When a bratty little brother breaks his older sister’s toy, the result is pure magic. The story that unfolds — the holiday classic “Nutcracker” — will come to life on several stages throughout Kitsap this week, attracting crowds of all ages.
The lure of “Nutcracker” is that it’s a fairy tale entwined with action and comedy, said Stephanie Clarke, who is directing a version for Port Orchard’s Just for Kicks.
The dancers, ranging in ages from 5-18, rehearsed three to four times a week, but holding their attention wasn’t a challenge, Clarke said.
“They have so much fun in the scenes they get to do,” she said. The younger set of dancers take part in one of the lighter-hearted scenes in which they protrude from Mother Ginger’s grand skirt. Mother Ginger, Clarke noted, is really Port Orchard Policeman Mark McVey on a pair of stilts.
As the story unfolds, Clara receives a beautiful Nutcracker for Christmas. Her little brother Fritz goes insane with jealousy and breaks the doll.
That action propels a fairy tale of a dream for Clara, whose slumber produces a love story and comedy with a side order of action/adventure, all told through ballet, when Just for Kicks’ “Nutcracker” stages at 7 p.m. Dec. 12 and 2 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Admiral Theater, 515 Pacific Ave., Bremerton.
For more information or tickets, call the Admiral at (360) 373-6743.
• Peninsula Dance Theatre will also perform “Nutcracker” for its 31st year Dec. 4, 5 and 6 at Bremerton Performing Arts Center. Peninsula Ballet Orchestra, under the direction of Alan Futterman, continues its long partnership with PDT, accompanying the dancers with the full ballet score. Performances will be at 8 p.m. Dec. 4 and 5 and 3 p.m. Dec. 6.
The theater is at Bremerton High School, 1500 13th St. Tickets are $25 for reserved seating (all ages). For festival seating, tickets are $18 for adults; $14 for students 11 to 18 years and seniors 65 and over; and $12 for children. A family ticket costs $60 and group and military discounts are available. They can be purchased at Bremerton Dance Center, 515 Chester Ave. Info: (360)377-6214 or go to www.peninsuladancetheatre.org.
• Port Orchard’s Academy of Dance will present a traditional performance at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at the school, 4280 SE Mile Hill Dr., Ste. 101, Port Orchard. For more information, call (360) 769-7277.
• In Poulsbo, the Olympic Performance Group will take the stage at 7 p.m. Dec. 18 and 2 p.m and 7 p.m. Dec. 19 and 20 at the North Kitsap Auditorium. There will be a Silent Auction of items donated by local businesses.
Tickets are available at Winslow Drugs, Kidimu and Bainbridge Ballet on Bainbridge and Liberty Bay Books in Poulsbo. For more information, call (206) 842-1205.
