Last Saturday we went to the matinée of the Nutcracker at the San Francisco Ballet. We were literally blown away with the quality of the dancing and the production. The ballet did a great job of keeping all the classic elements that a traditional piece like this demands, while still making the ballet original and fresh. We thought that the Snow Queen and King’s dance (with inches of snow falling) was worth the price of a ticket alone. Well, that and the commentary from the three year old girl behind us who was adorable and precocious and worried that the mice king was going to “get” Clara. You can go to the Nutcracker until December 30th, click here for performance and tickets.

Kenneth Ryan, Prop Master of the San Francisco Ballet has undergone and SFist interview below. As a San Francisco native he’s got all kinds of good tips about the city. As someone who has been involved with the ballet for over two decades, he’s got some very cool insights into the background of the production.

Most difficult prop you've ever had to come up with?
The one that the designer doesn’t really know what they want. Once they’ve made that decision, my crew and I can make anything.

Coolest prop in the Nutcracker?
The settee where Clara sleeps. It’s an electric wheelchair that’s been stripped down to the drive wheels and batteries. It is operated by remote control.

Favorite ballet?
Nutcracker. It has been a part of my Christmas for the last 24 years. It is the introduction to ballet for so many people. It’s seeing what I do through the eyes of a child filled with wonder and amazement. Many of the younger dancers get opportunities to dance roles that allow them to stretch their abilities. It’s a fun time of year.

How did you become a prop master?
My boss retired and I applied and was given the job.
Peter Divine, my high school director, taught me the love of theatre and it never left. No special training. It’s mostly organization skills and common sense along with a crew that can make anything you need.

Something that most people don't notice/ appreciate your art that they really should.
The magic starts at 8 o’clock in the morning and goes until 11 o’clock at night. You need to pour your heart into it to create the magic.

Name
Kenneth M. Ryan (Kenny)

Introduce yourself in one sentence
I’m a native San Franciscan still living in the City with his wife of 25 years and three sons.

Age and Occupation
47 and Master of Properties for the San Francisco Ballet

Home Town
See above

How long have you lived in the Bay Area and
I grew up in the Sunset and now live in the Richmond. The only time I didn’t live in the city was when I was at UCBerkeley and lived in Berkeley and Oakland. It’s where I met my wife.

Favorite local business
Boudin: my great aunt and uncle owned it in the 40’s and the stories are priceless and I love sour dough French bread. Especially the darker loaves.

What I'm currently Reading
A Crack in the Edge of the World

Best Deal in San Francisco
You’s Dim Sum

Favorite mode of transportation
MUNI, I don’t have a driver’s license, a true environmentalist

Best Band or Musician to come out of the Bay Area
The Grateful Dead

Favorite local hangout
Home with the family. Way too many hours away at work

SF has the BEST
French bread

You've never lived in SF until
you gone up Lombard Street (youth gone astray)

Favorite Bay area politician of past or present
Diane Feinstein

Now that Mayor Gavin is single, who are you going to set him up with?
No one, he’s too busy

You can tell someone is a local here IF
they know what the Bruce Mahoney game is.

SF would be soooo much better if only
it wasn’t so foggy in the summer

Best Burrito
La Cumbre

Best Restaurant
Mom’s house, it’s what I grew up eating.

Best movie scene filmed in or about SF
Vertigo

Favorite author to come out of the bay area
Amy Tan

Place you always tell visitors to check out
view from the Legion of Honor

Favorite Bridge in the area
Golden Gate

You have two hours and $15 bucks to kill in SF, what are you going to do?
Go home to the family and give the $15 to the boys to go to the store.

I have found/sold/bought the following on craigslist
Sorry Craig, nothing

I want all the SFists out there to know
Saint Anthony’s Dining Room Volunteers are a great group of people and the guests who dine there are no different than the rest of us. Help out if you can.

Question you'd ask if you were doing this interview
What do you do when you’re not at home or working?