WRAL, Carolina Ballet partner for 'Nutcracker' broadcast on Christmas

On Christmas Night, December 25, WRAL will broadcast an exclusive TV event: The Nutcracker, presented by PNC Bank and performed by the Carolina Ballet, the area's only professional ballet company.

Posted 3:00 p.m. Oct 19, 2020 — Updated 2:40 p.m. Dec 18, 2020

RALEIGH, N.C. — WRAL-TV and Capitol Broadcasting Company (CBC) are proud to announce a special holiday partnership with the Carolina Ballet. On Christmas Night, December 25, WRAL will broadcast an exclusive TV event: The Nutcracker, presented by PNC Bank and performed by the Carolina Ballet, the area’s only professional ballet company.

For the first time ever, the two partners will work together on producing and broadcasting a one-of-a-kind version of this iconic ballet to homes across the region. By taking the wonder of The Nutcracker out of the theatre and into living rooms, new and more diverse audiences can travel with Clara to the Land of Sweets and get introduced to the Sugar Plum Fairy and Tchaikovsky’s world-renown score.

On Christmas Night, December 25, 2020, WRAL will broadcast an exclusive TV event: The Nutcracker, presented by PNC Bank and performed by the Carolina Ballet, the area’s only professional ballet company.

“Due to the ongoing pandemic and to ensure the safety of our dancers, musicians, staff and patrons, we have made the difficult decision not to perform The Nutcracker in front of live audiences in 2020. When we presented the idea of a televised special to our long-time sponsor, WRAL, they worked their own holiday magic to continue this extraordinary holiday tradition,” said Carolina Ballet Artistic Director/CEO, Zalman Raffael.

The long-time relationship between WRAL/Capitol Broadcasting Company and the Carolina Ballet made this unique event a natural collaboration.

“WRAL and Capitol Broadcasting are proud to support the Carolina Ballet and ensure this special holiday tradition can continue this year. Our company has long valued and supported traditions that make our community special and this year is no exception. We could not think of a better time and place – Christmas night on WRAL – to make The Nutcracker available to our viewers and our community. It’s an honor to share this highly anticipated performance with our viewers,” said Joel Davis, Vice President and General Manager of WRAL/FOX 50.

The premiere broadcast will be December 25 at 7 p.m. on WRAL-TV with encore performances scheduled throughout the holiday season.

For the sixth year, PNC Bank returns as presenting sponsor. “Performances of The Nutcracker are synonymous with the holiday season, and bringing the Carolina Ballet’s production to Triangle families has become a PNC tradition,” said Jim Hansen, PNC regional president for Eastern Carolinas. “We look forward to helping deliver The Nutcracker to homes this December ― and reaching even more families ― as our gift to the community.”

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