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Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 13, 2008

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - Metropolitan Classical Ballet's ever-popular production of The Nutcracker will once again enrich the holidays when the company presents the timeless classic for the twelfth consecutive season at Texas Hall on the campus of the University of Texas in Arlington. As in major cities around the country, The Nutcracker has become integral to Arlington and the surrounding area's holiday traditions, as well as to the Metropolitan Classical Ballet's season. Performances will be held on Friday, December 19th at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, December 20th at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 21st at 2:00 p.m.

Choreographed by Company Artistic Director Alexander Vetrov, the delightful two-act ballet is set to the musical score by Peter Iliych Tchaikovsky, which was composed in 1892. All four productions will be accompanied with live music provided by the Metropolitan Classical Ballet Orchestra under the direction of guest conductor Bernard Rubenstein. The Metropolitan Classical Ballet Company will be joined by students from the Metropolitan Ballet Academy who will dance the numerous children's roles. The Academy is the official school of the Company.

The Nutcracker is based on an old German fairy tale, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, written in 1816 by E.T.A. Hoffmann. It was choreographed by Marius Petipa and commissioned by Director of the Imperial Theatres Ivan Vsevolozhsky in 1891. The ballet did not become a staple of American Christmas culture until the 1960s, following George Balanchine's world premiere production at the New York City Ballet in 1954.

The Nutcracker tells the story of young Clara, who receives a wooden toy nutcracker from her mysterious godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer. When she falls asleep with the Nutcracker in her arms and starts to dream, magical things begin to happen. Mr. Vetrov's version is especially captivating for young audience members, who love the wind-up dolls, beautiful costumes and dreamlike magical storyline.

Special performances of a condensed version of The Nutcracker will be presented for students of the Arlington Independent School District and other area private schools. These performances, which are part of the Company's Children's Cultural Enrichment Program, will be held on December 2nd through the 5th, and are not open to the public.

Tickets for The Nutcracker range in price from $10 - $30 and are available only through Metropolitan Classical Ballet at (817) 275-0598, or online: www.mcballet.org. Group and individual tickets may be purchased at the administration office by calling (817) 465-4644 or at 500 West Abram Street in Arlington, Texas.

Season sponsors include American Airlines, The University of Texas at Arlington. and the law firm of Hill Gilstrap.

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Media Note: Further information may be obtained by contacting Mariya Kudyakova at (817) 465-4644.