The Sugar Plum Fairy in Theatre of Ballet Arts Nutcracker.
Area "Nutcracker" Performances
--- City Youth Ballet, a Johnson City dance company, will present "The Nutcracker" Dec. 8-9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Veterans Administration Memorial Theatre.
--- Intercity Ballet Theatre will present its annual performance of "The Nutcracker" Dec. 8-9 at 7 p.m. at the Eastman Employee Center Auditorium in Kingsport. For the first time, the performance will feature a live orchestra. The 24-piece Intercity Ballet Theatre Orchestra will be led by conductor Kellie Brown, Director of Strings at Milligan College. Members include musicians from the Johnson City Symphony, Symphony of the Mountains, and Milligan College Orchestra.
--- Theatre of Ballet Arts in Bristol will perform The Nutcracker Dec. 8-9 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 9-10 at 2 p.m. at the Paramount Center. The production will feature guest dancer Richard Tullius as the Snow King. Tullius has danced with the Cincinnati Ballet, Houston Ballet and Ballet Metropolitan. Andre Kaltenrieder from Texas Ballet Theatre will dance Cavalier and accompany the Sugar Plum Fairy (Holly Holmes from the University of Oklahoma School of Dance). Theatre of Ballet Arts company dancers Leah Rosser and Olivia Morin will alternate as the Snow Queen. $8-12. In addition, children are invited to attend Clara's Tea Party Sunday, Dec. 3 from 2-4 p.m. at the Southeast Regional Culinary Institute in Bristol ($10). One lucky child will receive Clara's crown (a real tiara) and be invited to attend The Nutcracker opening night with a guest. For tickets (including Clara's Tea Party or benefit tickets to the Saturday matinee for special needs organizations such as the Boys/Girls Club, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, nursing home/assisted living residents), call 423-274-0789.
--- Bristol Ballet & Highlands Ballet will once again combine their talents to present "The Nutcracker" at the Paramount Center Dec. 15-16 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 17 at 2:30 p.m. Highlands Ballet senior company member Olivia Henley will portray Clara. The Sugar Plum Fairy will be danced by Deirdre Cole, Associate Director of Highlands Ballet. Guest dancers include Sean Hilton of River North Dance Ensemble, Chicago; Jeffrey Polston, an original member of Complexions Contemporary Ballet Company; and Charles Haack of New York. $6-12. A Sweets Party will be held after Sunday's performance where pictures may be taken with the Nutcracker, Clara, Sugar Plum, or Drosselmeyer. $10 per party.
