It's another Nutcracker year, a family tradition since 1991, which partners Judy Russell and the Prince George Symphony Orchestra to present the most popular Christmas ballet every other year.
The ballet goes tonight through Sunday at Vanier Hall.
The dancers, the costumes, the lights and music, it all makes for a memorable holiday spectacle.
But what does it take to bring it all together behind the scenes?
Bill Russell, who steps down as Drosselmeyer, a role he's played for two decades, will take on the lighting and sound role. Son Andrew Russell will step into the role of Drosselmeyer, carrying on the Russell tradition.
This year a local pyrotechnics company, Starlight FX Ltd., headed up by Drew Larsen, has been hired to add some panache to this year's show.
"This is theatrical pyrotechnics and it's one of the areas that authorities have been tightening up on," said Russell. "For years we were licenced and accredited but we let that go and it's important to maintain safety, so it's time to reach out to people who do it all the time and we're looking forward to working with them."
New costumes sounds like a simple matter but when it comes to the technical side of it, things can get a bit complicated.
"We bought all new tutus for the dancer in Waltz of the Flowers and changed up the colour scheme, so for us now, one of the things we'll be working on over the next few days
is seeing those costumes on stage and trying to find colour filters that will accent them and bring them to life," said Russell. "There will be new lighting design for that particular number. "
The Russells will be using new LED technology in their lighting, as well.
"This will be the first time we have used the LED for Nutcracker," said Russell. "It will be interesting to see what we can do with that."
Instead of manually putting colour filters on many lights and then another colour on more lights, with the LED technology, Russell can electronically tell the LED what colour to emit and there are millions of colour possibilities, making the creative process unlimited in its scope.
During the show there's about 20 crew backstage, with about 10 people who are in the first scene taking on crew duties as well. They all pitch in to help with costume changes, move scenery and be at the ready for set changes.
"There's follow-spot operators out front as well," said Russell. "There's lighting person and there's a little bit of sound but not a lot, there's a narration that's prerecorded and the orchestra isn't miked." So that makes it easier.
Russell said he's been watching the promotional advertising on television for the National Ballet's huge production of the Nutcracker and it boggles his mind to think of the funding it took for those incredible costumes and set designs.
"We've always been lucky because the best part of theatre is still the joy of those people performing," said Russell. "No matter what - you can have all of the lovely trappings of a huge national company - but what's still the most important thing of all is the joy that comes from the stage and the most fantastic thing about young performers is the energy and spirit that they bring to it."
Tickets are on sale at Studio 2880. The Nutcracker is at Vanier Hall tonight at 7:30, Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.
