Tony Hawk to sprinkle some star power on San Diego ‘Nutcracker’ production

Tony Hawk, the San Diego skateboarding icon who has built an empire in the sports, gaming, apparel and film industries, will add another accomplishment to his list this weekend. He’ll make his stage debut in Golden State Ballet’s “Nutcracker” production on Saturday night at the San Diego Civic Theatre.

Despite his balletic aerial skills, Hawk will not be pirouetting as the Nutcracker Prince in the large-scale Russian-inspired ballet, which will be accompanied by San Diego Symphony musicians.

Just exactly what he’ll be doing in the ballet is still being worked out, and it will be kept secret until the 7:30 p.m. showtime on Saturday. But Golden State Ballet’s CEO and Director Raul Salamanca said that Hawk’s team did reach out to to ask whether the Civic Theatre’s stage would accommodate a skateboard.

Dancer-choreographer Salamanca founded Golden State Ballet in 2021. As a way to promote the company’s annual “Nutcracker” production each year, his staff has invited local celebrities like TV news anchors to make non-dancing cameos in the ballet’s prologue scene.

Two weeks ago, Golden State’s Director of Operations Joel Torgeson decided to shoot for the moon and sent an email to Hawk’s publicity team with a “really crazy idea” about appearing in the ballet.

A week went by with no response. Then five days ago, Hawk’s team reached out with a “yes,” thanks in large part to Hawk’s 17-year-old daughter Kadence, who is a theater fan.

“She’s a musical theater aficionado, and when she heard about this she told her dad ‘this sounds like so much fun, you’re doing it,” Salamanca said. “I’ve been so giddy. Everyone’s so giddy in the studio. I never get star-struck but this is so cool.”

This isn’t Hawk’s first foray in the theater world. For the past six years, he has been developing a musical adaptation of Nick Hornby’s skateboarding novel “Slam.” But he’s never acted onstage. His family will be attending the ballet on Saturday to see his debut.

Since Hawk’s Dec. 20 appearance was announced on Golden State’s social media last week, the post has been viewed more than 400,000 times. Ticket sales for that evening’s performance exploded, and the announcement has created more exposure for the company’s entire “Nutcracker” run, which kicked off last Friday and includes four more performances Friday through Sunday that do not feature Hawk.

The publicity boost couldn’t have come at a better time. Salamanca said “Nutcracker” ticket sales are down this year, with regular customers saying they’re pulling back this year due to inflation and recession fears.

“People are really suffering and struggling,” he said.

Salamanca said Hawk’s offer has been a full-circle life moment for him. Growing up in the 1980s in Puerto Rico, Salamanca was a passionate skateboarder who idolized Hawk and his Bones Brigade skating team. He still owns two of Hawk’s Powell Peralta skateboards.

“In my life, I went in the direction of dance, but now one of my idols is coming to meet us at a really improtant time in our company,” Salamanca said. “He saved our ‘Nutcracker.’ And he’s also bringing crossover awareness to people in the San Diego community who are not just ballet lovers.”

“Nutcracker” tickets can be purchased at goldenstateballet.org.