This December will be Metropolitan Ballet Theatre’s 31st annual season of The Nutcracker! Last year’s 30th anniversary season was a huge milestone, and stood as a measure for all that had been achieved in MBT’s history of dance education. This new season will continue to showcase the technical growth of student performers and highlight the school’s focus and goals.
Even though most of the choreography remains the same from year to year, it evolves to highlight the strengths of the dancers in their new roles. Additionally, the unveiling of who will play the Mother Ginger role brings excitement to performers and audiences. Last year, the Mother Ginger role showcased MBT alumni as a nod to its 30-year milestone anniversary, while this year, the Mother Ginger role will debut celebrity guests such as Molette Green from NBC4 Washington, and showcase nonprofit partners such as Lesli Creedon from Make-A-Wish® Mid-Atlantic. In fact, MBT, itself a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts education organization, is partnering with several other local nonprofits this season to donate a portion of ticket sales back to their programs, in support of our shared community. Confirmed nonprofit partners at this publish date include Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic, which grants the wishes of local children with critical illnesses; Upper Montgomery Athletic Club, in support of educational youth baseball experiences for all youth who desire to play, and The Treatment and Learning Centers, helping to improve lives and expand possibilities for children and adults with special needs.
Metropolitan Ballet Theatre is also excited to premier a sensory-friendly performance of The Nutcracker Suite this year. During the 10 am performance on December 8th, there will be accommodations such as reduced sound levels and raised house lighting. MBT is thrilled to have this opportunity to make the arts more accessible to all, and is partnering with The Treatment & Learning Centers for this performance.
MBT will continue the tradition of “Patch Chats” after the 1pm performance on December 8th, and the 5pm performance on December 14th. Girl Scouts and other students in the audience at these performances can meet cast members, ask questions, and get photos and autographs after the performance. Many Girl Scout troops over the years have used this as an opportunity to earn their Nutcracker or theater patches!
MBT’s Nutcracker has been given 5 stars and excellent reviews by DC Metro Theater Arts in past years, and has the lowest ticket price of any professional Nutcracker production in the area.
The full-length production of The Nutcracker runs 2 hours with one intermission, and The Nutcracker Suite runs 45 minutes with no intermission. Also check MBT’s website for information about MBT’s Sugar Plum Tea Party on Saturday, December 21st at MBT’s Gaithersburg Black Box theater. If you are unable to attend the Sugar Plum Tea Party, check out The Magic Toyshop Tea Party coming to MBT in March.
Look out for MBT’s spring show, La Boutique Fantasque, The Magic Toyshop. This new production, with choreography by Artistic Director Elizabeth Odell Catlett, Assistant Artistic Director Katerina Rodgaard, and Academy Director-Clarksburg Michelle Bettin, will be loosely based on the famous work originally choreographed by Leonide Massine in 1919 for Sergei Diaghilev’s The Ballet Russe. It will include a fun “Magic Toyshop” experience in the lobby before each performance and during intermission for young attendees to enjoy!
All performance and tea party information, including ticket prices, times, and dates, can be found at www.mbtdance.org or by calling 301-762-1757.
