The Nutcracker to return to Morristown
MORRISTOWN — The magic of the holiday season returns to Morristown when the New Jersey Ballet presents its 44th season of Nutcracker beginning Friday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m.
The ballet, with more than 100 performers and full orchestra, will run for 14 performances, Dec. 12 through 24 at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown. Tickets are $25 to $59.
New Jersey Ballet's Nutcracker at MPAC will feature a full orchestra under the direction of Gary S. Fagin.
New Jersey Ballet's Nutcracker is the longest-running original professional production in the state. It debuted at Paper Mill Playhouse in 1971 with Edward Villella (then a star with New York City Ballet) as the Cavalier. Today, after more than 800 performances involving more than 4,000 dancers and children and an audience of more than a million viewers, New Jersey Ballet's Nutcracker is firmly established as New Jersey's favorite holiday tradition.
The heart of the production is the company itself — a troupe of 16 professional artists of international reputation who hail from eight countries — Brazil, Colombia, Hungary, Japan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Uruguay and the United States. They have toured on every continent with internationally renowned companies. Many have also performed with American companies such as Los Angeles Ballet, Carolina Ballet, St.Louis Ballet and international tours of Riverdance.
New Jersey Ballet's extensive performance schedule is made possible in part by support from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and by other generous corporate, foundation, and individual contributors. New Jersey Ballet's series at Mayo Performing Arts Center is made possible In part by the F. M. Kirby Family Foundation. The company has been designated a Major Arts Institution by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for "artistic excellence, substantial programming, and broad public service," and was recently voted New Jersey's Favorite Dance Company in an online poll conducted by Discover Jersey Arts.
The Mayo Performing Arts Center is located at 100 South St. in Morristown. For tickets or more information contact the box office at 973-539-8008 or www.mayoarts.org.