Ballet Theatre of Scranton presents annual Nutcracker Ballet

sugar plum fairy photo

Elizabeth Conway, a Dunmore resident, will appear as the Sugarplum Fairy in this year’s production of the Nutcracker presented by the Ballet Theatre of Scranton.

Ballet Theatre of Scranton and Marywood University will present their 40th anniversary annual free performances of The Nutcracker Ballet on Dec. 26,  27 and 28 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. each day at Marywood’s  Sette LaVerghetta Center For Performing Arts.

While there is no charge, reserved seat tickets are available to the general public , on a first-come , first serve basis, at the Marywood box office (2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton) two hours prior to the specific performance.

For additional information please call 570-347-2867 (BTOS).

The original Scranton production was first conceived  by the Company’s late founder Constance Reynolds, a native of Scotland, to thank the NEPA community for their welcoming hospitality .  In return, since 1976, her company “gave back” to the community through the gift of The Nutcracker during the holiday season . The tradition continues under the direction of Mrs. Reynolds chosen successor, Joanne Arduino, current Artistic Director.

Since its first presentation, over 350,000 citizens, from within a 60 mile radius, have enjoyed the production and have made it a part of their holiday tradition.  

Ballet Theatre of Scranton and Marywood University have maintained the free production through the dedication of its Board, Directors and Dancers and the generosity of local benefactors. Over 150 people are involved in the annual event including professional designers, technicians and guest artists.

To date, the production has been staged 270 times as a free gift; 4800 regional dancers have performed , and hundreds of volunteers, including the artistic staff, technicians , designers, and dancers, have donated their time and talents.

A few highlights of Ballet Theatre of Scranton’s Nutcracker gift are toys coming to life, snow falling on dancing snowflakes, a traveling angel who transports Clara and her Prince on their magical journey, and a 20 foot growing Christmas tree.

Calendar of Events

Santa Trolley Runs

The Electric City Trolley Museum will hold a series of Holiday season trips, designed to bring cheer to the less fortunate.Santa Claus will be riding the trolley on Dec. 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20.  Departure times for the rides with Jolly St. Nick are 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Reservations are required for the Santa ride.The 10-mile trip goes to the Trolley Works Building at the PNC Field and back to the Museum. For more information and reservations, call the Museum at 570-963-6590.

Photos with Santa

Everyone’s favorite holiday celebrity is making a visit to Fidelity Bank Santa Claus will meet and greet children from 10a.m. to noon. on Saturday Dec. 5 at the West Scranton Branch Office located at 400 South Main Avenue.

All area children and their families are invited.   Each family will receive a free 5×7 photo, a free piggy bank and other fun, holiday treats.

Christmas Bazaar

St. Thomas More Catholic Parish, 116 Theodore St., Scranton, will offer a two-day Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 6, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Featuring dozens of local artisans and vendors, the event will provide an ideal opportunity for one-stop Christmas shopping, and will include crafts, gifts, ornaments, baked goods, and a basket raffle. Lunch will be available. Admission is free.  

For further information call the Parish Office at 570-343-0634, or email contact@stmscranton.org.

Marywood Art Exhibit

Marywood University Art Galleries and the department of Visual Arts will present an exhibition by four master of arts candidates. The group exhibition features the thesis work of graduate students AmaniAshour, printmaking; Nadine Kloss-Gannon, photography; Sea Macleish, printmaking; and Natalie Seeuwen, art education.

The master of arts exhibition opens with a reception on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 5-7 p.m., and will be on exhibit until Friday, Dec. 18,  in the Mahady Gallery on the first floor of the Shields Center for Visual Arts. Gallery hours for December are Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

Train Display

The Antracite Hi-Railers Model Railroad Club will present an O Gauge Train Display on Dec. 5, 12, and 16 , and Jan. 2, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Bill’s Shop Rite Plaza, Daleville. The O-Gauge modular layout features Lionel Legacy and MTH’s DCS control systems.Admission is free, but donations of bathroom tissue, bath soap, facial tissues, multi-purpose household cleaner, dishwashing liquid, laundry detergent and toothpaste will be collected to benefit the North Pocono Dry Goods Pantry.

 

Local Advent Services to be held

Three Roman Catholic parishes in Northeastern Pennsylvania are continuing an annual tradition of collaborating to present two special services during the upcoming Advent season.

Open Our Hearts, an Advent service of word and song, will be presented in locations in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties on the second and third Sundays of Advent, Dec. 6 and 13. Both services are free and open to the public.

The first will be held on Sunday, Dec. 6, at Holy Family Parish Church, 574 Bennett St., Luzerne, and the second is set for Sunday, Dec.13, at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 208 Smith St., Dunmore. The services begin at 7 p.m. each evening and are open to the public at no charge.

This year marks the seventh year of this remarkable collaboration among three parishes in two counties. The music for the service features the combined choir of more  than 60 voices from Holy Family Parish, Luzerne (Rev. Joseph Pisaneschi, Administrator); SS. Anthony and Rocco Parish, Dunmore (Rev. David Cappelloni, Pastor); and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Dunmore (Rev. John Doris, Pastor), as well as several soloists and an instrumental ensemble.  Directors of Music at the parishes are, respectively, Linda Houck, Joseph Moffitt, and Geri Seitzinger.

Open Our Hearts offers those who participate an opportunity to embrace the season of Advent and its spirit of preparation for Christmas. Through Scripture readings and musical selections, the program will focus on how God’s people have opened their hearts to welcome Him throughout salvation history.

For more information about these events, please contact the parish office at Holy Family Parish, Luzerne (570-287-6600), Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Dunmore (570-346-7429), or Saints Anthony and Rocco Parish, Dunmore (570-344-1209).