The Show Must Go On! Festival Ballet Providence¹s THE NUTCRACKER Set For This Weekend

Having faced one of the most challenging times in its 39-year history after a significant number of Nutcracker costumes were stolen from a storage facility in Pawtucket, RI, Festival Ballet Providence's (FBP) annual production of the holiday classic The Nutcracker will go on as scheduled this weekend. Replacement costumes were rented from companies and organizations from all over the nation and local costumers spent hours at their sewing machines volunteering their time and skills to replace others.

The first performances of the show will be for thousands of children from Rhode Island and Massachusetts as part of FBP's "Discover Dance" series on Thursday December 15 and Friday December 16. Then the show opens Friday evening December 16 and runs through Sunday December 18 at Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset Street, Providence, RI.

Countless people and organizations offered their time and support when news of the theft was announced. Although the company will have to replace the costumes for next year's production, Artistic Director Mihailo Djuric said, "This is truly a heartwarming ending to what might otherwise have been a very sad story. The sense of unity we are feeling is so inspiring," he said, adding, "The community should be very proud of what we have accomplished together."

Program: Mihailo Djuric's The Nutcracker

Date: December 16-18, 2016

Discover Dance, Educational Performances, Full Length

Thursday (12/15) at 10:00 AM

Friday (12/16) at 10:00 AM

Performances

Friday (12/16) at 7:30 PM

Saturday (12/17) at 2:00 and 7:00 PM

Sunday (12/18) at 1:30 PM

Location: Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybossett Street, Providence, RI

Ticket Prices: $23, $38, $53, $68 and $85. (Group tickets call 401-574-3162)

Duration: 2 hours

Tickets/Info: https://www.ppacri.org/events/detail/fbp-nutcracker or call 401-421-ARTS.