Mid-Ohio Valley Ballet Company poised for ‘Nutcracker’ performances
The Act II Sweets include Chocolate Dancer, Sarah Harvey; Sugar Plum Fairy, Guest Artist Sarah Yoak; Candy Cane Dancer, Bethany Truax; and seated is Coffee Dancer, Mallory Thomas. (Photo Provided)
The Mouse Queen, danced by Sarah Harvey, and The Nutcracker, by Keegan Marsh, will be featured in the Mid-Ohio Valley Ballet Company’s “Nutcracker” production at several locations in December. (Photo Provided)
A nutcracker doll. (Photo Provided)
The Act II Sweets include Chocolate Dancer, Sarah Harvey; Sugar Plum Fairy, Guest Artist Sarah Yoak; Candy Cane Dancer, Bethany Truax; and seated is Coffee Dancer, Mallory Thomas. (Photo Provided)
The Mouse Queen, danced by Sarah Harvey, and The Nutcracker, by Keegan Marsh, will be featured in the Mid-Ohio Valley Ballet Company’s “Nutcracker” production at several locations in December. (Photo Provided)
A nutcracker doll. (Photo Provided)
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PARKERSBURG -- The Mid-Ohio Valley Ballet Company will be presenting its annual performances of the holiday classic "Nutcracker" in December throughout the Mid-Ohio Valley.
The MOVB will present the show Dec. 2 at Marietta High School Auditorium, Dec. 4 at Ripley High School Auditorium, Dec. 9 at Blennerhassett School Auditorium, and Dec. 30 at Marietta High School Auditorium.
This special presentation is the 40th Anniversary Alumni performance that will feature alumni of the MOVB.
All shows begin at 7 p.m. except for the Dec. 4 show in Ripley, which is a 2 p.m. matinee performance.
Reserved seat tickets go on sale Tuesday, Nov. 15, and will be available at the MOVB Offices, 1311 Ann St., Parkersburg, with box office hours on Tuesday and Thursday from 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children under 18. Tickets are general admission for the Dec. 4 performance in Ripley and are available at Ravenswood Floral & Gifts, 512 Washington St., Ravenswood, and Evergreen Florists, 218 S. Church St., Ripley.
Tickets can be purchased in advance, in person only at the MOVB studios, otherwise tickets will also be available at the door for all shows. More information can be obtained by visiting the website at www.movballet.com.
The ballet brings beautiful fantasies, sugar plum dreams and waltzing flowers to a large public. The MOVB has toured extensively throughout a four-state region since 1981 presenting the "Nutcracker" to audiences of over 500,000 including thousands of public school children throughout West Virginia and Ohio.
The classic full-length version of the ballet was first presented in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1892. Original music was composed exclusively for the ballet by P.I. Tchaikovsky and original choreography was set by M. Petipa and L. Ivanov.
Based on the book by ETA Hoffman, the ballet follows the dreams of a little girl named Clara. At the family Christmas party her godmother Drosselmeyer presents her with a mysterious gift of a Nutcracker and her jealous little brother Fritz promptly breaks it.
As the guests depart, Clara comes quietly back into the living room to see her new toy and falls asleep there. Her dreams take her through a fierce battle between the Mouse King and the Nutcracker, a visit to the Land of the Sweets where candy dancers perform for her and finally a journey through the snow kingdom with whirling, dancing snowflakes.
Bailey Gibeau will make her debut as Clara along with Meggan Starcher as her sister, Clarissa. Keegan Marsh and Elliott Akeman will alternate the role of the Nutcracker Prince. Artistic Director Suzy Gunter will portray Frau Drosslemeyer.
Dancers appearing in featured roles will include Jolene Troisi, Bethany Truax, Sarah Harvey, Mallory Thomas, Hallie Pierce, Rebecca Segrest, Emily Ashley, Amelia Auville, Violet Bevins, Liliana Parson, Helena Smith, Danae Tibbs and Emillia Weltner.
This season's production will also feature guest artists and MOVB alumni Sarah Yoak as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Owen Tidd as the Cavalier. They will be joined by 30 children from the MOVB Academy of Fine Arts, the official school of instruction for the MOVB Company.