Sugar Plum Fairies that dance in your head will come to life in Southold's 'Nutcracker'
SOUTH BEND — Southold Dance Theater presents Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” in collaboration with the South Bend Symphony Orchestra from Dec. 8 to 10 at the Morris Performing Arts Center, 211 N. Michigan St.
Based on the 1816 E.T.A. Hoffmann story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” the ballet follows the adventures of a young girl, Marie, who falls asleep under the tree after her family’s Christmas Eve party.
In her dream, Marie’s nutcracker toy comes to life — as do many other toys — and battles the Mouse King before the two, victorious, then travel to the Land of Snow and, finally, the Kingdom of Sweets, where they meet the Sugar Plum Fairy.
The production, Southold’s 42nd, includes more than 200 children in the cast, as well as a different local celebrity guest in the newly-created role of “Father or Mother Christmas” for each performance.
Professional dancers Isabella LaFreniere of the New York City Ballet and Dylan Wald of the Pacific Northwest Ballet will be portraying the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier on Dec. 8, Derek Drilon of the Joffrey Ballet will portray the Cavalier on Dec. 9 and 10.
Southold also will hold a fundraiser preview party, “Nutcracker Nostalgia,” from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Morris. It includes an up-close preview of the production featuring a full-length dress rehearsal and accompaniment from the SBSO.
Tickets are $75 per person or $125 per couple, including cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. For tickets, visit southold-dance.org.
The SBSO had accompanied the ballet for 16 straight years through 2002 and again in 2006 before the two organizations reunited again in 2022.
Performances are at 7 p.m. Dec. 8 and 9 and at 2 p.m. Dec. 10.
Tickets are $65-$25.
For more information, call 574-235-9190 or visit morriscenter.org.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Local children bring Southold's performance of 'The Nutcracker' alive
