Westside Studio Brings The Nutcracker To Southern Utah
Westside Studio of Performing Arts continues a time-honored holiday tradition in Southern Utah with four performances of the classic ballet “The Nutcracker.”
Grown-ups and children alike will delight in seeing the mice and soldiers battle before Clara continues into the Snow Kingdom and the Land of the Sweets to visit the Sugar Plum Fairy. There, dancers from around the world entertain the Nutcracker Prince and Clara, bringing smiles to the faces of all involved. Westside Studio will present a full production of the classic ballet featuring accomplished professional dancers as well as local dance students. Beautifully decorated sets and exquisite costumes accent Tchaikovsky’s magical score.
The professional ensemble stars Matisse Madden as the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Snow Queen, Gennaro Della Regione as the Cavalier and Troy McGee as Drosselmeyer. Madden and Regione hail from the East Coast, while McGee lives in Southern Utah and has appeared in many productions at Tuacahn Center for the Arts. Dustin Hill, another professional dancer, based in the local area, will round out the cast.
Westside Studio has performed an adaptation of “The Nutcracker” every holiday season for the past 30 years. It grew to a full-scale production in 2000. For the young talent being nurtured by the studio’s faculty, it’s a thrilling opportunity to dance alongside seasoned professionals. Although the story has been adapted countless times for film, television and live shows, it remains a beloved Christmas favorite with audiences worldwide and Westside Studio of Performing Arts is proud to bring their version to Southern Utah.
The studio will perform “The Nutcracker” at the Desert Hills High School auditorium Dec. 9-10, with performances at 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM both days. Tickets range from $15 – $40 and may be purchased at www.westsidestudio.org/tickets.
