All's well with the holiday season: 'The Nutcracker' back on stage in Abilene

Greg Jaklewicz, Abilene Reporter-News
·1 min read
Katelyn Beard and Shannon Beacham dance as the Snow Queen and King in the Snow Scene of a 2018 performance of "The Nutcracker" for schoolchildren at the Paramount Theatre.
Katelyn Beard and Shannon Beacham dance as the Snow Queen and King in the Snow Scene of a 2018 performance of "The Nutcracker" for schoolchildren at the Paramount Theatre.

You'd think a nutcracker would be immune to COVID-19, and that a pandemic would not reach the Land of the Sweets.

Alas, the 2020 production of Abilene Ballet Theatre's "The Nutcracker" was canceled because of the health crisis.

The start of the local holiday season just didn't seem the same without dancing snowflakes, Mother Ginger flirting with the audience and Clara finding her prince.

More: 30 years of 'Nutcracker': A holiday tradition in Abilene

But ABT's four performance showcase of its talent is back. And judging by ticket sales as of Tuesday, Abilene is ready to get its Tchaikovsky on.

Louise Ferguson dances as the butterfly in the Waltz of the Flowers scene in a rehearsal of The Nutcracker in 2018.
Louise Ferguson dances as the butterfly in the Waltz of the Flowers scene in a rehearsal of The Nutcracker in 2018.

A few scattered seats on the floor remained, with only seats in the upper balcony of the Paramount Theatre open.

Evening performances are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with 2:30 p.m. matinees Saturday and Sunday.

► Go to abileneballettheater.org for ticket available and to purchase.

The ballet traditionally is performed the weekend before Thanksgiving. The weather will be nice, though temperatures will be above the norm. This is the 35th year for the production, according to ABT website (though the 30th year was noted in 2017), which is cast with ABT students and guest dancers.

Greg Jaklewicz is editor of the Abilene Reporter-News and general columnist. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: All's well with the holiday season: 'The Nutcracker' back on stage