Long Beach Ballet will continue its annual holiday tradition with six performances of “The Nutcracker” at the Long Beach Terrace Theater, 300 East Ocean Blvd. in Long Beach, on Dec. 12 and 13, and Dec. 19 and Dec. 20.
As always, the production bursts with special guest performances and additional surprise treats the entire family will love.
The Long Beach Ballet’s Artistic Director, David Wilcox, pulled out all the stops for the 33rd production of the classical tale.
This production boasts a full symphony orchestra, a flying sleigh, a real live horse,
on-stage pyrotechnics, and a cast of more than 200.
The enchanting scenery was created by former Disney designers Elliot Hessayon and Scott Schaffer, the detailed costumes designed by Australian artist Adrian Clark, and special effects by renowned magician Franz Harary.
The Long Beach Ballet is the only ballet company in Southern California that has a full symphony orchestra and is only one of two ballet companies in the country to use two harps for their production of “The Nutcracker” to ensure the performance sounds exactly as Tchaikovsky intended it to.
This year’s guest artists in the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Nutcracker Prince include Vanessa Zahorian, principal ballerina with the San Francisco Ballet, Seth Orza, principal male dancer with Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Sarah Ricard Orza, soloist with Pacific Northwest Ballet.
Also featured this year will be the artistic director David Wilcox’s daughter Megan. Having grown up with her father’s production since the age of four, Megan recently received international acclaim and spent last year dancing with the Dresden Ballet of Germany. She will dancing the role of the Dewdrop Fairy.
Show times are Saturdays, Dec. 12 and 19, at 2 pm and 7:30 pm, and Sundays, Dec. 13 and 20, at 2 pm, at the Long Beach Terrace Theater.
For tickets or more information, call 877.852.3177 or visit longbeachballet.com.
