By Sue Poremba
In my house, it just isn’t December without some performance of The Nutcracker. When my kids were young, I would take them to Eisenhower Auditorium on Penn State’s campus to see the show performed by a touring professional ballet company. As she got older, my daughter was the one on stage, performing with her dance school’s production.
A few years ago, State College’s
Ballet Theatre of Central Pennsylvania decided to modify The Nutcracker a little bit to make it a truly local production. The result was A Central Pennsylvania Nutcracker and it has become so popular that it is now featured as Eisenhower Auditorium’s annual Nutcracker performance.
A Central Pennsylvania Nutcracker takes place during the Civil War and the guests who arrive for the holiday party represent the families who shaped Centre County and Penn State. The trip to Candy Land in the Second Act really has a Pennsylvania flavor to it, with a representation of some Pennsylvania favorite sweets and a delightful local take on the Mother Ginger dance.
I had the pleasure of being a bit part of the show last year, as I was asked to be one of the “angel voices” that sing during The Waltz of the Snowflakes. There was a live orchestra of local musicians who performed the music – again a wonderful addition to the production, since the music for every other performance I’ve ever been to was prerecorded.
Because this is a dance school production, expect to see dancers of all ages and skill level. But that’s part of the show’s charm and what makes it a true local event.
A Central Pennsylvania Nutcracker will be performed on Saturday, December 13, with shows at 3 and 7 p.m.