the watchmaker’s song
an Interactive re-imagination of The Nutcracker
an Austin tradition since 2018
Tickets on sale NOW!
Concept, Choreography, Artistic Director - Dorothy O’Shea Overbey
Executive Director - AJ Garcia-Rameau
The Watchmaker’s Song is an immersive, culturally inclusive dance-theatre production based on the beloved ballet, The Nutcracker, performed at the historic Neill Cochran House Museum.
The Watchmaker’s Song is a co-presentation of Red Nightfall Dance Theatre and Ventana Ballet
The Watchmaker’s Song showcases many different dance and theatrical traditions, from classical ballet to Spanish Flamenco, Egyptian Belly Dance, Traditional Chinese Dance, Bollywood, Irish Step Dance, American Tap Dance, Argentine Tango, Drag Performance, and more. Act One of The Watchmaker’s Song features Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s iconic arrangement of the Tchaikovsky score.
Our mission is to bring the Austin dance community together to honor our diverse traditions and celebrate our love of dance!
By presenting this performance in an immersive style at the Neill-Cochran House Museum we break down the barriers between performers and audience members, so dance of all kinds can be experienced in an intimate setting.
2023 will be our SIXTH ANNUAL PRODUCTION
Austin Performances, Dec 7-9, 14-16
Austin Children’s Performance, December 10
AUSTiN, TX / Neill-Cochran House Museum
December 7-9 + 14-16 - Evening* Shows
December 10 - Interactive Kids Matinee Shows - 12pm & 2pm
*Evening Times:
Thu. Dec7 @7:30pm (Doors & VIP Reception begin at 7pm)
Fri. Dec8 @7:30pm (Doors & VIP Reception begin at 7pm)
Sat. Dec9 @6:30pm (Doors & VIP Reception begin at 6pm)
Sat. Dec9 @8:30pm (Doors & VIP Reception begin at 8pm)
Thu. Dec14 @7:30pm (Doors & VIP Reception begin at 7pm)
Fri. Dec15 @6:30pm (Doors & VIP Reception begin at 6pm)
Fri. Dec15 @8:30pm (Doors & VIP Reception begin at 8pm)
Sat. Dec16 @6:30pm (Doors & VIP Reception begin at 6pm)
Sat. Dec16 @8:30pm (Doors & VIP Reception begin at 8pm)
** VIP guests are invited to join a special holiday reception with the artists before the show begins. VIP guests also receive Front Row Seating to the Finale. **
** All tickets include admission to the immersive performance as well as drinks. Proceeds support artist payment and future immersive productions! **
This nutcracker is different…
“…because of the chance it offered to dive inside this familiar work, to attend the party that kicks off the evening's adventure and take our own journeys to see cultures of faraway lands.
The Watchmaker's Song let us in on the action.
To be so close to something you know so well from afar is to see it anew. It is magical, and in a way that is all this show's own.”
-Robert Faires, the Austin Chronicle
For the third year, we are taking the Watchmaker’s Song on tour to Comfort, Texas!
Ticket Links below:
Trailer from 2021!
A Letter from the Directors…
Dearest Distinguished Guests,
Seasons Greetings! We are so excited to present to you this evening The Watchmaker's Song, our annual immersive twist on the classic story of The Nutcracker.
In its sixth annual presentation at the Neill-Cochran House, The Watchmaker's Song features a jazzy and exciting score of music, written by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. This upbeat rearrangement of Tchaikovsky's original Nutcracker score sets the stage for Act 1 of our performance, which takes place on the front lawn of the House, sharing the story of Clara and her Party Dancer friends, Dame Mouserink, Princess Pirlipat, the Nutcracker, and of course, the Watchmaker himself.
Just after the grand appearance of the Snow Queen, the Watchmaker invites our guests into the House for Act 2 of The Watchmaker's Song, where guests may tour the various rooms, each of which feature a guest performer from various cultural dance traditions. This year, The Watchmaker's Song features Argentinian Tango, Spanish Flamenco, American Tap Dance, Egyptian Bellydance, Indian Bharatanatyam, and Traditional Chinese Dance. We are so proud to bring cultural inclusivity to the forefront of The Watchmaker's Song, highlighting the diversity of our local dance scene. In the back room, we invite all the guests to join us for a grand finale, where they meet Mother Ginger and the Dolls, and the Sugar Plum Fairy.
It is the shared mission of Ventana Ballet and Red Nightfall Dance Theatre, the two co-presenters of The Watchmaker's Song, to provide performance opportunities to local professional performing artists, to highlight less heard artistic voices, to create more accessible options for guests to experience performance art, and to present art in a way that is immersive and unique. As always, we are truly grateful to our partners at the Neill-Cochran House Museum for hosting this special ballet year after year.
With love & gratitude,
Dorothy O’Shea Overbey
Artistic Director, Writer, & Choreographer of The Watchmaker’s Song
Appearing as The Snow Queen
Director of Red Nightfall Dance Theatre
AJ Garcia-Rameau
Executive Director & Producer of The Watchmaker’s Song
Appearing as The Sugar Plum Fairy
Director of Ventana Ballet
Creator & Artistic Director Dorothy O’Shea Overbey
Photo by Stephen Pruitt
Image Courtesy of Ventana Ballet