Local celebrities make guest appearances in Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's 'The Nutcracker'

Kristine Sorensen recalled going to see the performance of “The Nutcracker” with her sister and their mother, Barbara.

“It is one of my favorite holiday traditions as a child,” said Sorensen, anchor of the 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. KDKA-TV newscasts and Kidsburgh reporter, via email. “Then I performed in it as a high school student growing up in Orlando (Fla.). I performed a cameo in the party scene of ‘The Nutcracker’ with the Ft. Worth Dallas Ballet when I was a news anchor there.”

When Sorensen moved to Pittsburgh in 2003 and joined the board of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, she proposed replicating the idea to generate publicity for the show.

In between dancers in this year’s “The Nutcracker” you just might spot more familiar faces. Sorensen is one of 10 local celebrities — the most ever — invited to join on stage for this holiday tradition. Each will have an assigned artist from the professional company who will assist them in where to go and what to do at different times during the party scene.

The celebrities will walk across the stage in the opening prologue, and they will join the party and stay for the entire scene. They will leave with the rest of the dancers at the end of the scene — though they will not do any ballet.

Performances run Dec. 8-28 at the Benedum Center, Downtown. “The Nutcracker” is based on German author E.T.A. Hoffman’s 1816 tale “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.” This year’s version was choreographed by former PBT artistic director Terrence S. Orr and has been staged for more than 20 years and features Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s classic score.

After Monday’s rehearsal at the ballet’s headquarters in the Strip District, Forest Hills native Ariana Chernyshev, one of about six artists playing Marie Stahlbaum, talked about the local guest stars.

“It is really cool,” she said. “We know they will do a great job. I hope they enjoy being on stage.”

In the show, Drosselmeyer’s nephew becomes the Nutcracker Prince and will be performed by about six artists, including Mt. Lebanon native David O’Matz. He said he is looking forward to performing with the celebrities because they are people he has followed growing up.

“And now for them to be on stage with us is wonderful,” O’Matz said.

The celebrities as part of the shows are significant for Pittsburgh audiences because it shows their support for the local arts, said Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre artistic director Adam W. McKinney.

“My hope is that the audience will continue to be enchanted by the production because it is for them and about them,” McKinney said. “I want them to see themselves in it. My personal goal is to demystify ballet.”

Scott Blasey, lead vocalist for The Clarks, said via email he accepted the invitation because it’s something he’s never done before.

“When we reach a certain age in life, there are few things we get to experience for the first time,” Blasey said. “I’m trying to fill the rest of my days with as many new experiences as possible.”

He said the first thing he associates “The Nutcracker” with is the music.

“It’s Tchaikovsky — timeless and gorgeous,” Blasey said. “It’s also beautiful to watch. Being the father of three teenage daughters, I’ve seen it many times over the years with my family.”

The production features more than 150 costumes, 1,500 costume accessories and more than 100 artists from the professional company and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s school.

Having a Pittsburgh connection with celebrities is fitting. The show contains Pittsburgh-inspired pieces, such as Steelers Terrible Towels being waved and a large clock that resembles the well-known Kaufmann’s Clock.

Birds and butterflies represent the National Aviary and the Land of Enchantment Amusement Park is a nod to Kennywood and turn-of-the-century amusement park, Luna Park.

Sorensen, who minored in dance in college, said Orr taught her a short section of the dance that she performed with the professionals. She said her favorite experience is watching the snow scene from backstage.

Dancers fly through the air and make it look effortless when they are in front of the lights. As soon as they get in the wings off stage, they are gasping for air, wiping flakes of plastic snow off their face and clomping around on their heels.

“I love the contrast,” she said. “I love the whole experience – dressing up, feeling the grandeur of the Benedum Center, watching the talented professional dancers perform amazing feats on stage, following the story of a girl’s Christmas dream, and enjoying the experience of live theater with my kids and the community. It’s not Christmas without ‘The Nutcracker’ for me.”

Tickets start at $29. A schedule can be found online at pbt.org.