NJB WITH NJS PRESENTS HOLIDAY FAVORITE ‘NUTCRACKER’

By Mabel Pais

New Jersey Ballet’s presentation of the holiday favorite ‘Nutcracker’ comes to Mayo Performing Arts Center (mayoarts.org or MPAC), Morristown, NJ for 11 performances December 16-22, 2022. New Jersey Symphony will provide live orchestral accompaniment.

‘Nutcracker’ brings together three of the state’s leading cultural institutions – New Jersey Ballet, New Jersey Symphony and MPAC – to present a ‘Nutcracker’ that is firmly established as New Jersey’s favorite holiday tradition. The ‘Nutcracker’ will feature the New Jersey Symphony under the baton of John Yaffé. Daniel Ulbricht, New York City Ballet Principal Dancer, will perform as a special guest dancer for the December 16 and December 22 performances as Cavalier.
This year marks the 51st anniversary of New Jersey Ballet’s Nutcracker,’ making it the longest-running original professional production in the state. The production debuted in Millburn in 1971 with international star of New York City Ballet Edward Villella as the Cavalier. Since then, the company has given approximately 900 performances in theaters throughout New Jersey, with more than 5,000 dancers and children, and over a million viewers. Many in the audience who saw the production as children now bring their own children and grandchildren to see this cherished holiday tradition.

When the curtain rises, audiences in Morristown can expect the eye-popping special effects, brilliant dancing, glorious costumes and the magic and pantomime that has inspired critics to call it “A spectacle that never seems to age…magic that should go on and on,” and “One of the best…as good as it gets.”

PROGRAM
John Yaffé conductor
New Jersey Ballet
New Jersey Symphony

Tchaikovsky The Nutcracker

Based on The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffman

Performance Schedule:
Friday, Dec. 16 at 7:30 pm (limited tickets)
Saturday, Dec. 17 at 1 pm (limited tickets)
Saturday, Dec. 17 at 6 pm (limited tickets)
Sunday, Dec. 18 at 1 pm (limited tickets)
Sunday, Dec. 18 at 6 pm (limited tickets)
Thursday, Dec. 22 at 7:30 pm (Livestream also available)
Friday, Dec. 23 at 1 pm
Saturday, Dec. 24 at 1 pm
Monday, Dec. 26 at 1 pm
Monday, Dec. 26 at 6 pm
Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 1 pm

Special guest performer: Daniel Ulbricht, New York City Ballet: Dec. 16 & Dec. 22
A livestream of the Thursday, December 22 production is available for the 2nd year for those unable to attend in person.
TICKETS

Tickets can be purchased at mayoarts.org or the Mayo Performing Arts Center box office at 973.539.8008.
Livestream of the Thursday, December 22 performance is available for those unable to attend in person.

Daniel Ulbricht
Daniel Ulbricht, who began his dance training at 11, attended the School of American Ballet at age 15. He has danced featured roles in Balanchine, Robbins, Martins, Peck, Ratmansky, Wheeldon and Tharp ballets. Ulbricht is currently the Director of Programming at Manhattan Youth Ballet and Artistic Director of the New York State Summer School of the Arts’ (NYSSSA). He is the founder and director of Stars of American Ballet and on the faculty of Yale University. He is also the co-founder and co-producer of ‘Dance Against Cancer’ and on the board of the National Dance Institute (NDI).
New Jersey Ballet

New Jersey Ballet is the resident ballet company at MPAC.

This season, New Jersey Ballet marks its 56th year as New Jersey’s premier classical ballet company. It performs in 9 venues from Bergen to Cape May, and has performed internationally with tours to Russia, Taiwan, Bermuda, Italy, and India. Its programs have introduced countless children and adults to the magic of dance theatre and inspired in many a lifelong love of the arts.

New Jersey Ballet has been designated a Major Arts Institution by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for “artistic excellence, substantial programming, and broad public service,” and is a 3-time winner of the title New Jersey’s Favorite Dance Company. For more information, visit njballet.org.

New Jersey Symphony (NJS)

To learn more about The New Jersey Symphony, visit njsymphony.org.

The Mayo Arts Center (MPAC)
The Mayo Performing Arts Center presents a wide range of programs that entertain, enrich, and educate the diverse population of the region and enhance the economic vitality of Northern New Jersey. MPAC was named 2016 Outstanding Historic Theatre by the League of Historic American Theatres, and is ranked in the top 50 mid-sized performing arts centers by Pollstar Magazine. Learn more at mayoarts.org.
Connect with MPAC online:

Website: mayoarts.org
Facebook: facebook.com/MayoPerformingArtsCenter
Instagram: instagram.com/mayopac/
Twitter: twitter.com/MayoCenter
YouTube: youtube.com/user/MayoCenter