Reposted: The Oklahoma City Ballet Brings The Nutcracker Back to the Civic Center

Posted December 10, 2013
Reposted for technical reasons

 THE OKLAHOMA CITY BALLET

BRINGS THE NUTCRACKER

BACK TO THE CIVIC CENTER

DaYoung Jung poses in costume for the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Alvin Tovstogray is in costume as the Cavalier for The Nutcracker. Courtesy of the OKC Ballet

 Oklahoma City Ballet returns to the Civic Center stage with Robert Mills' adaptation of the holiday classic The Nutcracker. Oklahoma City Ballet's version of the holiday classic stays true to the original libretto inspired by the E.T.A. Hoffman story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. Tchaikovsky's enduring score is performed live at every performance by the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. OKC Ballet performs this time-honored ballet December 13-15 and 20-22 at the Civic Center Music Hall in downtown Oklahoma City.

A favorite for the entire family, this classic fairytale tells the story of Clara who receives a beautiful wooden Nutcracker doll from the quirky Heir Drosselmeyer at a Christmas Eve party. That night Clara sneaks downstairs at midnight to play with her new Nutcracker doll where she is swept away to a fantasy land of toy soldiers, giant mice, and dancing snowflakes. After saving her beloved Nutcracker from the King of the Rats, she is whisked away to the enchanted Kingdom of Sweets where she is treated to performances by fanciful, dancing confections including the Sugar Plum Fairy.

The Nutcracker opens Friday, December 13 at 7:00 p.m., with additional performances: Saturday December 14 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, December 15 at 2:00 p.m. The following weekend will include performances Friday, December 20 at 7:00 p.m., Saturday December 21 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., and close Sunday, December 21 at 2:00 p.m.

Children's activities will include "Letters to Santa" held in the South Lobby beginning one hour prior to all performances where children will be able to prepare a letter for Santa and mail to the North Pole. Santa Claus will be in the main lobby one hour prior to all matinée performances. Families will have the opportunity to take their own photos with him as a holiday keepsake. Following each 2:00 p.m. matinée performance, a Dancer Meet and Greet with refreshments courtesy of Braum's will occur in the main lobby where children can meet, get autographs, and take pictures with dancers from The Nutcracker including Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and her Cavalier. The holidays are not complete without this beautiful production for the whole family. The Nutcracker brings visions of sugar plums, dancing snowflakes and a host of other fanciful characters to the child in us all.

Single tickets start at $25 which are now on sale and can be purchased in person at OKC Ballet offices, 7421 N. Classen Blvd., OKC, by phone at (405) 848-8637 or online at okcballet.com/nutcracker. Three performance Season Subscriptions are also available for the remainder of 2013-14 season "From the Page to the Stage."

Tickets may also be purchased at T.H.E. Box Office at Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker, OKC, (405) 297-2264.

About Oklahoma City Ballet:  Founded in 1972 by Ballet Russe dancers Yvonne Chouteau and Miguel Terekhov, Oklahoma City Ballet has been the city's professional ballet company for over 40 years.  It is the resident dance company of the Civic Center Music Hall and currently boasts 29 dancers from around the world.  Led by Artistic Director Robert Mills, the company produces 4 main stage productions per season in Oklahoma City and tours across Oklahoma and the surrounding states.  It is the only ballet company of its size to regularly debut world premiere story ballets with original commissioned scores and also commissions new works from the industry's leading choreographers.