance" and executive producer of "American Idol," and director/producer/choreographer/actress Debbie Allen, "Battle of the Nutcrackers" will include the US television premiere of Mariinsky Theatre's The Nutcracker, as well as diverse ballets from Moscow, Berlin and London.

Beginning the week of December 12, Ovation will feature a different production of the Nutcracker every night of the week and viewers will be invited to vote for their favorite rendition online at www.ovationtv.com. The Viewers' Choice will be revealed on Christmas Eve, December 24th. Christmas Day, December 25th, will bring a special surprise Nutcracker premiere, accompanied by an all-day marathon of the other productions.

Nigel Lythgoe and Debbie Allen will introduce all of the productions and provide insight and commentary about the ballet companies, the dancers and the tradition of the Nutcracker, as well as reveal the Viewers' Choice.

Program highlights of "The Battle of the Nutcrackers" include:

· The Nutcracker (Available in High Definition) - US Television Premiere: Monday, December 12 at 8:00 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT. Presented from the historic opera and ballet house, the State Academic Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where The Nutcracker was first performed in 1892. This lively 2007 production with fanciful sets and costumes was helmed by avant-garde artist Mikhail Shemiakin and features Irina Golub and Leonid Sarafanov.

· Royal Opera House: The Nutcracker (Available in High Definition) -- Tuesday, December 13 at 8:00 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT. The Royal Ballet, the resident ballet company of the Royal Opera House in London, was founded in 1931 and is an internationally renowned classical ballet company. In this very lush, traditional production, filmed in HD in 2009, the role of Clara is played by Iohna Loots and the Sugar Plum Fairy is played by Miyako Yoshida.

· The Nutcracker: Berlin State Opera Ballet -- Wednesday, December 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT. Patrice Bart's version of the classic Nutcracker tale is overflowing with dramatic twists and turns. The Berlin State Opera Ballet fills this production with vigor and graceful dance movements.

· Bolshoi Ballet: The Nutcracker-- Thursday, December 15 at 8:00 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT. This beautiful, classic presentation of The Nutcracker comes to life through the sophisticated choreography of Yuri Grigorovich, who has danced and choreographed with the Bolshoi for decades. Natalya Arkhipov stars as Clara, and Aleksandr Kopilov conducts The Bolshoi Theater Orchestra in this elegant take on the traditional tale.

· Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker! - Friday, December 16, 8 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT. This delicious contemporary production is full of pathos and theatrical magic. From a hilariously bleak Christmas Eve at Dr. Dross' Orphanage, to the spectacular candy folk of Sweetieland, Clara's journey passes through Oliver Twist, the Ice Capades and the kaleidoscopic fantasy of Busby Berkeley musicals.

On November 1, viewers can get a sneak peek of "Battle of the Nutcrackers" when three of the productions will be made available on Video on Demand: featured in Comcast XFINITY's Top Picks and on DIRECTV, DISH, Verizon FiOS, Insight and GCI.

The Nutcracker began as a story, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, written in 1816 by E. T. A. Hoffmann in which young Clara Stahlbaum's favorite 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. In 1892, the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and choreographers Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov turned the story's adapted version into the ballet The Nutcracker, and is today, one of the most popular ballets in the world.

About Ovation:

Ovation is the only multi-platform network celebrating all forms of artistic expression. Its programming tells the stories of artists, their work, and the powerful impact art has on each of us. Ovation programming is a one-of-a-kind mix of original and selectively curated documentaries, series, films and specials. The network reaches a national audience of 44 million homes and is available on cable systems across the country, as well as nationally on DIRECTV, Dish and Verizon FiOS. Ovation is also available in HD and VOD (both in standard and high definition). Ovation extends its linear channel experience for viewers online via its popular website, www.ovationtv.com. In addition to offering contests, trivia, facts and supplemental video online, the network has created an award-winning online community (www.ovationtv.com/community) for everyone from passionate artists to the curious. To date, over 180,000 pieces of original art have been uploaded to the site by members.





  [october 2011]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE (FOX)





[11/26/24 - 03:01 PM]
Video: New Games, New Stakes - "Squid Game" Season 2 Main Trailer and Key Art "Round and Round" Unveiled
With its premiere just around the corner on December 26, the trailer delivers an electrifying glimpse into the deadly games and gripping character dynamics that await fans worldwide.

