‘Sugar plum dreams:’ Mid-Ohio Valley Ballet to present ‘The Nutcracker’
Mid-Ohio Valley Ballet to present ‘The Nutcracker’
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MARIETTA - The Mid-Ohio Valley Ballet Company is presenting its annual performances of the beloved holiday classic, "The Nutcracker," this Friday at the Marietta High School Auditorium and Friday, Dec. 8, at Blennerhassett School Auditorium. The shows begin at 7 p.m.
The Christmas classic is intended to appeal to adults and children alike "as it fills the audiences with the Christmas spirit and reminds them of those few brief days that transform the world into a happier, peaceful place," according to a release from the MOVB.
"The joy of Christmas is never more evident than in 'The Nutcracker.' This whimsical ballet brings beautiful fantasies, sugar plum dreams and waltzing flowers to a very large adoring public," the release said.
Parties, church celebrations, family and friends and "The Nutcracker" are all part of the American Christmas experience.
The MOVB has toured extensively throughout a four-state region 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.
The music has become a timeless classic heard in commercials and malls as well as in concert halls around the world. The Nutcracker doll himself has also become a symbol of the holiday season, and many ballet companies have their own adaptations of this heart-warming story.
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 godmother Drosselmeyer presents her with a mysterious gift of a Nutcracker and her jealous little brother Fritz promptly 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 fierce battle between the Mouse King and the Nutcracker, a visit to the Land of the Sweets where candy dancers perform for her and finally a journey through the snow kingdom with whirling, dancing snowflakes.
CAST LIST:
* Clara: Danae Tibbs
* Clarissa: Helena Smith
* Herr Drosslemeyer: Danny Bayer
* Frau Drosslemeyer: Suzy Gunter
* Von Stahlbaums: Jolene Troisi & Earl Khosrovi
* Nutcracker Prince: Keegan Marsh
* Mouse King: Elliott Akeman
* Sugar Plum Fairy: Kitri Held
* Snow Queen: Bethany Truax
Featured in Act II – The Land of the Sweets:
* Chocolate: Sarah Harvey and Mallory Thomas
* Coffee: Amelia Auville and Meggan Starcher
* Tea: Violet Bevins and Elliott Akeman
* Trepak: Helena Smith and Mallory Thomas
* Marzipan: Tessa Barker, Emma Holt, Millie Fleak and Emillia Weltner
Rounding out the cast will be Liliana Parsons, Matthew Paul and Kelly Bargeloh.
They will be joined by 30 children from the MOVB Academy of Fine Arts, the official school of instruction for the MOVB Company.
Reserved seat tickets are on sale and will be available at the MOVB offices, 1311 Ann St., Parkersburg. Box office hours are 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Adult tickets are $15, and tickets for children under 18 are $8.
Pre-reserved ticket purchases are being accepted. More information is available by calling 304-422-5538 or visiting the website at movballet.com.