Locals take the stage in ballet’s version of ‘The Nutcracker’

WRENTHAM — This holiday season, the 37th annual ‘The Nutcracker’ will be presented by the Greater Milford Ballet Company on Saturday, Dec. 16, and Sunday, Dec. 17, at 2 p.m. at the King Philip High School auditorium.

This state-of-the-art ballet production includes dancers from Woonsocket, Milford, Mendon, Hopedale, Uxbridge, Northbridge, Grafton, Blackstone, Whitinsville, Franklin and Wrentham.

Local cast members from the area include:

Emily Dulak, an eighthgrader at Woonsocket Middle School, who plays the lead role of Dancing Cousin; Lacey Munger, a sixth-grader at Hamlet Middle School, in the Party Scene, a Mouse, Chinese Tea and Candy Cane; as well as Alison Dulak, Emily’s mother, who is on faculty at Deane Studio as a ballet teacher.

Although the production is traditional, every year something new is introduced such as a new costume, new set feature or new character to add to the element of surprise. The production is complete with falling snow, special effects, lively duel between Nutcracker Prince and the Mouse King, dolls that magically grow to adult size, magical dancing bear, and guest appearances by Rachael Spencer as the Sugar Plum and Mark Townsend as the Cavalier from Deane College.

The young dancers in the production play multiple roles in the production dancing in scenes and corps numbers often requiring precision timing backstage quick changes.

This year’s intermission raffle items will be from local restaurants and gift baskets from local businesses.

Ticket sales are available, at Charles River Banks located at: 16 Hastings Street in Mendon, South Maple Street in Bellingham or by calling the Deane Dance studio at 508-473-3354. Available remaining tickets are priced at $25, $20 and $15. Tickets will be sold at the auditorium if still available. Discount sales for non-profit groups and senior centers of (10) or more can be arranged by calling Colleen O’Brien at 508-9544756.

For more information or tickets, send email to deanestudio@yahoo.com or call 508-473-3354.