[11/26/24 - 02:34 PM]
Video: Paramount+ with Showtime Debuts Official Trailer for Showtime's "Dexter: Original Sin"
The series premieres Friday, December 13 on streaming and on demand for Paramount+ subscribers with the Paramount+ with Showtime plan, before making its on-air US debut on Sunday, December 15 at 10pm ET/PT.

[11/26/24 - 01:15 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 vs. CBS' "After Midnight" and NBC's "Late Night with Seth Meyers"
"Nightline" posted double-digit gains week to week across the board, hitting a 6-week high in overall viewers and 7-week highs in both key Adult demos.

[11/26/24 - 12:03 PM]
Netflix Top 10 Week of Nov. 18: "The Merry Gentlemen" and "A Man on the Inside" Take the Top Spots
Season 2 of the animated series "Arcane" laid siege to #2 (6.4M views), while Season 1 took #5 with 2.2M views.

[11/26/24 - 11:44 AM]
TNT Sports to Debut "Evolve and Flex" with Lance Fresh Friday, Dec. 6, on truTV and Max
The show is hosted by sports-lifestyle expert Lance Fresh and features candid conversations with guests to discuss how life's events have contributed to their sense of style.

[11/26/24 - 11:19 AM]
MGM+ Announces 2025 Premiere Date for "NFL Icons" Season Four
In the upcoming fourth season, the docuseries will feature Pro Football Hall of Famers Joe Montana, DeMarcus Ware, Kurt Warner and Gale Sayers.

[11/26/24 - 10:24 AM]
Video: "Rogue Heroes" (MGM+ 2025 Series) Season 2 Tease
"Rogue Heroes" is a dramatized account of how the world's greatest Special Forces unit, the SAS, was formed under extraordinary circumstances in the darkest days of World War Two.

[11/26/24 - 10:09 AM]
Video: Acorn TV Releases Official Trailer for Second Season of Hit Australian Drama, "Darby and Joan"
The new season debuts with a two-episode premiere, exclusively on Acorn TV, on December 30, followed by weekly episodes through January 27.

[11/26/24 - 10:01 AM]
ABC News Studios Announces Fourth Season of Hit True-Crime Series "Wild Crime," Streaming Dec. 5 Only on Hulu
"Wild Crime: Eleven Skulls" delves into the haunting 2012 disappearance of Samantha Koenig, an 18-year-old Anchorage barista last seen leaving her place of work with an unknown man on a dark winter night.

[11/26/24 - 08:32 AM]
Bravo Greenlights "Vanderpump Rules" Season 12 with a New Group of SUR-vers
In addition, "Vanderpump Rules" will celebrate the past decade of heartbreaks, friendship rifts and scandals with a retrospective special highlighting the past 11 seasons.

[11/26/24 - 08:30 AM]
Video: Paramount+ and Nickelodeon Reveal Teaser, First-Look Images and Premiere Date for "Henry Danger The Movie"
"Henry Danger The Movie" will be available to stream in the U.S. on Paramount+ Friday, January 17, and premiere on Nickelodeon that same day at 7 p.m. (ET/PT).

[11/26/24 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Makayla's Voice: A Letter to the World" - Official Teaser - Netflix
Makayla is a teenage girl who has spent her life grappling with a rare form of autism that rendered her essentially nonverbal until her parents, filled with unwavering belief in their daughter's potential, embarked on a transformative journey to discover the true depth of Makayla's inner world.

[11/26/24 - 08:01 AM]
HBO Announces Ian Bonhote & Peter Ettedgui's Award-Winning "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story," Debuting December 7 on HBO and Max
The critically acclaimed film had its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and recently won six Critics Choice Documentary Awards.

[11/26/24 - 08:00 AM]
HGTV Greenlights Gutsy Las Vegas Renovation Series "Sin City Rehab" (wt) Starring Indomitable Designer Alison Victoria
The eight-episode series will document Alison, best known for her Emmy-nominated series "Windy City Rehab," taking the biggest gamble of her career as she expands her successful design business out West.

[11/26/24 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "The Manny" Season 2 - Release Date Announcement - Netflix
A busy executive hires a cowboy to care for her kids in a moment of panic. Little does she know he'll challenge her views of gender roles - and of love.