An overlooked 'Star' of the Nutcracker

Leslie Holleran Jul 1, 2025

Jan 12, 2018

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                <h1>An overlooked 'Star' of the Nutcracker</h1>
                <h2><p>A lot has been written about PNB’s new Balanchine Nutcracker, but surprisingly, the literal star of the show, Dale Chihuly’s brilliant Winter Star, a very large, ornate piece of glass art, has scarcely made an appearance in media coverage. Winter Star was originally part of a specific exhibition,</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/leslie-holleran-crosscut-com/">Leslie Holleran</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Jan 12, 2018</time></p>
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            <p>A lot has been written about PNB’s new <em>Balanchine Nutcracker</em>, but surprisingly, the literal star of the show, Dale Chihuly’s brilliant <em>Winter Star</em>, a very large, ornate piece of glass art, has scarcely made an appearance in media coverage. <em>Winter Star</em> was originally part of a specific exhibition, <em>Chihuly In the Light of Jerusalem 2000</em>, and part of Chihuly’s Chandelier series.</p><p>In putting together the innumerable elements for the new production, Peter Boal approached Chihuly with the idea of including his work in the show. Proposal accepted: This 8-foot-tall and 11-foot-wide glass star now appears in the first act’s snow scene, helping to illuminate the stage for the snowflakes’ dance and guide Clara and her prince to the Land of Sweets. Given <em>Winter Star’s</em> original purpose, for a show in Jerusalem, it seems truly to be a seasonal symbol of  hope and peace.</p><p>PNB’s <em>Nutcracker</em> will be on — and its star out — again this evening at 7:30.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://dev.cascadepbs.org/content/images/sites/default/files/images/article/gallery/chihuly-winter-star-nutcracker_eb_159.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="Chihuly's" loading="lazy" width="500" height="333"></figure>
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A lot has been written about PNB’s new Balanchine Nutcracker, but surprisingly, the literal star of the show, Dale Chihuly’s brilliant Winter Star, a very large, ornate piece of glass art, has scarcely made an appearance in media coverage. Winter Star was originally part of a specific exhibition, Chihuly In the Light of Jerusalem 2000, and part of Chihuly’s Chandelier series.

In putting together the innumerable elements for the new production, Peter Boal approached Chihuly with the idea of including his work in the show. Proposal accepted: This 8-foot-tall and 11-foot-wide glass star now appears in the first act’s snow scene, helping to illuminate the stage for the snowflakes’ dance and guide Clara and her prince to the Land of Sweets. Given Winter Star’s original purpose, for a show in Jerusalem, it seems truly to be a seasonal symbol of hope and peace.

PNB’s Nutcracker will be on — and its star out — again this evening at 7:30.

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By Leslie Holleran

Leslie Holleran regularly writes about arts and culture for print and online publications. Her work has appeared in national dance publications and in Seattle newspapers and magazines.