Boston Ballet cuts salaries

After a disappointing holiday "Nutcracker" run, Boston Ballet has cut the salaries of virtually all its employees, with some workers taking short, unpaid leaves. The move is part of an expense-cutting plan meant to keep Boston Ballet on track for a balanced annual budget, said Valerie Wilder, the company's executive director, who added that no one has been laid off.

"We've kept the team intact," she said.

Wilder wouldn't say what other cost-cutting measures have been introduced. She did say that she and other senior managers took the "earliest and biggest hits."

Boston Ballet was one of several local organizations to struggle during the holiday season, largely due to increasing competition. Before the season began for Boston Ballet, it had already promised to bring in less money than the previous year. The Colonial Theatre, where "The Nutcracker" was performed, has 1,640 seats, compared to 2,600 at the Wang, where Boston Ballet performed the holiday favorite until 2003.

Wilder wouldn't say how much less "The Nutcracker" made than expected. She did say that the expense and salary cuts will make up the difference.

"What was done was very rapid action to right the ship so we could continue our plan for the year," she said.

-- Geoff Edgers