Westfield San Francisco Centre to Debut New Holiday Light Spectacular Plus

Special Appearances by San Francisco Ballet Dancers and

    Caroling by Beach Blanket Babylon

 

SAN FRANCISCO (For Immediate Release) - Westfield San Francisco Centre, the city’s premier destination for world-class fashion, entertainment, and dining, will kick off the holiday season on November 21 with the unveiling of San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker Under the Dome, a spectacular light show presented by Westfield San Francisco Centre.  San Francisco Ballet is America’s oldest professional ballet company and the first professional ballet company in the country to perform the full-length production of Nutcracker.  Westfield’s iconic Dome will come to life each night with this brand-new 3D light show that will showcase the beloved holiday tradition in an innovative new format, promising to capture the imagination of young and old.  The November 21 light spectacular debut will include a live performance by the San Francisco Ballet Trainees at 4:30 p.m., as well as special appearances by SF Ballet Principal Dancers Maria Kochetkova and Davit Karapetyan, and the premiere of Nutcracker Under the Dome at 5:00 p.m.

 

“Westfield San Francisco Centre has historically been the heartbeat of holiday entertainment and excitement in the city, and we’re thrilled to partner with San Francisco Ballet this year to make the classic story of Nutcracker come to life under the Dome,” said Shelly Schembre, vice president and senior general manager of Westfield San Francisco Centre.  “The annual holiday light spectacular captivates holiday shoppers and guests of all ages, and has established itself as a new San Francisco holiday tradition.”

 

In addition to nightly screenings of Nutcracker Under the Dome, shoppers will enjoy exciting activities for the holiday season including a San Francisco Ballet pop-up shop; magical holiday Sugar Plum Fairy Breakfasts with Santa; a Hanukkah celebration with the Bill Graham Menorah Project; and caroling performances by Beach Blanket Babylon.

 

About San Francisco Ballet and Nutcracker Under the Dome

Nutcracker Under the Dome is inspired by the San Francisco Ballet’s production with choreography by Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson.  Inspired by the real-life ballet performance, Nutcracker Under the Dome provides a magical holiday experience for shoppers and visitors of all ages, integrating performance footage of San Francisco Ballet dancers, as part of the light spectacular.

 

“As the first company in America to perform Nutcracker, we are delighted to have our production serve as the inspiration for Nutcracker Under the Dome,” said San Francisco Ballet Executive Director Glenn McCoy. “We are thrilled to partner with Westfield San Francisco Centre on this magical light show and we look forward to sharing the joy of Nutcracker with an even broader audience outside the War Memorial Opera House this holiday season.”

 

On Christmas Eve, 1944, San Francisco Ballet first presented the American premiere of the Nutcracker at the War Memorial Opera House.  The ballet was an instant sensation and launched a worldwide holiday tradition.  The company’s current production of Nutcracker, set in San Francisco during the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition, introduces audiences of all ages to the magnificent world of ballet.  

 

Tradition meets present-day holiday spirit as the Centre’s elegant 1908 glass Dome is transformed into a state-of-the-art surround theater that exhibits the latest in projection mapping technology.  San Francisco-based creative technology studio Obscura Digital conceived and created Nutcracker Under the Dome, as well as breathtaking building projections the world over, including work at the Sydney Opera House in Australia, Guggenheim Museum in New York, and Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

 

Nutcracker Under the Dome will run nightly from November 21 through December 31, every half hour from 5:00 p.m. until the Centre’s closing.  As holiday hours vary, please visit www.westfield.com/sanfranciscofor extended holiday hours. The free 6-minute light spectacular will take place on Level 4 and is open to the public. 

 

Additionally, Westfield’s beloved Illuminique Under the Dome, the 3D animated story set in a 19th Century toymaker’s workshop, will play daily at 12:00 p.m. Under the Dome during the holiday season.

 

San Francisco Ballet Activities

Throughout the holiday season, San Francisco Ballet will host special activities at Westfield San Francisco Centre and during these times,shoppers and aspiring ballerinas can engage with the company, meet the dancers, take photos, collect autographs, and purchase unique holiday merchandise.
 

New SF Ballet Pop-Up Shop on Level 4
Also new this year, San Francisco Ballet will launch a pop-up shop, located on Level 4 near the historic Dome.  Shoppers will discover a festive selection of gifts, including music, DVDs, and collectibles.  Visitors will also be able to purchase tickets to live Nutcracker performances at the War Memorial Opera House.  The SF Ballet Pop-Up Shop will be open Thursday through Sunday from November 21 through December 29, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.

 

Sugar Plum Fairy Breakfasts with Santa

On December 7, 14, and 21, from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. Westfield San Francisco Centre and San Francisco Ballet will host special Sugar Plum Fairy Breakfasts with Santa. Open to the general public, the ticketed events will include: a special appearance by the Sugar Plum Fairy; a private VIP showing of San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker Under the Dome; a meet and greet with Santa including one commemorative photo per child; breakfast provided by La Boulange du Dome; and an exclusive Nutcracker gift. At these breakfasts, guests are invited to bring an unwrapped children’s toy for South of Market Child Care, Inc. (SOMACC). Tickets will be $25 per person and will be available at sfballet.org/sugarplum after October 1. Throughout the holidays, Westfield San Francisco Centre will also collect unwrapped toys for SOMACC.  Donations will be accepted at Westfield Guest Services located on Level 1 and at Santa on Level 4 from November 21 through December 20.

