There will be an athletic edge to the Cannon Dolls for the National Ballet of Canada’s production of The Nutcracker this season. Six Olympians, including swimming sensation Summer McIntosh, are in the lineup recently announced by Hope Muir, Joan and Jerry Lozinski Artistic Director of The NBC.
Gold Medalist McIntosh takes the stage on December 20, part of a roster that includes fellow Olympians Melissa Humana-Paredes, beach volleyball, Katie Vincent, canoe-kayak sprinting, Maya Meschkuleit, rowing, Fay De Fazio Ebert, skateboarding, and Alysha Newman, pole vaulting.
Paralympian wheelchair racer Austin Smeenk will also make their debut as a Cannon Doll.
Pro athletes, local celebrities and media personalities fill out the Cannon Doll lineup, including:
- Toronto Sceptres Natalie Spooner and Kristen Campbell;
- Jeopardy Champion and CBC Radio host Mattea Roach;
- Actors Kathleen Munroe (Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent) and Araya Mengesha (Nobody);
- Global News Anchor (and longest running Cannon Doll) Susan Hay;
- Global News Chief Meteorologist Anthony Farnell;
- Breakfast Television host Stella Aquisto.
The NBC’s Nutcracker features choreography by James Kudelka, with music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, set and costume design by Santo Loquasto and lighting design by Jennifer Tipton.
Incorporating a celebrity walk-on role in The Nutcracker ballet is a common tradition around the world. The Cannon Doll wears the elaborate and colourful costume of a Petrouchka doll.
This year’s Cannon Doll performers join a long list of celebrities who’ve donned the costume and joined the fun, including former Toronto Raptors Kyle Lowry and Matt Thomas, Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, Olympic Gold Medalist Figure Skater Tessa Virtue, members of the Arkells, astronaut Chris Hadfield, Mayor of Toronto Olivia Chow, and many more.
So far, the National Ballet has invited 1,318 people to become part of the holiday classic.
For Opening Night, the Cannon Dolls will be Michael Murray, CEO of Ontario Arts Council, and their Board Chair Simon Foster.
- Check for available tickets [HERE].
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