Long Beach Ballet to offer 'Nutcracker" Dec 15-23

The Long Beach Ballet intends to astound audiences this December with multiple performances of The Nutcracker at the Long Beach Terrace Theater on December 15th &  16th, and December 22nd & December 23rd.  The 30th Anniversary production will be accompanied by a full symphony orchestra –the ONLY Nutcracker in Southern California with live music– will explode with special guest performances, and features additional surprise treats the entire family will love.

The Long Beach Ballet’s Artistic Director, David Wilcox, pulled out all the stops for the 30th production of the classical tale. This production boasts a flying sleigh, a real live horse, on-stage pyrotechnics, astounding stage magic, and a cast of over 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.

Returning to perform this year is Melissa Sandvig, finalist in season five of “You Think You Can Dance.” Guest performers also include principle dancers from Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle- one of America’s greatest companies- Seth Orza and his wife Sarah Orza.

This year, the enchanting production surpasses all expectations by once again incorporating the South Coast Children's Chorale, under the direction of Emily Dyer. Southern California residents will see and hear The Nutcracker exactly as Tchaikovsky wrote it, with angelic young voices blending harmoniously with a full symphony orchestra. The Long Beach Ballet’s full symphony orchestra is 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.

Wilcox is excited to present a special rendition of the beloved Holiday tale. A former ballet virtuoso himself, he now brings his power, strength, grace and artistry to the production which features new surprises and classic entertainment.

“I like using the beauty of the classical art form of ballet, which has taken 500 years to develop to the level that it is today, to form a production that’s enticing and exciting. We have pyrotechnics, we have magic; we have everything I can think of to make it thrilling. This production is not just for people who like ballet. You can hate ballet and you’ll still like this production,” he adds.

The Long Beach Ballet's Nutcracker has been seen by millions of people worldwide, including live audiences totaling  more than 450,000 in Long Beach, 80,000 in Pasadena, hundreds of thousands throughout Asia (as performed by the Classical Ballet of Guangzhou China), and millions more on television.

Show times are Saturday, December 15th and 22nd, at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm, and Sunday, December 16th and 23rd, at 2 p.m., at the Long Beach Terrace Theater.

Tickets go on sale October 6th, 2012 and can be purchased through the Long Beach Ballet “Hotline” at (877) 852-3177, at all TicketMaster outlets, and the Long Beach Performing Arts Center Main Box Office. Family-friendly ticket prices are $28.00 to $65.00 with a special VIP Package available at $95.00 for adults ($80.00 for seniors and children), which includes choice Center Orchestra seating, parking, souvenir, admission to the VIP lounge during intermission, and a backstage pass. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more.