BMO Harris Bank has announced plans to renew its sponsorship of Milwaukee Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” for the upcoming holiday season.
This is the third consecutive year BMO Harris Bank has sponsored the holiday ballet production, which is celebrating its 38th year on the stage in Milwaukee.
The 2015 production will run from Saturday, Dec. 12, through Sunday, Dec. 27 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water Street in downtown Milwaukee.
“The Nutcracker” cast is comprised of dancers from Milwaukee Ballet Company and its School & Academy as well as musicians belonging to the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra and the Milwaukee Children’s Choir. The performance is largely crafted by Milwaukee Ballet’s artistic director, Michael Pink.
Children’s auditions for 2015 shows, also presented by BMO Harris Bank, will get underway on Sunday.
“We’re thrilled to be given the opportunity to sponsor the Milwaukee Ballets ‘The Nutcracker’ for a third year and be able to partner with such a great organization to offer a world-renowned classic in our community,” Jud Snyder, president of BMO Harris Equipment Finance Company and chairman of Milwaukee Ballet board of directors, said in a press release. “We feel it’s important to continue to provide family-friendly art performances in Milwaukee, and we’re excited for another great season.”
In addition to backing “The Nutcracker” and auditions for its youth roles, BMO Harris Bank has pledged to sponsor a string of community celebrations to ramp up excitement for the holiday performances.
To jumpstart its sponsorship celebration, the bank planted a 16-foot Nutcracker in Red Arrow Park on Tuesday. Community residents are encouraged to snap photos with the statue and post them to social media with the hashtag #BMOnutcracker. The figure will reside in Red Arrow Park until Saturday.
“I am so grateful for the continued support of BMO Harris Bank,” Pink said. “Thanks to their generosity to us, and Milwaukee’s arts community as a whole, BMO Harris Bank is helping ensure our arts scene remains vibrant and accessible to families in southeastern Wisconsin.”
Milwaukee Ballet will run its annual “Nutcracker” three-day ticket sale Monday through Wednesday next week with buy one, get one half off promotions.
