Atlanta Ballet cancels 2020 performances of ‘The Nutcracker’

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Ballet announced that it is canceling the holiday favorite, “The Nutcracker.”

For many, the ballet is a holiday tradition.

“We are devastated to have to share this news with our longstanding, loyal patrons and the new audiences that would be joining us for ‘The Nutcracker’s’ first run of performances at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, but the safety of the community and our artists is paramount,” Atlanta Ballet president and CEO Arturo Jacobus said.

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The Nutcracker was slated to start performances in December at the Cobb Energy Centre, but the Atlanta Ballet said Tuesday that it was canceling all of the shows because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“When the required lead time to mount this highly technical and physically large production is coupled with the uncertainty surrounding public health come December, the obstacles are simply insurmountable,” Jacobus said in a news release.

This was the first year that the ballet was to be performed at Cobb Energy Center, after playing at the Fox Theater for more than 25 years.

“We are honored to know that ‘The Nutcracker’ is a beloved holiday tradition for so many families in our community, but we have to make the decision that is in the best interest of our artists, staff and audiences,” said Atlanta Ballet artistic director Gennadi Nedvigin.

As with ballet companies around the U.S., Atlanta Ballet’s “Nutcracker” production is a cash cow that pays for more adventurous programming throughout the season. Roughly one-fourth of Atlanta Ballet’s annual revenue comes from its “Nutcracker,” the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

“Projections for this year’s production of ‘The Nutcacker’ were based on selling 52,000 seats, approximately 65% of available capacity at Cobb Energy Centre, earning total revenue of $3.6 million, resulting in a net positive of $1.6 million to the bottom line,” the Atlanta Ballet said in a news release.

In a tweet, the Atlanta Ballet said “an alternative Nutcracker experience will be announced in the coming weeks.”

“Rest assured – Nutcracker fans will still get their fix this holiday season. While we won’t be able to gather together in the theatre, we are in the process of developing new approaches for audiences to experience the magic of The Nutcracker in a new, perhaps virtual, way,” Nedvigin said.

Stuck with concert, game tickets? You may be out of luck getting a refund On Friday, Ticketmaster, the largest distributor of tickets for things like concerts, sporting events and more, said it will work with people to get them to a show or their money back.

Cox Media Group