The New Jersey Foundation for Dance and Theatre Arts' THE NUTCRACKER Returns

The New Jersey Foundation for Dance and Theatre Arts has been presenting "The Nutcracker" in the North Jersey area for the past 23 years. The show is considered one of New Jersey's finest dance and theatrical presentations. Revuew of the performance have called it a superb production of the "Nutcracker" with a twist. The 'twists" are Nancy King's special additions to this 100 year old ballet. The opening scene is a musical theatre production of this 1900's festive ball with Holiday vocalists and specially choreographed dances.

The Nutcracker begins at the home of Judge Silberhaus, his wife and their children: Clara, Louisa, Sabrina, and Fritz. As the party guests enter, the children play games and the dancing begins. However, all stops as the children's dear Godfather Drosselmeyer enters. He is a creator of wonderful magical things and he has brought presents.

Clara receives a colorful Nutcracker. The doll breaks and Drosselmeyer casts a magical spell on the broken Nutcracker. The spell begins: great mice appear and are chased b tyoy soldiers, the Christmas tree magically grows to great heights, the Grandfather clock comes alive...and the Nutcracker becomes a Prince. In the NJF production the mice are acrobats, the soldiers are tap dancers, and the tree grows, snow falls, and the fight scene is done with real swords.

Clara meets the handsome Prince and their journey begins including visits to foreign lands and a visit from Mother Ginger and her children (clowns). The Dew Drop Fairy arrives with her candied roses who dance the glorious Waltz of the Flowers. Finally the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier perform the Grand Pas de Deux. Everyone joins the final farewell waltz to Clara and the Prince, as the court pays their final tribute to the little girl who saved the Prince.

Nancy King is proud to announce this year's Sugar Plum Fairy is an alumnus of The King Centre, Emily Ingersoll of Clifton and a graduate of Montclair State University. Alfonse Napolitano of Parsippany and a graduate of Montclair State University will perform the roles of the Cavalier and the Snow King.

The role of Clara will be shared by Katie Mulheisen of Wyckoff, and Lisa Tragna of Wyckoff. Fritz will be performed by Soren Schwerner of Hewitt and Isabella DiLorenzo of Ringwood. Sabrina by Emma Gabriel of Ringwood and Jeanna Carrazzone of Ringwood, and Louisa by Erin Montaque of Wanaque and Haley Gruinler of West Milford. The Prince will be played by Delaney Roark of Mahwah and Gus Lindstrom of West Milford.

Cast leads will include - Dewdrop & Snow Queens will be Lindsey Holohan of Franklin Lakes, Madison Ostrander of Wanaque and Laura Westcott of Ridgewood. Marzipan will be Rachel Mulheisen of Wyckoff, Jocelyn Geisel of West Milford and Olivia Sabatelli of Ringwood. Arabian is Josie Ugliono of West Milford, Noelle Janjigian of West Milford and Madison Ostrander of Wanaque. Spanish leads will be Marly Goldring of Ringwood, Annie Wogisch of Ringwood and Lindsey Holohan of Franklin Lakes. Russian Leads are Annie Wogisch & Marly Goldring of Ringwood and Livi Janjigian & Laura Westcott of Ridgewood.

This year, start your holiday season with "The Nutcracker." Performances will be held on Saturday December 8 at 2pm and 7pm and on Sunday December 9 at 2pm at Mahwah High School at 50 Ridge Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430. Tickets are $25 reserved orchestra and $20. All seats are reserved seating. To purchase tickets visit www.shovation.com or call 1-844-732-4825. A limited number of tickets will be sold at the venue on the day of the performance. For further information please contact the New Jersey Foundation for Dance and Theatre Arts at 973-839-3022.

Photo Credit: Greg Imaging