The Mid-Ohio Valley Ballet Co. will present its annual holiday performance of "The Nutcracker," with a November show in Marietta and a December show in Parkersburg.
The MOVB will perform "The Nutcracker" at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30 in the Marietta High School auditorium and at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 at Blennerhassett School auditorium in Parkersburg.
Tickets for the MOVB shows are $12 for adults and $6 for children and are available by calling 304-422-5538 or at the door on the nights of the shows. Tickets are available at the MOVB on Ann Street in Parkersburg from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at Sugden Books, 232 Front St., in Marietta.
The Christmas classic will entertain adults and children alike. The joy of Christmas is never more evident than in "The Nutcracker," said MOVB artistic director Suzy Gunter.
"This whimsical ballet brings beautiful fantasies, sugar plum dreams and waltzing flowers to a very large, adoring public," she said.
The company has toured extensively throughout a four-state area since 1981 presenting "The Nutcracker" to audiences of more than 500,000, including thousands of public school children in West Virginia and Ohio.
The classic full-length version of the ballet was first presented in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1892. Original music composed exclusively for the ballet was written by P.I. Tchaikovsky and original choreography was set by M. Petipa and L. Ivanov.
Based on the book by E.T.A. Hoffman, the ballet follows the dreams of a little girl named Clara. At the family Christmas party, her godfather Drosselmeyer presents her with a mysterious gift of a Nutcracker and her jealous little brother Fritz soon breaks it. As the guests depart, Clara comes quietly back into the living room to see her new toy and falls asleep there. Her dreams take her through a battle between the Mouse King and the Nutcracker, a visit to the Land of Sweets and to the snow kingdom, Gunter said.
Gunter will dance the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy and guest artist Jason Tanner will perform as the Cavalier. MOVB alumni Jolene (Troisi) Craig will be featured in Act II and Dennis Craig will portray Herr Drosselmeyer.
Company apprentices Hanna Newhart and Jaymie Ferrebee will alternate the lead role of Clara, and various roles will be performed by company and apprentice members Emily Morris, Maria Petrella, Casey Harker, Belle Huffman, Kristen Robinson, Chelsea Cobranchi, Haley Stephens, Rebecca Segrest, Gabrielle Kelley, Jessica Gainer and Michael Dillon.
The MOVB is a member of and receives partial funding from Artsbridge, a cultural development agency serving Wood County and Washington County. More information about the MOVB is available online at www.movballet.com.
