Submitted Content

“Nutcracker” coming to Prairie Center in Schaumburg

Posted November 21, 2012 8:50 am

Submitted by Prairie Center for the Arts

The snow queen, Kathleen McCann, center, leads a corps of ballerinas in the Schaumburg Dance Ensemble 2011 The Nutcracker at the Prairie Center for the Arts. This year, the show runs Nov. 30 through Dec. 9. Courtesy Prairie Center for the Arts

The Schaumburg Dance Ensemble presents Tchaikovsky’s timeless ballet, “The Nutcracker,” for two weekends beginning Nov. 30 at the Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts.

Performances will be held Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

The production, featuring professional dancers along with area performers, has become a steadfast family holiday tradition at the Prairie Center.

“The costumes, scenery and choreography never fail to delight audiences, but it’s the production’s attention to the story that seems to provide the most dramatic impact,” says the Prairie Center’s Rob Pileckis.

Live narration provided by the magical toy-maker Drosselmeyer, whose gift of a nutcracker to a young girl at a Christmas gathering inspires a dream world of colorful characters, “instantly draws young audiences into the performance and keeps them entertained through the final bows,” Pileckis added.

“The Nutcracker” is directed by Alberto Arias, Michele Leslie Holzman and Lisa Sheppard.

Tickets are $26 ($18 for students and seniors) and can be ordered online at prairiecenter.org or by calling (847) 895-3600. The Prairie Center for the Arts is at 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg.

“The Nutcracker” is sponsored by the Daily Herald, Motorola Solutions Foundation and the Prairie Center Arts Foundation.

The Stahlbaum family Christmas party is seen in this scene from the 2011 Schaumburg Dance Ensemble presentation of The Nutcracker at the Prairie Center for the Arts. This year, the show runs Nov. 30 through Dec. 9. Courtesy Prairie Center for the Arts

The Russian Trepak, one of the most famous dances in The Nutcracker, is performed in 2011 by the Schaumburg Dance Ensemble at the Prairie Center for the Arts. Courtesy Prairie Center for the Arts

The Mouse King wages a midnight battle at the Stahlbaum house in the 2011 Schaumburg Dance Ensemble presentation of The Nutcracker at the Prairie Center for the Arts. Courtesy Prairie Center for the Arts

Clara, played by Andi Prchal, displays her favorite Christmas gift in this years Schaumburg Dance Ensemble presentation of The Nutcracker at the Prairie Center for the Arts. Courtesy Prairie Center for the Arts

Clara, played by Anna Schlueter, curtsies to the Nutcracker Prince, played by Cameron Holzman, in this years Schaumburg Dance Ensemble presentation of The Nutcracker at the Prairie Center for the Arts. It runs Nov. 30 through Dec. 9. Courtesy Prairie Center for the Arts

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