Phillips Academy presents 'The Nutcracker'

Start Date: November 30 8:00 PM
This event is open to the public

The Phillips Academy Department of Theatre and Dance is pleased to present its version of the classic ballet, The Nutcracker. Directed and choreographed by Judith Wombwell, the ballet was last performed by Phillips Academy in 2008. Wombwell has re-imagined the setting to represent colonial Andover with mice and soldiers becoming revolutionary war figures and party guests celebrating in the Abbot barn, designed and constructed by faculty member Bruce Bacon. Clara’s journey through the Christmas tree into the Land of Sweets remains true to the original ballet in its timeless story of a child’s fantasy.

The Nutcracker will be performed in Tang Theatre on the Phillips Academy campus, Friday, November 30th at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, December 1st at 2:30 and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday, December 2nd at 2:00 p.m. Admission is $20 for the general public and $10 for Phillips Academy community. Tickets can be reserved by calling the Phillips Academy box office at (978) 749-4433.

This year’s production of The Nutcracker includes several guest artists and an exciting new costume. The Nutcracker’s key role of Clara is shared by seniors Madeline Silva, captain of the Andover Dance Group, and Rochelle Wilbun. The Snow King and Queen are danced by Graham Johns and Marion Kudla respectively. The Grand Pas de Deux will be performed by guest artists and Boston Ballet soloists Dalay Parrondo and Brad Schlagheck in the featured roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier.

Prior to joining the Boston Ballet in 2004, Parrondo was a soloist in the National Ballet of Cuba where she was featured in Swan Lake and Giselle. Schlagheck has been with the Boston Ballet since 2006 first as a member of the Corps de Ballet and now as a soloist. He was called “a new discovery” by The Patriot Ledger after his performance in George Balanchine’s Symphony in Three Movements in 2012. In addition to The Nutcracker’s principal dancers, this year’s production will include over 50 cast members including Phillips Academy students, faculty members and children from surrounding communities. Dancers from surrounding communities include Andover residents Adam Brody, Rebecca Cheng, Sarah Cronin, Emily Field, Claire Glover, Katherine Graber, Catherine Haut, Sophia Landay, Olivia Legaspi, Erica Nork; Haverhill resident Michaela Barczak; North Andover resident Elizabeth McGonagle; North Reading resident Abriana Mayer and Reading residents Emily Ewing and Ada Li.

New costuming is being introduced this year in the form of a fanciful Mother Ginger, modeled after Marie Antoinette, and designed and constructed by faculty member Billy Murray. With grandeur and absurdity the character of Mother Ginger, played by faculty member Kevin Graber, makes a larger-than-life appearance accompanied by six tiny bonbon children. The design and construction of the Mother Ginger costume was made possible by a generous grant from the Abbot Academy Association.

Samuel’s restaurant at the Andover Inn will be offering a specially created, holiday prix fixe menu for theatre patrons. The three course meal is value priced at $35 per person and will be available both before and after The Nutcracker performances. Reservations, recommended, can be made by calling 978-775-4910.