The Nutcracker Sets and Costumes
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When it comes to holiday traditions in Colorado, none are more iconic and magical than Colorado Ballet’s The Nutcracker. For more than half a century, audiences have followed Clara on a magical journey as she is enchanted by dancing dolls, falls in love with her Nutcracker prince, defeats giant mice, and travels through a magical forest to the Land of Sweets to meet the Sugar Plum Fairy.
“I grew up coming to Colorado Ballet’s The Nutcracker every year with my family. I feel so fortunate to be able to
create the same tradition with my own children now. The Nutcracker is a special part of our holiday.”
– Colorado Ballet Season Ticket Subscriber
From the audience, the sets and costumes sparkle to create a magical world, but as you get closer, the magic of the 33 year-old sets and costumes transforms into strategically placed duct tape, camouflaged glue, and years of built up sweat, wear and tear. The Land of the Sweets set looks dated from decades past and the stage scrim has become brittle and fragile, requiring constant repair. Originally built in 1986 the existing sets and costumes were acquired in 2005 from the San Francisco Ballet. Despite constant updates and repairs, the sets and costumes are ready to be retired.
The choreography for Colorado Ballet’s The Nutcracker will remain unchanged, and the style of the new sets and costumes will remain in the classic Victorian style.
Play a role in keeping the Magic Alive!
THE DESIGNERS
Holly Hynes
Costume Designer
Holly Hynes is an award-winning costume designer with over 250 ballets to her credit, including more
than 70 at New York City Ballet. For 21 years, Holly served as the Director of Costumes for New York City Ballet
and she served as the resident costume designer for 15 years at The Suzanne Farrell Ballet at The John F. Kennedy
Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. In 2018, Holly received the Theater Development Fund/Irene
Sharaff Lifetime Achievement Award at the Edison Ballroom in New York City. Prima Ballerina Wendy Whelan
presented Holly with the honor and remarked, "She always designs masterfully for each project as a whole,
but it's of equal importance to her that she design to honor and empower the performers themselves. The
distinct love-letter nature of Holly's work allows the essence of the dancer to live on forever...” Her
proudest accomplishments are her two children, both artists and her marriage to husband Jim Zulakis for 38 years.
Learn more about Holly at hollyhynes.com
Thomas Boyd
Scenic Design
A native of Kansas, Thomas Boyd performed modern and classical dance with Chicago Ballet and Chicago Contemporary Dance Theater before joining Houston Ballet in 1976 at the invitation of artistic director emeritus Ben Stevenson. From 1983 to 2012, Thomas held the position of Houston Ballet’s Production Director, and all aspects of the company’s physical production came under his supervision. In 2013, Thomas was reunited with an old friend when Li Cunxin assumed artistic directorship of Queensland Ballet and recruited Thomas as Technical Director through 2017. Thomas has created scenic designs for more than ten companies around the world including, Repertory Theater, Houston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, National Ballet of Estonia, Ballet de Santiago, National Ballet of China, and Queensland Ballet.
DESIGN SNEAK PEEK
Colorado Ballet new Nutcracker sets and costumes sneak peek
Join costume designer Holly Hynes and set designer Thomas Boyd as they give a special sneak peek of the brand new sets and costumes for Colorado Ballet's The Nutcracker.
Endowment: Ensuring Fiscal Stability
A significant endowment is a key element in sustaining Colorado Ballet’s mission of presenting nationally recognized classical ballet and contemporary dance and securing its future stability – financially, organizationally and artistically.
Colorado Ballet’s caliber of talent and quality of performances can rival any top company in the nation. This core artistic strength has driven strong ticket sales and supported the organization’s financial health, but the company has not yet achieved an appropriately sized endowment.
With an endowment goal of $5,000,000, now is the time to invest in a sustainable future and ensure Colorado Ballet remains in the top ranks of ballet companies nationally and ensure future generations will know Colorado Ballet and the joy that dance brings.
Endowment Funds will support the organization in the following areas:
Artistic Reserves
Academy Scholarships
Education and Community Engagement
General Operating Needs
