Two cherished holiday performances of the Oklahoma City Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” can be seen at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, at East Central University’s Ataloa Theatre in the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center.
The production is being presented by Devon Energy and the Chickasaw Nation.
The classic fairy tale tells the story of Clara, who received a beautiful, handmade wooden Nutcracker from the quirky Heir Drosselmeyer at a Christmas Eve party. That night, Clara sneaks downstairs to play with her new Nutcracker and is swept away to a fantasy land of toy soldiers, giant mice and dancing snowflakes. After saving her beloved Nutcracker from the evil Mouse King, she is whisked away to the enchanted Kingdom of Sweets and Toys, where she is treated to performances by fanciful, dancing confections and toys, including the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Choreographed by Artistic Director Robert Mills, Oklahoma City Ballet’s version of “The Nutcracker,” remains true to the original libretto that premiered in 1892 as the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.
This year’s production debuts all-new set and costume designs. The new sets were designed by Emmy Award winning scenic designer Gregory Crane and the elaborate new costumes are from Colorado designer Susanne Hubbs, whose designs have been featured in Dance Magazine.
Students from area dance studios will be performing in this production as well.
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at tickets.ecok.edu, via email at boxoffice@ecok.edu or by calling 580-559-5751.
Tickets can also be purchased at Gem Jewelers at 101 W. Main in Ada during regular business hours.
The Oklahoma City Ballet’s 10 regular performances of “The Nutcracker” will be performed at Oklahoma City’s Civic Center Music Hall, Dec. 13-22.
The Oklahoma City Ballet was founded in 1972 by Ballet Russe dancers Yvonne Chouteau and Miguel Terekhov. It has been the city’s professional ballet company for more than 40 years. It is the resident dance company of the Civic Center Music Hall and currently boasts 31 dancers from around the world. Led by Mills, the company produces four 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 for the industry’s leading choreographers.