Nashville Ballet and the Tennessee Titans will be partnering to present a televised performance of Nashville’s Nutcracker on NewsChannel 5. The full-length, televised performance will replace the previously scheduled in-theater production at TPAC’s Jackson Hall out of an abundance of caution amid COVID-19.
“We are proud to support Nashville’s Nutcracker, and so thankful to Nashville Ballet for keeping this performance a part of our holiday traditions this year,” said Titans President and CEO Burke Nihill. “The local performing arts industry, like many, has been particularly impacted by the pandemic, and we’re happy to play a small role in supporting their creativity as they work to continue their service to our community. Perhaps the silver lining of not being able to see the show in person this year is that it will reach so many people through their televisions at home. I’m looking forward to tuning in come Dec. 18.”
The televised premiere will feature a special appearance by former Titans Running Back Eddie George, who has built an impressive acting career since retiring from the NFL in 2005. George will kick off the special with a formal introduction and will narrate throughout the performance.
“This is a unique opportunity for both of our audiences,” said Nashville Ballet Artistic Director Paul Vasterling. “Much like Nashville’s Nutcracker, the Titans are an integral part of Nashville’s culture and entertainment, and to see our two organizations come together to safely present this holiday classic to our community is truly a testament to what makes Nashville so inclusive.”
The two hour performance will take audiences on a nostalgic —and safe, socially distant — journey through the Land of the Sweets and Music City’s glittering past.
Nashville Ballet completed filming the televised premiere within its 12,000-square-foot warehouse in early October on a sound stage that was specifically constructed for this event. Under continued consultation with a team of trusted medical advisors, close collaboration with the Metro Nashville Public Health Department, and guidance from the CDC and Tennessee Department of Health, Nashville Ballet instituted numerous policies to ensure the process was completed in the safest way possible. This included daily rapid tests, weekly tests, daily temperature and symptom checks, a mandatory mask requirement at all times while in the facility (with the exception of a dancer actively filming), enhanced filtration measures to upgrade the existing HVAC system, social distancing, cleanings, hand sanitizing, and more. Nashville Ballet also instituted assigned pods during all rehearsals. In addition to limiting the number of dancers present in each studio, this included creating 8-foot squares taped onto the floors to maintain appropriate social distancing.
Nashville’s Nutcracker will premiere on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. CST on NewsChannel 5 WTVF. Tune in to the encore performances on Dec. 24 at 7 p.m. on NewsChannel 5+ and Dec. 25 at 3 p.m. on NewsChannel 5 WTVF. The performances will also be available on the NewsChannel 5 app that can be found on Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire.
About Nashville Ballet
Nashville Ballet is the largest professional ballet company in Tennessee. Nashville Ballet presents a varied repertoire of classical ballet and contemporary works by noted choreographers, including original works by Artistic Director Paul Vasterling. Nashville Ballet and the second company, NB2 (a pre-professional training company), provide more than 55,000 arts experiences to adults and children annually through season performances and its Community Engagement programming. Curriculum-based Community Engagement programs bring dance education to community centers, colleges, public libraries, and public elementary, middle, and high schools across the state. School of Nashville Ballet brings world-class dance instruction to students age 2 and up. To learn more about Nashville Ballet, please visit nashvilleballet.com.
Nashville Ballet receives public funding from Metro Arts, Tennessee Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Contributions from local, regional, and national institutional funders and community partners, as well as hundreds of generous individuals, provide ongoing support of Nashville Ballet’s mission-critical programs.
About NewsChannel 5
The NewsChannel 5 Network is the number one source for local news in Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky, providing 24/7 coverage of breaking news, critical weather information, sports, and investigative reporting. NewsChannel 5’s award-winning coverage and community service can be found across multiple platforms including over-the-air on channel 5.1, our website and fully integrated app at www.newschannel5.com, and all video streaming services including Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Amazon Alexa, and Google Play. In addition, NewsChannel 5+ (over-the-air digital 5.2) is a fully local channel dedicated to coverage of local issues in-depth. The NewsChannel Network is part of the E.W. Scripps Company.
About Eddie George
Known as one of the NFL’s premier running backs, Eddie spent nine years in the National Football League where he won Offensive Rookie of the Year and led the Tennessee Titans to the Super Bowl in 2000. Eddie attended Ohio State University where he won the Heisman Trophy, Doak Walker Award, and Maxwell Award.
In 2005, Eddie hung up the football cleats and joined Fox Sports as a broadcast analyst for NFL pre-game and college football. Over the years, Eddie was working on his acting skills. In 2012, he starred as Julius in Julius Caesar (Nashville Shakespeare Festival), in 2013 as the title role in Othello (Nashville Shakespeare Festival), in 2015 as Simon in The Whipping Man (Nashville Repertory Theatre), and in 2016 as Billy Flynn in Chicago (Broadway Debut).
Eddie is married to Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George, a Grammy-nominated singer with the soul group SWV ("Sisters With Voices"), which sold more than six million records. Taj was also featured on the Survivor television show in 2009 and was voted one of the fan favorites. Eddie also made a guest appearance on Survivor. Eddie is blessed to join the 2020 production of Nashville Ballet’s Nashville’s Nutcracker.
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