advertisement

'The Nutcracker' to be performed at COD

For the 26th year, Von Heidecke's Chicago Festival Ballet will present "The Nutcracker," accompanied by the New Philharmonic orchestra, which will perform Tchaikovsky's classic "Nutcracker" score live for this full-scale production.

Performances begin at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, at the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn.

"There are very few opportunities to see this beloved classic performed to live music," says MAC Director Diana Martinez. "We're fortunate that Von Heidecke's Chicago Festival Ballet and New Philharmonic have once again teamed up to bring this holiday tradition to life at the MAC."

This year's production features dozens of dancers from Chicago and suburbs, including Bolingbrook, Darien, Glen Ellyn, Homer Glen, Lisle, Naperville, Plainfield, Wheaton and Woodridge, and even as far as Moline.

They will be joined by guest artists in principal roles, including former Joffrey Ballet company member Michael Anderson as Uncle Drosselmeyer; founding member of River North Dance Chicago Jeff Hancock as Herr Silberhaus; former Joffrey Ballet dancer and Houston Ballet principal Randy Herrera as Snow King, Cavalier and Arabian; former apprentice with Inaside Chicago Dance Patrick Ingram as Mouse King; former Milwaukee Ballet principal dancer Deanna Stetsura as Snow Queen, Sugar Plum Fairy and Arabian; and former River North Dance Chicago dancer Jeff Wolfe as Nutcracker Prince.

The design team for this production includes Sahin Sahinoglu (set design), and Jeff Hendry and Oswaldo Muniz (costume design). Production stage manager is Tina Salamone.

"The Nutcracker," featuring music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, is a classic holiday fairy tale ballet in two acts. As a family's Christmas Eve party ends, a dream takes the young daughter Clara to a magical world where she meets the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Snow Queen, dancing snowflakes and other enchanting characters.

Von Heidecke's Chicago Festival Ballet, under the artistic direction of Ken von Heidecke, produces a repertoire of classical, romantic and neoclassical works focusing on the great musical compositions of the 19th and 20th century masters.

Von Heidecke opened the von Heidecke Dance Center in 1991 in Naperville as a training center for young dancers to learn the art of classical ballet. More than two dozen of von Heidecke's students have gone on to professional careers in the U.S. and Europe.

Von Heidecke's numerous honors include induction into the Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame, and he recently was honored by his former high school with the York Distinguished Alumni 2015 Dukes of Distinction Award.

For information about Chicago Festival Ballet and the von Heidecke Dance Center, visit chicagofestivalballet.com.

New Philharmonic is a member professional orchestra in residence of the MAC that has inspired classical music enthusiasts in Chicago and the suburbs for nearly four decades.

Under the direction of conductor and music director Kirk Muspratt, the group gives innovative treatment to both classic compositions and modern works, and strives to make the music accessible to new audiences and youth through a variety of educational efforts.

Tickets to "The Nutcracker" performances are $43 for adults and $32 for ages 18 and younger. A free MAC Chat precedes both evening performances.

For tickets or information, visit atthemac.org or call (630) 942-4000.

If you go

What: "The Nutcracker"

When: 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20

Where: McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn

Cost: $43 adults, $32 ages 18 and younger

Info: (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.