Von Heidecke's Chicago Festival Ballet Teams up with New Philharmonic for a Classic Staging of THE NUTCRACKER

Von Heidecke's Chicago Festival Ballet performs its 29th annual production of "The Nutcracker" at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC), Saturday, Dec. 15 at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 16at 1 and 5 p.m. New Philharmonic, under the baton of Maestro Kirk Muspratt, will perform Tchaikovsky's classic "Nutcracker" score live for this full-scale, lavish production. As a special treat, will be photo opportunities with Santa and a three-foot tall wooden Nutcracker in the lobby.

"Von Heidecke's Chicago Festival Ballet is thrilled to once again, team up with New Philharmonic, under the baton of Maestro Kirk Muspratt, to bring this holiday tradition to life at the MAC. We know many Chicago area residents see the "Nutcracker" as a must for the season and we're pleased that we are able to present our classic production guaranteed to entertain all ages and create lasting memories," says Von Heidecke Chicago Festival Ballet Founder and Artistic Director, Ken von Heidecke.

"The Nutcracker," featuring the exquisite music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, is a classic holiday fairy tale ballet in two acts. As a family's Christmas Eve party ends, a dream takes the young daughter Clara to a magical world where she meets the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Snow Queen, dancing snowflakes and many other enchanting characters.

This year's production features more than 50 dancers from Chicago and Chicago suburbs including Aurora, Bolingbrook, Braidwood, Channahon, Chicago, Crest Hill, Darien, Downers Grove, Evanston, Homer Glen, Lemont, Lisle, Lockport, Manhattan, Mokena, Naperville, Oswego, Plainfield, Tinley Park, Westmont, Wilmington and Woodridge. They will be joined by guest artists in principal roles including former Joffrey Ballet company member Michael Anderson (Uncle Drosselmeyer); former Nevada Ballet Theatre company dancer Grigori Areqelyn (Snow King, Cavalier); Elements Contemporary Ballet company member and Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre rehearsal director Brennen Renteria, (Nutcracker Prince); Chicago's Caitlin Gee (Snow Queen, Sugar Plum Fairy) and former Joffrey Ballet company member Jennifer Goodman (Arabian). The male Arabian role will be shared by Chicagoans JP Tenuta, former member of Luna Negra and the Nashville Ballet; and Luke Joiner, who has performed with the Alabama Ballet and Elements Contemporary Ballet.

The role of Clara will be shared by Naperville's Madelyne Lowe and Jacquie Liedtke and Homer Glen's Reagan Davidson. The cast will also feature three tumblers, Terrance Green, William Green and DeAngelo Woods, from Chicago's Ultimate Tumblers (The CUT), coached by Orpheus Floyd. The CUT appeared on the 2011 edition of "America's Got Talent."

The McAninch Arts Center located at 425 Fawell Blvd., on the campus of College of DuPage presents "The Nutcracker," Saturday Dec. 15 at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 16 at 1 and 5 p.m. Tickets are $44 Adults, $42 Seniors; $34 for youth ages 18 and under. For tickets or more information visit AtTheMAC.org or call 630.942.4000.

Von Heidecke's Chicago Festival Ballet, under the artistic direction of Kenneth Von Heidecke, produces a repertoire of classical, romantic, and neoclassical works focusing upon the great musical compositions of the 19th and 20th century masters. Von Heidecke opened The Von Heidecke Dance Center in 1990 in Naperville, Ill. as a training center for young dancers to learn the art of classical ballet. More than two dozen of Von Heidecke's students have gone on to professional careers in the U.S. and Europe. Von Heidecke's numerous honors include inclusion in the Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame and he was honored by his former High School with the York Distinguished Alumni 2015 Dukes of Distinction Award. Filmmaker Stuart Meyer recently completed a documentary on Von Heidecke's life, and a sneak preview of the film was previewed in Naperville this past September to a standing ovation. The official release of the documentary is projected to take place in 2019.

Von Heidecke's Chicago Festival Ballet is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and has been awarded a grant from the IAC and NIB and continues to receive annual funding. For more information about Chicago Festival Ballet and The Von Heidecke Dance Center visit chicagofestivalballet.com.

New Philharmonic, the professional orchestra in residence of the MAC, and the only professional orchestra based in DuPage County, Ill., has inspired classical music enthusiasts in Chicago and the suburbs for 40 years. It continues to thrive with the goal to give innovative treatment to both classic compositions and modern works while striving to make the music accessible to new audiences and youth through a variety of educational efforts. Today, under Muspratt's direction New Philharmonic consists of more than 60 professional musicians and performs more than a dozen concerts a year, reaching more than 7,500 from the greater Chicago area annually. In addition, for each the past three years, WFMT has broadcast one of New Philharmonic New Year's Eve performances, allowing listeners around the world to have the opportunity to enjoy New Philharmonics music. For more information about New Philharmonic visit AtTheMAC.org.

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