Ballet San Angelo’s The Nutcracker readies to take the stage

Ballet San Angelo
Special to San Angelo Standard-Times
Michael Sherrod and Nico Covington are performing in the 2018 Ballet San Angelo presentation of The Nutcracker from Dec. 14-16.

It’s Christmas time, which means chilly nights, warm fires, and gift giving! What better way to herald in the holidays than by coming together with friends and family to The Nutcracker Ballet?

The tradition of The Nutcracker and its excellence has been thrilling San Angelo audiences for 35 years. The 2018 production will be held in the Murphey Performance Hall (previously City Auditorium), which served as the original home of The Nutcracker in 1983. Ballet San Angelo is honored to welcome home former Artistic Director Meghann Bridgeman as this year’s guest choreographer.

Dancing the coveted role of The Sugar Plum Fairy is Madison Rae, who has been training at Ballet San Angelo since age 5 and is now a Level 6 dancer in the Pre-professional level.

“It requires 20,000 percent more focus,” said Madison on the difficulty of performing such an auspicious role. “I’m not used to being the center of attention. But I like the graceful style of Sugar Plum better than any other Nutcracker role.”

This year’s Nutcracker will mark Madison’s 9th consecutive Nutcracker performance at Ballet San Angelo. She has danced numerous roles, including Clara, Snow Queen, Tea Lead, Soldier Doll and Spanish Lead.

Joining Madison will be Guest Artist Aidan Carrasquel in the role of Prince Cavalier. Carrasquel is a professional dancer from Ballet San Antonio. In 2014, he joined the Rock School for Dance Education under the direction of Stephanie and Bo Spassof. He was then awarded the Rory Schwartz Scholarship to attend the Washington School of Ballet under the direction of world renowned Kee Juan Han.

The Nutcracker features not only the talents of BSA’s wonderful academy dancers, but also members of the community. Keep an eye out for Mother Ginger, played in part by family nurse practitioner John Canion, from San Angelo Community Medical Center.

Old and young, naughty or nice, all are welcome to join us for this year’s performance. Be a part of this San Angelo Christmas tradition, or “yule” be sorry you missed it.

IF YOU GO

What: The Nutcracker

When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15; 2 p.m. Dec. 16

Where: The Murphey Performance Hall (City Auditorium), 72 W College Ave.

Cost: $10-$45

Tickets: online at balletsanangelo.org/tickets, call 325-284-3825 or visit the SAPAC box office, 82 Gillis St., noon-6 p.m. Monday-Friday