TULSA BALLET’S THE NUTCRACKER CONTINUES TULSA HOLIDAY TRADITION WITH LOCAL CHILDREN’S CAST AND FREE COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE
TULSA, Okla. – November 2018 – Tulsa Ballet’s The Nutcracker will feature 130 local children in the cast, dancing alongside the professional company. The classic holiday performance returns to the Tulsa Performing Arts Center with eight public performances scheduled from December 8-23, 2018. An additional free event titled “Hope for the Holidays” will provide clients of social service agencies with complimentary tickets to The Nutcracker.
Tulsa Ballet’s current production of The Nutcracker is set in 1920’s Paris, a nod to both the birthplace of classical ballet and Tulsa’s art deco architecture. In addition to the 39 professional dancers that make up the company and second company, local children were selected through an audition process to perform in a variety of roles. Ages 6-14, these students will dance the roles of Baby Clowns, Mice, Soldiers, Party Scene Children, Fritz and Young Marie.
Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education (CDE) announced that 103 of the children cast in the 2018 production are CDE students, studying at either the Brookside or Broken Arrow campus. The young cast members represent the communities of Bixby, Broken Arrow, Claremore, Collinsville, Coweta, Depew, Grove, Jenks, Morris, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Stillwater, and Tulsa.
The full cast will give their first performance of The Nutcracker on December 7, as part of Tulsa Ballet’s “Hope for the Holidays” program. An annual event for 17 years, “Hope for the Holidays” shares the joy of dance with members of the Tulsa community who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend ballet performances. More than 2,400 clients of local social service and non-profit agencies will attend the performance for free, enjoy a snack of juice and cookies, and take home a souvenir coloring book and crayons.
Tulsa Ballet Artistic Director Marcello Angelini said, “At Tulsa Ballet, the holiday season doesn’t start until we hear The Nutcracker music playing throughout our building. We believe everyone in our community should be able to share in the magic of the performing arts, and “Hope for the Holidays” helps us achieve that mission.”
To keep “Hope for the Holidays” free for families in need, Tulsa Ballet relies on the generosity of corporate, foundation and individual donations to cover the production costs. Those interested in supporting Tulsa Ballet in its mission to provide accessible arts can contact the company at (918) 749-6030 or visit www.tulsaballet.org to make a donation.
A total of eight public performances of The Nutcracker will run from December 8-23, 2018 at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. All performances include live music provided by Tulsa Symphony Orchestra. Tickets range from $25 to $105, plus fees.
For theater-goers who would like a close up experience of The Nutcracker, Tulsa Ballet offers a V.I.P. Experience. At $105 per ticket, the V.I.P. Experience package includes premium seating in the center section of the orchestra level, a keepsake Nutcracker autographed by the cast and an on-stage Dancer Meet-and-Greet with the stars of the show, which provides patrons the rare opportunity to see the sets up close and pose with costumed dancers for photographs.
Tickets may be purchased by calling the Tulsa ballet Box Office at (918) 749-6006, the Tulsa Performing Arts Center Box Office at (918) 596-7111, or by visiting www.tulsaballet.org.
Hi-Res images and interview opportunities available:
Ryan Allen, PR & Communications Manager
918.392.5949, ryan.allen@tulsaballet.org
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Tulsa Ballet’s The Nutcracker
QUICK FACTS
Choreography: Marcello Angelini
Music: Composed by Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky
Performed live by Tulsa Symphony Orchestra
Peter Stafford Wilson, Principal Conductor
Dates: December 9, 15, 16, 22, 23 at 2:00 p.m.
December 8, 14, 21 at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: Call (918) 749–6006 or visit www.tulsaballet.org.
Tickets to The Nutcracker start at $25.
The special Nutcracker V.I.P. Experience is available for just $105.
4-Show packages to Tulsa Ballet’s remaining 2018/19 Season shows begin at only $97 and include invites to special subscriber-only events.
For more info on 2017/18 Season visit www.tulsaballet.org.