Living The Dream

November 28, 2001

Last night I got to see American Ballet Theatre in Alexei Ratmansky’s Nutcracker. I absolutely love this production. The choreography is thrilling, with psychological twists and an epic grand pas de deux. I’ll admit it: I even cried at the end.

 

One of the ballet’s biggest highlights is a breakout star who consistently steals the stage: the Little Mouse, played by 12-year-old Justin Souriau-Levine. This kid is 100 percent committed to his role, and is also just plain hysterical. Kate Lydon, Pointe‘s editor at large and artistic associate of ABT’s Studio Company, overheard this on opening night last Friday:

 

“After the curtain came down, Fritz (who had just made his debut in the role) turned with wide-eyed glee to his friend the Little Mouse (who has performed in the production for three years now) and said, ‘Wow! I have never bowed before.’ To which Little Mouse replied, ‘We’re living the dream, Man. Living the dream!’ Doesn’t get better than that!”