‘The Nutcracker’ Ballet to be presented on Thanksgiving weekend

Ballet Theatre of Scranton, under the artistic direction of Joanne Arduino, will kick off the holiday season with its 51st anniversary annual performances of The Nutcracker at the Theater at North over Thanksgiving weekend on Friday Nov 27, Saturday Nov 28, and Sunday Nov 29, at noon and 5:30 p.m. each day.

This traditional gift to the community has offered free public performances since 1976. Free tickets can be picked up at the box office at the Theater at North on the day of the specific performance, two hours prior to curtain.

A sensory-friendly performance is offered to an invited audience as well as the traditional educational performances for area school children.

Over 100 local dancers from ages nine to adult will perform and will feature alumna Laura Durkin as Sugarplum Fairy and professional guest artists Evan Ambrose, a professional freelance dancer, and Philadelphia Ballet principal dancers Arian Molina Soca and Dayesi Torriente.

Lead local dancers are Smera Shrestha of Dunmore as Clara; John Roman Vachino as Nutcracker Prince; Enzo Cicco as Drosselmeyer; Nicola and Chloe Pugliese as Snow King and Queen, and Anna Flynn as Dewdrop. WNEP news anchor Jack Culkin will perform in the Act One party scene.

All performances are free and open to the public, with reserved seating available through Nutcracker Benefactor donations by Nov 1. FOR TICKETS: For information about The Nutcracker call 570-347-2867 or visit www.balletscranton.org.