The Watchmaker's Song

An Austin holiday favorite returns for its 7th Anniversary presentation of The Watchmaker’s Song, a jazzy & interactive re-imagination of the classic story of the The Nutcracker.

This is a Nutcracker for everyone. The Watchmaker’s Song is an immersive dance-theatre production based on the beloved ballet, The Nutcracker, performed at the historic Neill-Cochran House Museum.

This holiday tradition serves our shared mission to nurture and grow the vibrant culture of Austin, giving artists of all backgrounds and cultural traditions a platform to share their craft. In a tribute to the cultural diversity of Austin, we present many different styles of dance... not just classical ballet: Egyptian Belly Dance, Spanish Flamenco, Argentinian Tango, American Tap Dance, and of course the inimitable Mother Ginger!

“...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 – up to and including stepping out with Ventana's dancers... 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 Fairies, Austin Chronicle

More info at www.ventanaballet.com/watchmaker

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December 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21 - Evening* Shows

December 15 - 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 Admission Tickets $60 - 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.

General Admission Tickets $45

All tickets include beverages and admission to the immersive performance. Proceeds support artist payment and future immersive productions!
The Watchmaker’s Song is a performance for everyone in the community! If cost is prohibitive to your attendance, please email us at [email protected]. We are happy to welcome you!

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Inspired in part by the original tale The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by German Romantic-era author ETA Hoffmann (1776-1822), the story of The Watchmaker's Song centers on Clara, a quiet, kind, thoughtful young woman in her journey of empowerment and self-discovery. Guided by her mysterious relative, The Watchmaker, Clara becomes fascinated with The Nutcracker, a life-sized doll that at first appears lifeless, mechanical, inanimate…But Clara, with her keen perception and willingness to see beyond appearances, soon discovers that there are hidden truths under the surface that many are unwilling to see.

In 2018, Dorothy O’Shea Overbey (Red Nightfall) and AJ Garcia-Rameau (Ventana Ballet) joined forces for the first time to initiate this experiment in immersive dance-theatre.

More details at http://www.ventanaballet.com/watchmaker

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About Ventana Ballet

Ventana Ballet is a professional dance company based in Austin, TX, specializing in contemporary ballet dance performance. The word ventana, meaning window, embodies the company’s organizational mission and vision, seeking to provide artistically relevant, technically proficient, and publicly accessible dance performance and education opportunities to the community. Ventana Ballet’s mission is to inspire, entertain and educate audiences through disciplined and innovative approaches to presenting next-generation choreographic works. More information about Ventana Ballet can be found on the company website at VentanaBallet.com.

About Red Nightfall Dance Theatre

Founded by Dorothy O’Shea Overbey in 2017, RNDT specializes in crafting immersive experiences through interdisciplinary dance/theater performance. Our mission is twofold: to forge new mythologies that resonate with contemporary audiences and to amplify the voices of underrepresented artists whose work defies conventional categorization.

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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Neill-Cochran House Museum, 2310 San Gabriel Street, Austin, United States