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Ayala Land will present a new production of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit Makati from 11 to 13 December 2026. This marks the first time the venue will host the classic ballet, featuring a creative collaboration between Ballet Manila, led by Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, and Steps Dance Studio, founded by Sofia Zobel Elizalde. The production distinguishes itself through a departure from the traditional color palette of rich reds, greens, and golds. Set and costume designer Gino Gonzales, a 2024 Gawad Para sa Sining recipient, has developed a pastel-colored visual concept for the staging. According to Gonzales, the production emphasizes physical scenery and traditional stagecraft, intentionally eschewing the use of video projections and digital backdrops. The creative team also includes lighting designer Monino Duque, a 2023 Aliw Awards Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, and choreographer Jeffrey Espejo, who is tasked with restaging the ballet. Organizers noted that the collaboration was the result of years of conceptualization. Christopher Mohnani, managing director of the Samsung Performing Arts Theater and Ayala Land’s arts and culture director, stated that the production aims to bring an internationally recognized work to local audiences while highlighting Filipino talent. During a media briefing, Mohnani expressed his hope that the production would become an annual December tradition at the theater, aligning with Ayala Land’s broader vision to establish Circuit Makati as a hub for arts and culture. First performed in 1892 at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, The Nutcracker follows the story of a young girl named Clara and her journey with a magical doll. Tickets for the upcoming Manila production are available exclusively through TicketWorld. Article source: The Daily Tribune | Image credit: The Daily Tribune
Ayala Land will present a new production of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit Makati from 11 to 13 December 2026. This marks the first time the venue will host the classic ballet, featuring a creative collaboration between Ballet Manila, led by Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, and Steps Dance Studio, founded by Sofia Zobel Elizalde. The production distinguishes itself through a departure from the traditional color palette of rich reds, greens, and golds. Set and costume designer Gino Gonzales, a 2024 Gawad Para sa Sining recipient, has developed a pastel-colored visual concept for the staging. According to Gonzales, the production emphasizes physical scenery and traditional stagecraft, intentionally eschewing the use of video projections and digital backdrops. The creative team also includes lighting designer Monino Duque, a 2023 Aliw Awards Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, and choreographer Jeffrey Espejo, who is tasked with restaging the ballet. Organizers noted that the collaboration was the result of years of conceptualization. Christopher Mohnani, managing director of the Samsung Performing Arts Theater and Ayala Land’s arts and culture director, stated that the production aims to bring an internationally recognized work to local audiences while highlighting Filipino talent. During a media briefing, Mohnani expressed his hope that the production would become an annual December tradition at the theater, aligning with Ayala Land’s broader vision to establish Circuit Makati as a hub for arts and culture. First performed in 1892 at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, The Nutcracker follows the story of a young girl named Clara and her journey with a magical doll. Tickets for the upcoming Manila production are available exclusively through TicketWorld.
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