Nutcracker 2023!
NUTCRACKER TEA:
Back by popular demand, Mendocino Ballet’s Nutcracker Tea! Add special memories to your holiday season by attending this delightful tea party. Enjoy scrumptious sandwiches and sweet treats while you are entertained by holiday characters, preview scenes from The Nutcracker Ballet, browse in the holiday boutique and enter to win a raffle. Tickets for this annual event go quickly - Purchase your tickets now at the Mendocino Ballet Studio, 205 S. State Street or at the Mendocino Book Company. Seating is limited, so get your tickets early!
NUTCRACKER PERFORMANCES:
The Nutcracker will be presented December 8 at 7 pm, December 9 at 2 pm and 7 pm, and Sunday, December 10 at 2 pm at Mendocino College Center Theater. You can order tickets online by clicking on the “Tickets” tab above.
The Mendocino Ballet is busy rehearsing one of the holiday season’s favorite family traditions, “The Nutcracker”. A joyous Christmas celebration at the home of the Stahlbaum family where beautiful life-size dolls come to life to entertain the guests, an action packed battle scene takes place between mice, bats, a spider, and toy soldiers, and a Nutcracker Doll is turned into a handsome prince, are but a few of the surprises in the first act of this fanciful ballet. The Nutcracker Prince then leads young Clara into the magical land of Snow and on to the Kingdom of Sweets where exotic performers from faraway lands dance in the court of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
The Nutcracker comes to life under the direction of Mendocino Ballet’s Artistic Director, Trudy McCreanor with beautiful sets, colorful costumes, and exciting choreography. Other choreography is presented by Esther Hansen, Morgan Cummings, and Allison Reedy. This is a truly delightful holiday treat, certain to enchant audiences of all ages!
Performances will be held on Friday, December 8 at 7 pm, Saturday, December 9 at 2 pm and 7 pm, and Sunday, December 10 at 2 pm at the Mendocino College Center Theatre. Tickets are $25 for adults, and $15 for children/students under 18. Tickets are available at the Mendocino Book Company and Mendocino Ballet in Ukiah, and Mazahar/Willits Enchanted Toy Shoppe in Willits. Tickets are also available online at www.mendocinoballet.org. There is a $1 surcharge for credit card sales. Tickets will be $5 extra at the door.
The role of Clara will be danced by Mendocino Ballet’s Reagan Frost with Larsen Schon Brunner as the Nutcracker/Prince. David Post will portray the mysterious Drosselmeyer, Clara’s eccentric Godfather. Marlie Montano will dance as Fritz, the mischievous brother of Clara.
A spectacular Snow Waltz led by company member Morgan Cummings as the beautiful Snow Queen will transport Clara and the Nutcracker Prince into the Land of Sweets.
Payton Slotte will dance the magical role of the Sugar Plum Fairy who presides over the Land of the Sweets. Other major roles are danced by Eva Campise as the Rose Queen in the “Waltz of the Flowers”, Eowyn Millward in the lively Spanish dance, Trillium Bennet-McCoy, Eva Campise, and Io Sanchez in Arabian Coffee, and Audriena Ramos as the Shepherdess searching for her lost Sheep. Mendocino Ballet Company dancers are joined by 50 plus other local children and adult dancers and actors from Ukiah, Willits, and surrounding communities to form a cast of talented and entertaining performers.