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Home > Articles > The History of the Nutcracker on Ice

THE HISTORY OF THE NUTCRACKER ON ICE IN HILLSBOROUGH, NC

THE NUTCRACKER ON ICE got started in Hillsborough, NC, at the old Daniel Boone Rink in 1993 and was first performed at the Triangle SportsPlex in 1995. A small core group was responsible for the first show. Bonnie Boaz, an avid skater, and Mary Jo Bullin, Skating Director, put their heads together to come up with the idea of skating the Nutcracker on the ice, instead of just skating performances to holiday music without a story.

Costumes were made or bought on a shoe string, an antique sleigh was borrowed from the Freelands, the owners of Daniel Boone rink, and a tiny but enthusiastic cast was put together. Group numbers were skated by the students in the skate school and soloists were chosen from the more accomplished skaters.

Susie Elvin, of Hillsborough, was the first Clara and her husband, Kevin Elvin, was the first Prince. They continue to be very involved in skating today. Both Susie and Kevin are U.S. Figure Skating judges.

Bonnie Boaz, of Chapel Hill, was narrator, costume mistress and volunteer coordinator for the first show. She and her husband, David, were the first Mother and Father in the show and have been in every show since that first show, including this year. David Boaz, always very entertaining, will once again be Godfather Drusselmeier this year. The Boaz daughters have been in many of the shows (including the year that Alicia was Clara) and have even choreographed various group and solo numbers.

Mary Jo Bullin, of Julian, was the first Sugar Plum Fairy, as well as, the artist director and main choreographer for the first show. Her family has been in many of the shows. Her husband can be found manning one of the spotlights this year and once presented Mary Jo with the recently refurbished antique sleigh which is used in the show each year.

Larry Hurych, of Winston Salem, was the set designer for the very first Nutcracker on Ice. His scenery was creative and unique and still forms the basic scenery of the show this year, 10 years later.

Paula McKinley, of Hillsborough, has been very instrumental in getting the show to have more professional costumes and updated scenery. She and Jamye Gaster, of Greensboro, are the artistic directors this year. Jamye’s husband will be manning the other spotlight for the show. Paula and Jamye also coach two synchronized skating teams at the Triangle SportsPlex, an adult team and a teen team. These teams will be performing exhibitions at the beginning of the show.

Many volunteer hours and efforts go into the production of the show. Through the years, many parents have designed and sewn costumes, created props and set pieces, and helped with the setup, take-down, repair, advertising, and many other important functions.

Over the years we have had various ages and levels of skaters. Our youngest skaters are 3 years old and our oldest skaters are into their 70's. The show has developed into a showcase of the different disciplines that a well-rounded figure skater learns — ice dancing, freestyle, pairs, and group synchronized numbers.

We have beginner skaters from the Learn-to-Skate program that have only been skating 2-3 months and we have advanced level figure skaters that spend hours each week in practice. We have had skaters that have gone on to compete nationally and internationally. These include Debbie Blinder, the US National Junior Pair Skating Champion, and Mariel Miller, U.S. National Novice Pairs Silver Medalist, 2004 Triglav Trophy Junior Pairs Champion, and Grand Prix Courchevel (France) Junior Pairs Champion.

As you can see t he Nutcracker on Ice is a labor of love and lots of work. Due to popular demand and full seating in the ice rink, a second performance was added a few years ago. Most people involved hear the music and can recall a particularly fine performance that they have seen skated in Hillsborough. The Nutcracker on Ice was performed on TV by professional skaters and many people who saw it thought the Hillsborough production was colder, but equally good.

Come join us on the 4th of December (1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.) for a wonderful show.

By Mary Jo Bullin and Bonnie Boaz