42 YEARS OF MAGIC: Eric Lidh prepares for final performances as Drosselmeyer in “The Nutcracker”

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Eric Lidh will perform as Drosselmeyer for the final time this year after serving in the iconic role for 42 years. This year’s performances of “The Nutcracker” will be on Thursday, Dec. 12, and Friday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 14, 2 and 7 p.m., at the Martha Solon Dixon Center for the Performing Arts on the Andalusia campus. (PHOTO BY VICKI POPWELL)

Eric Lidh takes the hand of Meryane Murphy during last year’s performance as Drosselmeyer in Andalusia Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” at the LBW Dixon Center for the Performing Arts. (PHOTO BY ROBERT EVERS)

Eric Lidh acts the opening scene from the 2023 performance of “The Nutcracker” at the Dixon Center. (PHOTO BY ROBERT EVERS)

Eric Lidh has worked closely with 65 to 70 girls who have played the role of Clara in his 42-year tenure as Drosselmeyer. Here, he is pictured with eight former Claras from the year 2020. (PHOTO BY ROBERT EVERS)

Eric Lidh proudly displays the customized t-shirt that was designed by Sue Lee Phinney during a party held at his home. (PHOTO BY BOBBI LIDH)

Drosselmeyer may seem like an unusual name, but don’t tell Eric Lidh that who has served as the iconic German character in Andalusia Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” for 42 consecutive years.

When he takes the stage at the annual holiday tradition this week, he will bid farewell to the role he has embraced since 1982.

“The best part has been the chance to watch kids grow up. So many of them have gone on and done great things,” Lidh said. “Drosselmeyer is the crazy uncle, and we do it differently than the traditional Nutcracker performance. I come down the aisle and talk to the audience before the show telling them I’m taking them into my magical world. This role has certainly meant a lot to me over the years.”

He added that children understand the story better because of movies similar to Toy Story where all the characters are brought to life.

“That element has been neat to see, but when we started in 1982, Meryane Murphy and I had no idea we would still be doing ‘The Nutcracker’ after 42 years. It’s been a phenomenon as far as I’m concerned. When little children with basic vocabulary see me, they call me by name. Drosselmeyer is a four-syllable word, and they are able to say it without mispronouncing it.”

Lidh shared a story when he was dining in the Andalusia McDonald’s before the pandemic.

“These three little girls came up to my table and started giggling. I looked at them, and they asked if I was Drosselmeyer to which I said, ‘Yes, I am.’ I asked if they wanted me to laugh, and they said ‘Uh-huh.’ I stood up in the aisle space at McDonald’s and gave them my laugh I use when I open the show. They ran back to their parents exclaiming, ‘He’s Drosselmeyer!’ Sometimes, when I tell the story, people think I’m not allowed back in McDonald’s, but that’s not true. While working in the ballet, I have witnessed kids learn discipline, how to get along with others, and develop confidence,” he said.

At the time they started working together, Murphy selected Lidh as her choice for Drosselmeyer.

“I’m not the traditional Drosselmeyer since I talk to the audience, and I don’t wear the eye patch. We tried doing that one year, and I kept stepping on the children because I didn’t have any depth perception. All my children are grown now, but I have learned a lot from working with kids. Jerry Wishum has done the lighting and sound all this time. We are like the Three Musketeers,” Lidh said.

Lidh, who will celebrate his 84th birthday shortly after this year’s performances, said he has played the legendary role in over 220 performances to 100,000 attendees of “The Nutcracker.” He has worked with approximately 65 to 70 girls who have performed as Clara, the niece of Drosselmeyer who created the magical world in which everything was brought to life.

When asked about his decision to retire this year, Lidh said the reason did not have anything to do with his health.

“It’s time for someone else to step in. Any time you bring in a new person for a feature role like that, it’s really hard for people who have seen the show. I want them to understand ‘The Nutcracker’ will go on and still have a Drosselmeyer; it just won’t be me. I have performed in this role for over half of my life and take it very seriously while I have fun doing it,” he said.

Lidh said rehearsals for Drosselmeyer last around four weeks each year.

“The running joke I always hear is that I always know my part, but I have to be there for the two girls playing Clara and all the new kids in the show. They have to know who my character is and how we will perform together. Meryane says I sort of direct things when I’m on stage since I’m pushing buttons to make things come to life.”

Playing Drosselmeyer for over four decades has given him tremendous pride in the time he has devoted to the role.

“I have really enjoyed working with the children and Meryane. Over the years, there have been very few things that have gone wrong. I always tell the kids that no matter what happens, we keep going. It’s nice to see the faces of children light up as they pay attention during each show. You have to do that as an actor whether you’re eight years old or 80. I will miss the applause the most,” Lidh said.

Lidh’s opening scene occurs when he comes into the aisle laughing in total darkness.

“People jump all over the place and tell me years later, ‘I know you’re coming and know what you’re going to do. It doesn’t make any difference because you still scare me. I welcome them to the show and tell them I’m about to take them back to this small town in Germany where it’s Christmas Eve and snowing. Sometimes, I will come over and talk to a child to reassure them I am a real person and that everything is going to be okay but not to be scared.”

After working closely with Andalusia Ballet for 42 years, Lidh has witnessed many changes from the beginning until now. “The Nutcracker” was the first big show held in the Dixon Center.

“The costumes have gotten elaborate. We do a lot of special effects with lighting and smoke, so it has become a big show. I’ve been very fortunate I can still run around on the stage, which always surprises me. I lost my first wife after so many years, and my wife lost her husband. One side note is that she was one of my drama students when I taught in Kentucky before I came to Andalusia,” he said.

Lidh retired from LBW Community College as a speech and drama instructor after 46 years in 2023. He taught 18,000 students and played Drosselmeyer in front of 400,000 plus school children that attended performances. His teaching career spanned a total of 58 years as he made additional stops in Kentucky and Chicago.

“I never thought I would wind up in a small town again like Andalusia because I started out teaching in Chicago. The community support here is incredible. Last year, a couple was walking out of Tractor Supply, and the man did my laugh. He told me they would be attending the show again. If I were doing the show in a big city, I wouldn’t see that type of recognition. All of my kids are coming to see the show this year. One is flying in from New York because he said he wanted to see his dad perform one final time. The cast of ‘The Nutcracker’ has always known me as Drosselmeyer and applauds each year when I come to the first rehearsal,” Lidh said.

He and his second wife Bobbi have been married almost three years. He has four grown children: Scott, Kevin, and twins Todd and Lisa.

This year’s performances will be on Thursday, Dec. 12, and Friday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 14, 2 and 7 p.m., in the LBW Dixon Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are available for purchase at andalusiaballet.com.

“Through all these years, Claras, mice, soldiers and Sugar Plums have come and gone, but Eric as Drosselmeyer has remained the constant that defines our Nutcracker. Eric came to Andalusia just before Mark and I did in 1979. Together, I feel like we birthed and grew the Nutcracker here in Andalusia. Eric is simply wonderful and no one portrays Drosselmeyer like he does! All of us with Andalusia Ballet are eternally grateful for his many years with us,” Andalusia Ballet Founder and Artistic Director Meryane Murphy said.