FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2, 2006
CONTACT: Mark Fleisher, 401.353.1129
Providence, RI -
| Program: | The Nutcracker |
| Date: | December 15-17, 2006 |
| Time: | Friday at 7:30 |
| Place: | Providence Performing Arts Center, 222 Weybossett Street, Providence, RI |
| Cost: | $18-$60.00, price includes $3.00 Theater Restoration Fee. Discounts for Groups, children and seniors |
| Program: | Full-length performance of The Nutcracker, with orchestra and chorus. |
| Information |
Vist www.festivalballet.com , for tickets contact 401.421.ARTS or visit www.ppacri.org |
Festival Ballet Providence celebrates the holiday season with its annual favorite, The Nutcracker, after returning from a three-city tour to Venezuela. Five performances will take place in the opulent Providence Performing Arts Center December 15 to 17, 2006, Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 2:30 and 7:30 pm and Sunday at 1:00 and 6:30 PM.
Ticket sales are already brisk for this magical production by the state’s premiere ballet company.
The Nutcracker brings the magic of the holidays to the stage with a production noted in Motif as “…a true Christmas gift not to be missed….”
This story ballet follows a young girl, Clara, whose gift of a Nutcracker doll from her beloved Uncle Drosselmeyer leads her from a joyous family Christmas party complete with dancing dolls and a tree that grows 30 feet in height, to a midnight battle pitting life-size toy soldiers against giant mice lead by the Mouse Queen. Protected by her gallant Nutcracker, Clara survives the ordeal, finding that her Nutcracker doll has been transformed into a human prince. He leads her through a whirlwind of dancing snowflakes to the delectable Kingdom of Sweets, where the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier reign over a colorful troupe of dancers from round the world. They celebrate the victory over the Mouse Queen with brilliant dances that culminate in a grand finale.
Festival Ballet Providence’s performance will feature the Festival Ballet Providence Orchestra, providing live music under the baton of conductor Dr. Edward Markward. The orchestra will be joined by the soprano and alto voices of the Providence College Women’s Chorus under the direction of Dr. Michelle Holt for the “Snow” Scene, which also includes hundreds of Swarovski crystal snowflakes and a dozen dancers in sparkling white stone-studded costumes. Twenty-five singers will participate to enrich this stunning scene.
Festival Ballet Providence Artistic Director Mihailo (“Misha”) Djuric is looking forward to many new audience members this year, noting “Every year we put a fresh face on this production. With seven new dancers joining last year’s company members, new choreography and new casting, The Nutcracker will convey an entirely new feeling. I welcome returning audience members and new ones alike, who will all experience the magic of Nutcracker, as if for the first time. Providence is a wonderful city to visit during the holiday season, and people will be captivated by the grandeur and big-city quality of this production. There’s nothing like live performance, making The Nutcracker an exceptional experience for the entire family! The live orchestra and talent of our dancers are just two of the many things that set this production apart from all the other holiday productions.” As noted by the Providence Journal, it is a production full of “spectacle and splendor”.
The production also distinguishes itself with over 80 talented dancers as young as 7 years old, from throughout the region, dancing as Angels, Party Children, Candy Dolls, Mice, Soldiers and Russian dancers. These young performers were chosen from over 150 who auditioned for roles in this production on September 17th. Festival Ballet Providence is proud to provide the opportunity for these young local performers from Rhode Island and Massachusetts to perform supporting roles along side the seasoned professional dancers.
The coveted role of Clara will be shared by two members of Festival Ballet Providence’s Junior Company, Kirsten Evans and Katie Paquin. Katie, a resident of North Providence, is a 16 year old Junior at LaSalle Academy, and has trained at Festival Ballet Providence since she was 4 years old. Kirsten, from Seekonk, is 14 years old and in the 9th grade at Providence Country Day. This is her seventh year studying at Festival Ballet Providence. Djuric noted “I’m always excited for the students performing the role of Clara. Not only is it their first major dancing role of their young careers, it is also demands an ability to portray a character with believability and enormous stage presence. I can’t wait to see what each brings to the stage.”
Nutcracker Tickets: Performances take place at the Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset Street, in Providence, RI. Performance times are Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 2:30 and 7:30 pm and Sunday at 1:00 and 6:30 pm. Tickets priced from $18.00 to $60.00 are available by contacting the PPAC Box Office at 401.421-ARTS or visiting www.ppacri.org. A discount of $5.00 has been offered to patrons holding Lion King tickets or ticket stubs. Group discounts are available by calling PPAC at 401.421.2997 extension # 3162. (Paul Hiatt).
Sponsors. The 2006 production of Festival Ballet Providence’s production of The Nutcracker is made possible in part by sponsors Swarovski, David Yurman, and additional support from NBC10, Poder 1110, The Providence Phoenix and the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts.
Clara’s High Tea and Brunch: Festival Ballet Providence will offer Clara’s Tea and Brunch on Sunday December 17th from 11 am to 12:30 pm at the Federal Reserve Restaurant, 60 Dorrance Street, Providence, prior to the 1:00 matinee performance. This holiday-themed meal is complete with holiday decorations, dozens of Nutcrackers adorning the holiday-themed dining room, costumed characters from The Nutcracker including Uncle Drosselmeyer, Clara, her friends, and Archie the Nutcracker dog,; brunch favorites, pastries, tea and coffee. This event makes the visit to the Kingdom of Sweets even more special. Tickets for Clara’s Tea are $15.00 for children 3-5, $25.00 for children 6 to 12, and $35.00 for those older than 12 , including tax and tip.
To reserve seating for Clara’ Tea and Brunch call Festival Ballet Providence, 401.353.1129. Reservations and full payment must be received by December 14, 2006.
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The Festival Ballet Providence and the Festival Ballet Providence Center for Dance Education are together a not-for-profit arts organization whose EIN is 05-0377245 and
whose Rhode Island Corporate ID number is ND-27-137.
For additional information about Festival Ballet Providence and the production visit www.festivalballet.com
