‘Nutcracker’ season
Here’s your guide to three virtual Lehigh Valley productions
’Tis the season to escape to an enchanted evening where dreams come to life — through magical dance. Lehigh Valley productions of “The Nutcracker,” set to the unforgettable music of Tchaikovsky, are a holiday tradition poised to delight all audiences.
The legendary story follows a young girl who falls asleep and envisions a Christmas fantasyland, where her nutcracker has transformed into a handsome prince and dynamic dancers perform for her entertainment.
Due to COVID restrictions this year, the presentations will be a bit more unique and innovative — all are only available as video streams or TV broadcasts. Lehigh Valley dance companies and stages were forced to negotiate new safety measures amid the pandemic to create engaging, recorded performances to share.
The video productions will all feature music, professional and local dancers, colorful costumes and the anticipated holiday charms of “The Nutcracker.” Here’s what you will find.
Pennsylvania Youth Ballet’s “The Nutcracker at Zoellner”
Online stream 2 p.m., Dec. 19 to Jan. 1, 2021 School show available free on Dec. 14
The longest-running “Nutcracker” in the Lehigh Valley returns for its 52nd year as Pennsylvania Youth Ballet/Ballet Guild of the Lehigh
Valley fills the Zoellner Arts Center stage for a recorded performance featuring more than 100 artists — including guest performers from the Pennsylvania Ballet, Philadelphia; alumni of Pennsylvania Youth Ballet/Ballet Guild of the Lehigh Valley and local high school talent.
In addition to the public virtual premiere, the Pennsylvania Ballet is offering a free performance to all school districts beginning Dec. 14. The Nutcracker Educational Guide will be included in the virtual stream to schools.
Zoellner Arts Center and WFMZ-TV/MBC Teleproductions have partnered for this program which was filmed in late November and edited by the company that produces the Freddy Awards each year.
The virtual stream includes a question and answer segment with performers and a “Behind the Scenes” feature included with the virtual stream.
Reservations for the stream link are available now through Dec. 19 at 12 p.m. at go.lehigh.edu/ tickets for $20 per household.
Tickets for the stream are available at go.lehigh.edu/tickets or by calling 610-758-2787, ext. 0.
More information: markjen@ptd.net and zoellnerartscenter.org.
Repertory Dance Theatre
TVbroadcast 7 p.m. Dec. 20 and 3 p.m. Dec. 27 on Service Electric
Filmed at the Allentown’s Miller Symphony Hall in 2018, Repertory Dance Theatre’s “Nutcracker” is performed with music by the award-winning Allentown Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Ronald Demkee, and the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts Choir, conducted by David Macbeth.
RDT’s special performing guests include Elena Miettinen and Sean Stewart of American Ballet Theatre, and Daniel Mayo of Ballet X, Philadelphia’s premier, contemporary ballet company. Also featured will be Cainan Weber, a RDT alumnus who now dances professionally with the New York City Ballet.
The company’s pre-professional dancers — along with children and adults from the community — round out the cast. Daniel Mayo will perform as the Nutcracker Prince and Nicole Kujas, a senior at Emmaus High School, will star in the role of Clara.
More information: 610-965-6216 and repertorydance.org
Online stream 8 p.m., Dec. 19 to Jan. 1, 2021 — available On-Demand
Celebrate your Christmas holiday at home with a recorded performance of Moscow Ballet’s “Great Russian Nutcracker” — available through a video On-Demand presentation.
Take a trip backstage with the cameras for a look at how the magic is made. See and hear what goes on behind the curtain from world-class artists, designers, and the creators of this special production.
Tickets for the stream are available for $50 at nutcracker.com. Tickets for $65 also available and include a streamed Meet & Greet taking place at 2 p.m. on the day of the show. $25 from each ticket sold will go to the
State Theatre’s “YOUR Seat is Waiting” fundraising campaign.
Access to the On-Demand stream will be available through Jan. 1, 2021.
Tickets on sale from Moscow Ballet’s ticketing platform at nutcracker.com
More information: statetheatre.org and 610-258-7766
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Morning Call Arts & Entertainment Editor Craig Larimer can be reached at 610-778-7993 or at clarimer@mcall.com