The Nutcracker: A Tale From the Bayou actor Ryn Jones with her daughter Benton, one of the dancers portraying Clara in the production this season. Photo by Collin Richie.
How local families—and one family in particular—build tradition around ‘The Nutcracker’
For families and friends lucky enough to have holiday traditions, they become important reminders of the humanity, love and warmth of the most wonderful time of the year.
At the Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre, The Nutcracker: A Tale From the Bayou has provided all of those things for 25 years.
The ballet theater’s co-artistic director Sharon Mathews, 69, fondly remembers coming up with the idea for the production with fellow artistic director Molly Buchmann. The show, now a local holiday tradition, premiered in 1992.
Benton Jones holds an old photo of the Jones family following a Nutcracker performance her mother, Ryn, appeared in back in 2007. Pictured in the photo are Ryn, Ryn’s mother Norma Rutledge, Benton’s older sister Anna Kathryn and Benton. Photo by Collin Richie.
“For years, Molly and I would talk about our vision,” Mathews says. “We thought that Louisiana would be a perfect setting for some of The Nutcracker scenes. For example, the snow scene is set at Oak Alley and the Land of the Sweets is set at the Old State Capitol.”
The traditional ballet dancing and classic story of The Nutcracker, where young girl Clara receives a nutcracker for Christmas and a magical adventure ensues, remain the same. But the settings and surroundings are Louisiana-style to make it feel like home, Mathews says.
Feeling like home has been the cornerstone of the show.
“Twenty-five years means so much because we have so many families performing, and this has become a tradition for them,” Mathews says. “A lot of our dancers from back in the ’80s and ’90s have grown up, had children, and now their children are participating. Sometimes, even their grandchildren.”
Dancers in the role of Clara are from left, Estelle Yeargan, Benton Jones, Katherine Scott and Adrienne Simmons. Photo by Collin Richie.
The Jones family is one of many for whom The Nutcracker is so meaningful. Outside of their grand, red house—a home so warm that it embodies the spirit of Christmas itself—a sign on the front lawn reads “Home Of A Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre Nutcracker Cast Member.” An “s” was later attached, so the sign now reads “Members.”
In the Jones household, The Nutcracker is a huge part of the family, something they’ve always shared together. Ryn Jones, 44, has performed in various Nutcracker roles for 20 years, since the production’s inception. She still has her 1992 original Nutcracker cast member photo.
This year, her 13-year-old daughter Benton was cast for the first time as Clara—one of four actors playing the character in the upcoming production. Benton’s younger brother, Preston, has been cast as Clara’s brother Fritz, and her other younger brother, Carter, plays a page. Ryn herself will play a background role during a party scene.
“My mom found out that I got cast as Clara before I did,” Benton says. “We were in the car when she told me. I just started crying. I was so excited, and my sister got the whole thing on video.”
Photo by Collin Richie.
Ryn’s mother, Norma Rutledge, will play Clara’s grandmother—a treat for Benton because not only will her real brother play her brother, but now her real grandmother will play her grandmother. There’s hardly a member of Ryn’s family who hasn’t participated in the show through the years.
“I’m going to start crying now,” Ryn says, her eyes watering as she thinks about her daughter as Clara. “I’m so excited for her. She’s a great dancer, and this is a dream come true. As a mom, it’s super special, and I can’t wait to see her onstage.”
The Nutcracker was what made Ryn, who now helps teach classes at the ballet theater, want to start dancing years ago. Now, her daughter, who has never known a life without The Nutcracker: A Tale From the Bayou, is having the very same experience.
Photo by Collin Richie.
When families become involved with Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre and The Nutcracker, it seems to become a bond for life.
Mathews thinks back to 1992. At the time, she didn’t expect for her and Molly’s idea of a classic ballet with a Louisiana twist to turn into 25 years worth of holiday joy for Baton Rouge-area families. But she had always hoped.
“We kept thinking if we invest this much time and effort into doing this, it’s something that will last,” Mathews says. “And it really has.”
The Nutcracker: A Tale From the Bayou takes place at the River Center Theatre Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. For ticket prices and more information, visit batonrougeballet.org.
This article was originally published in the December 2016 issue of 225 Magazine.
