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‘THE NUTCRACKER’ RETURNS
LAMPING PHOTOGRAPHY
LEFT: Anita Barbic dances the role of Arabian Princess. Barbic is from Warrenton and is a senior at Seaside High School. She has been dancing since age 4. MIDDLE: Maia Mahoney, 18, of Warren-
ton, is a senior at Astoria High School and plays one of the Russian Dancers. She has been in “The Nutcracker’ every year since she was 7. Mahoney is also featured this year as the Snow Princess.
RIGHT: Dancing the role of Clara this season is 17-year-old Nara Van De Grift. She is a junior at Astoria High School, where she also excels in soccer and track. The role of Clara is a dream for many
little girls, and it is not unusual to have 24 girls audition for the part. Van De Grift has been dancing since she was 3.
Little Ballet Theatre brings holiday classic to life Dec. 2 and 3
By PATTY HARDIN
FOR COAST WEEKEND
H
oliday magic and tradition will come
alive once again for audiences young
and old when Maddox Dance Studio’s
Little Ballet Theatre presents “The Nutcracker”
on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 2 and 3, at Astoria
High School.
Jeanne Peterson, owner and artistic director
of the Warrenton studio, has a deep respect for
tradition. “That’s what keeps us going, how ‘The
Nutcracker’ means so much to people,” she said.
The ballet, set to the music of Tchaikovsky, is
based on German writer E.T.A. Hoffman’s origi-
nal story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.”
The tale begins with the Stahlbaum family
welcoming friends and relatives into their home
for their annual Christmas party.
A mysterious party guest presents Clara with
a special gift: a nutcracker shaped like a soldier.
Clara is delighted with the gift, and devastated
when her little brother, Fritz, grabs the nutcrack-
er and breaks its jaw.
Dr. Drosselmeyer mends the nutcracker with
a kerchief and dries Clara’s tears. The guests
take their leave and the family heads upstairs to
bed.
Clara slips downstairs to hold her injured
Nutcracker. She is frightened by giant mice
IF YOU GO
What: “The Nutcracker”
Where: Astoria High School
When: 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2; 2 p.m. Sunday,
Dec. 3
General Admission: $21 for adults, $16 for children ages
12 and under and for seniors age 65 and over
Reserved seating: $31 and $51
Reserved and general admission tickets available at the
Liberty Theatre box office
General admission tickets also available at Maddox Dance
Studio and at the door of Astoria High School