Tickets are now on sale for The Nutcracker which will be presented bv the Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet Dec. 11-12, under the artistic direction of Monika Alch. The production is a holiday tradition that delights children and adults alike. The timeless story of young Clara who is given the gift of a magical Nutcracker offers the excitement of a growing Christmas Tree with over 1000 sparkling lights; a midnight battle between the Nutcracker and the Rat King; falling snow during the snow scene and the fabulous dancing.
The performances are scheduled for Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Reg Lenna Civic Center in Jamestown, N.Y. Tickets prices range from $22 to $18; and $12 for seniors and students, and are now on sale and available at the Reg Lenna box office at (716) 484-7070 or online on the Reg Lenna website.
Some of this year's performers will include CRYB students Isabel Bursch as Clara and Liam Pickreign as Fritz.
Article Photos
Clara and party girls, from left, Lauren Hendrick, Isabel Bursch, Megan Stefanik in front and Kaitlin Healy, Emily Rose Mager in back.
Returning for his 10th year performance in CRYB's Nutcracker is Paul Mockovak in the role of Herr Drosselmeyer. Mr. Mockovak is a noted director and choreographer. Besides his 10 years of Nutcracker he has also danced the role of the poet in Les Sylphides at the Opera House and taught summer sessions at CRYB. Besides Drosselmeyer he has also performed the roles of Party Guest, Party Host and Arabian.
Mockovak earned an M.F.A. in musical theater from the University of Miami, Department of Theatre Arts, Coral Gables, Fla., and an M.M. in performance from SUNY Fredonia, School of Music,Fredonia., N.Y. He had post-graduate study in voice at Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, Okla. and studied at the Martha Graham Center, Dance Space, Institute of Contemporary Dance, Harvard Dance Center.
This year the prince will be portrayed by Shawn Sprankle. Shawn's first performance with CRYB was last spring when he danced the Wolf in Little Red Riding Hood. Sprankle, 19, attends JCC and plans to transfer to either SUNY Fredonia or the University of Buffalo and major in business. He has danced for six months with CRYB.