Miami Beach, FL (Oct. 31, 2011) – A Nutcracker doll will come alive, a Sugar Plum Fairy will dance, snowflakes will fall and smiles from children of all ages will rain down as Miami City Ballet, Florida’s Internationally Acclaimed Company under the direction of Founding Artistic Director Edward Villella, presents its enchanting holiday production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™ at the Adrienne Arsht Center - Ziff Ballet Opera House - December 15 through 18 in Miami and the Broward Center - Au-Rene Theater - December 21 through 24 in Ft. Lauderdale.  Students from Miami-Dade and Broward counties, enrolled in the prestigious Miami City Ballet School, will perform in the production along with the Company’s internationally-acclaimed dancers.  

Based on the story The Nutcracker and The Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffmann, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™ is a captivating tale of a little girl’s Christmas Eve dream about a handsome prince, a mouse king, toy soldiers and dancers from faraway lands set to the beloved music of Tchaikovsky, brought to life by a cast of more than 100 dancers and children.    

Nothing short of a Broadway spectacular, the production features glorious sets, lavish costumes like the ones worn by the Arabian and Chinese dancers, magical special effects, such as a Christmas tree that soars from twelve to thirty feet tall, and fanciful choreography that takes the spectator on a magical journey to the Land of Sweets.

With its sumptuous décor and dazzling character dance numbers, Miami City Ballet’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™ is a must-see holiday extravaganza for everyone young and old: children, parents and grandparents!
    
Performance Schedule and Information:

Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Ziff Ballet Opera House
1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami

Thursday, December 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, December 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 17 at 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 18 at 1:00 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.                          
 
Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Au-Rene Theater
201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale

Wednesday, December 21 at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 22 at 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.                            
Friday, December 23 at 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 24 at 1:00 p.m.


Tickets range in price from $20 to $68 and available online at miamicityballet.org, at the MCB box office by phone at (305) 929-7010 or toll-free at (877) 929-7010 or in person: 2200 Liberty Ave., Miami Beach, Monday through Friday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Tickets also on sale at:

Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami
(305) 949-6722  ● arshtcenter.org

Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale
(954) 462-0222; toll-free (877) 311-7469 ● browardcenter.org

Miami City Ballet performs in the Tri-County South Florida area: in Broward at Broward Center for the Performing Arts, in Miami-Dade at Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and in Palm Beach at Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. MCB is presented as the resident ballet company at the Naples Philharmonic Center in Naples, Florida. The Company also tours extensively.


“The performance of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™ a Balanchine® Ballet, is presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust and has been produced in accordance with the Balanchine Style® and Balanchine Technique®, Service Standards established and provided by The Trust.”

“Nutcracker” photos are available by contacting Roberto Santiago, P.R. Manager, at
(305 929-7000, ext. 1602 or rsantiago@miamicityballet.org.