 

Beach Blanket Babylon Caroling Performances

Abounding with holiday cheer, San Francisco’s very own Steve Silver’s Beach Blanket Babylon, the world’s longest running musical revue, will perform a suite of festive carols beginning on Black Friday, November 29 from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. on Level 4 Under the Dome.  Hailed as “a constant cascade of showstoppers” by the San Francisco Chronicle, Beach Blanket Babylon follows Snow White as she takes a fast-paced journey around the world in search of her “Prince Charming.” Along the way she encounters a star-studded, ever-changing line-up of hilarious pop-culture characters, spectacular costumes and outrageously gigantic hats.  The holiday show  (Wednesday, November 20 through Tuesday, December 31) features a chorus line of tap dancing Christmas trees, special parodies of traditional Christmas carols and a gigantic Yuletide hat.  Beach Blanket Babylon’s performances will continue on Saturdays from November 30 through December 21 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

 

Santa Photos: Families and Pets Welcome

Families are invited to have their photo taken with Santa this holiday season on Level 4. Santa’s Station will be open from November 23 through December 24 with the following hours in place: Monday – Saturday: 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sundays: 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Christmas Eve: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

 

Additionally, four-legged friends are welcome for Santa Paws photos on December 5, 12 and 19 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

 

Hanukkah Celebration

Westfield San Francisco Centre has partnered with the Bill Graham Menorah Project to host a grand menorah lighting on Wednesday, December 4 at 6:00 p.m.  This Festival of Lights celebration marks the eighth and final day of Hanukkah.  The celebration will take place on Level 4 Under the Dome with Rabbi Moshe Langer of Chabad of Pacific Heights presiding.  Open to the public and free of charge, the family-friendly gathering will include traditional treats, arts and crafts, dreidel spinning, and festive music.

 

Exciting Shopping & Dining at Westfield San Francisco Centre

Westfield San Francisco Centre makes holiday shopping easy and enjoyable with Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom and a fashionable range of over 200 high-end boutiques all under one roof. Newly opened stores include Microsoft, Amy’s Hallmark, Samsonite, Tiffany & Co., REDValentino, Burberry Brit and Gucci at Bloomingdale’s.

 

After a day of shopping, visitors can cap off their experience with an exquisite meal or a holiday treat from The Restaurant Collection Under the Dome.  Guests can enjoy hand-pulled noodles at the highly acclaimed M.Y China by Martin Yan, dine within the handsome décor of LarkCreekSteak, savor the Pan-Asian dishes of Straits Restaurant, celebrate the flavors of Italy at Cupola Pizzeria, or feast on the decadent “Le Dome” dessert at La Boulange du Dome.

 

Transportation to Westfield San Francisco Centre

Westfield San Francisco Centre strives to deliver exceptional customer service and amenities to shoppers.  Valet drop off is located on Fifth Street between Mission and Market streets.  To make the entire experience at Westfield San Francisco Centre as seamless as possible, shoppers are invited to use the Centre’s Text & Go valet service to get their packages home in a jiffy. Customers simply text ahead when they’re ready to pick up their car.

 

It’s easy for visitors to arrive in style at Westfield San Francisco Centre from anywhere in the City and the greater Bay Area. BART, MUNI, the Market Street historic trolleys, the Powell Street Cable Car, and the city’s largest parking garage at 5th and Mission all provide immediate access to Westfield San Francisco Centre.

 

About San Francisco Ballet

As America’s oldest professional ballet company, San Francisco Ballet has enjoyed a long and rich tradition of artistic “firsts” since its founding in 1933, including performing the first American productions of Swan Lake and Nutcracker, as well as the first 20th-century American Coppélia. San Francisco Ballet is one of the three largest ballet companies in the United States. Guided in its early years by American dance pioneers and brothers Lew, Willam and Harold Christensen, San Francisco Ballet currently presents more than 100 performances annually, both locally and internationally. Under the direction of Helgi Tomasson for more than two decades, the company has achieved an international reputation as one of the preeminent ballet companies in the world. In 2005, San Francisco Ballet won the prestigious Laurence Olivier Award in the category of “Outstanding Achievement in Dance” and in 2006, it was the first non-European company elected “Company of the Year” in Dance Europe magazine’s annual readers’ poll. In 2008, the company marked its 75thanniversary with a host of initiatives including an ambitious New Works Festival. Recent highlights include a tour to the People’s Republic of China and the United States premiere of John Neumeier’s The Little Mermaid, which was broadcast internationally, as well as nationally on PBS’s Great Performances “Dance in America” in 2011. In 2012, SF Ballet’s ambitious tour schedule included first time visits to Hamburg, Moscow, and Sun Valley, Idaho. In October 2013, the company will return to New York City to present a variety of mixed-bill programs, as well as the New York premiere of Christopher Wheeldon’s highly acclaimed Cinderella.

 

San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker

Tickets for Nutcracker performances, running December 11 – 29, will go on sale online on August 28. For more information, visit www.sfballet.org.

 

About Westfield San Francisco Centre

Located in the heart of San Francisco near Union Square and the city’s renowned cultural attractions, Westfield San Francisco Centre is home to Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's and over 200 shops, restaurants, and cafes, as well as San Francisco's largest day spa, Burke Williams Day Spa and a Century Theatres.

 

Westfield San Francisco Centre is easily accessible by public transit including BART, Muni or Cable Car.  The Centre is located just 20 minutes from San Francisco International Airport on the corner of 5th & Market across the street from San Francisco’s largest parking garage. Valet parking is also available. Visit www.westfield.com/sanfrancisco for further details.

 

Media contact: Julie LaBenz at Anderson Retail Tourism Marketing, 480-588-5507 or julie@retailtourism.com