Members of “The Nutcracker” cast recently welcomed Santa to the Grand Central Mall and will be performing in upcoming performances. Pictured are from left back row, Mouse Queen, Rebecca Segrest-Parlato, Nutcracker Prince, Keegan Marsh, Party Guests, Caolinn Craig, Sylvia Smith, Meggan Starcher, Tessa Barker, Violet Bevins, Jolene Troisi, Emily Taylor, Lily Parsons, Helena Smith, Meredith Craig, Emma Holt. Front row from left, Millicent Fleak, Alexis Wilcox. Featured performers as the Mechanical Dolls, front from left, Amelia Auville, Danae Tibbs and featured performers as the Spanish Dancers, right side are Sarah Harvey and Bethany Truax. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG – Mid-Ohio Valley Ballet Company and AFA LLC has announced the 2025 holiday performances of the classic ballet “The Nutcracker.”

The company will conduct a regional tour on Friday Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. at Marietta High School

Auditorium, Marietta; Sunday, Dec. 7, at 2 p.m. at Lincoln Theatre, New Martinsville; Friday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. at Blennerhassett School Auditorium, Parkersburg; and Friday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. at Ripley High School Auditorium, Ripley.

Tickets for adults are $15 and children under 18 are $ 8. Tickets can be purchased with a check made out to MOVBallet, money order or cash. MOVBallet does not accept credit or debit cards for ticket purchases.

Advance sale tickets begin on Tuesday, Nov. 18. The box office is located in the MOVBallet studios at 1311 Ann St., Parkersburg. Box office Hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Tickets will also be available at the door at each performance. Discount coupons are available for children through area schools.

Four company dancers will alternate the role of Clara in the production. They are back from left, Meredith Craig and Emma Holt and front from left Millicent Fleak and Tessa Barker. (Photo Provided)

For more information on how to purchase tickets, visit the website at movballet.com, email at movdance1@gmail.com or call 304-422-5538.

Mid-Ohio Valley Ballet Company is West Virginia’s first and only touring dance company, a nonprofit professional dance organization based in Parkersburg with Suzy Gunter as Artistic Director.

Each season the Nutcracker ballet is performed for more than 8,000 people through the company’s School Days Performing Arts Series for public, private and home-schooled children.

The curtain opens on the ballroom of the Von Stahlbaum family on Christmas Eve. Guests arrive and join in the dancing and merriment. The lights fade and the mysterious Drosslemeyers arrive. They bring gifts for the children and for Clara there is a nutcracker doll. Clara’s little brother becomes jealous and breaks the doll.

After the guests have departed and the ballroom is dark, Clara sneaks back downstairs to retrieve her nutcracker and finds a battle raging around the Christmas tree. The nutcracker doll has come to life and is fighting the mouse king. Clara strikes the mouse king with her slipper and the distraction allows the nutcracker to overcome him. Their leader down, the mice flee and the nutcracker is transformed into a prince. Clara and the prince journey to the “Land of the Sweets” where they are entertained with dances. It all ends with the final waltz of the snowflakes and Clara awakens from her dream.

Kitri Held will be featured as the Sugar Plum Fairy. (Photo Provided)

This is the 44th season for MOVB “Nutcracker” productions. Featured in the 2025 performances will be: Tessa Barker, Emma Holt, Millicent Fleak and Meredith Craig alternating the role of Clara. Keegan Marsh is the Nutcracker Prince. Rebecca Segrest-Parlato is the Mouse Queen. Kith Held is the Sugar Plum Fairy. Suzy Gunter and Danny Bayer are the Drosslemeyers.

Jolene Troisi is Mrs. Von Stahlbaum along with Violet Bevins, Danae Tibbs, Helena Smith, Sylvia Smith, Meggan Starcher. Amelia Auville. Emily Taylor, Bethany Truax, Sarah Harvey. Avery White, Alexis Wilcox and Liliana Parsons performing various roles.

They will also be joined by 30 students from the MOVB Academy of Fine Arts LLC. The performance in New Martinsville will feature students from the Mustard Seed Arts Academy and the performance in Ripley will feature students from the Pam Bailey School of Dance.