Arts & Leisure
Local dancers to perform in upcoming production of "The Nutcracker"
By Jennifer L. Saunders
York resident Alana Thyng will share the starring role of Clara in the upcoming Ballet New England's "1836 Nutcracker" at the Portsmouth Music Hall in Portsmouth, N.H. A special abbreviated performance will be offered in York as part of this year's Festival of Lights celebration.
Courtesy photo
Alana Thyng of York will perform the role of Clara in the beloved holiday ballet at The Portsmouth Music Hall in nearby Portsmouth, N.H., which is set to run from Dec. 14 through 16.
But even before you head to Portsmouth, you have a chance to see an abbreviated version of the production right here in town at York High School on Saturday, Dec. 2, as part of this year's Festival of Lights celebration.
The York performance will be held at 7:30 p.m. with donations accepted at the door.
While "The Nutcracker" is certainly a classic, this production promises something new, using as its backdrop the city of Portsmouth in 1836.
Ballet New England's "1836 Nutcracker" at the Portsmouth Music Hall will feature guest artists Kenneth Easter and Melanie Hamrick of the American Ballet Theatre Company as the Cavalier and Sugar Plum Fairy. Tchaikovsky's famous score will be brought to life through the magic of ballet with choreography by Angela V. Carter.
Alana Thyng, a seventh-grader at York Middle School, is known locally and throughout the region for her starring roles in such performances as the recent productions of "Annie" and "To Kill a Mockingbird" at Seacoast Repertory Theatre.
"I'm really excited about this character; to convey her sense of wonder and amazement without dialogue," she said in an announcement of the upcoming production.
Of sharing the role of Clara with Emily Avery of Hampton, N.H., performing with so many talented dancers and the production as a whole, she said, "This is a fantastic cast and the costumes are gorgeous. The audience is going to be amazed!"
The production will also feature York dancers Gilda Edelman, Lucy Rickerich, Abigail Patten, Mackenzie Mallet and Isabelle Pike-LeBlanc.
For tickets or more information about the Ballet New England "1836 Nutcracker" at the Portsmouth Music Hall, call (603) 436-2400 or visit www.themusichall.org.
For more on Alana Thyng and the upcoming production, see our special feature coming in The Independent's Nov. 29 edition.
