Ann Brodie's Carolina Ballet presents the Nutcracker

Ann Brodie’s CAROLINA BALLET will present “The Nutcracker,” Thanksgiving week only at The Township Auditorium. This spectacular holiday classic features international guest artists, a company of over 150 performers together with full orchestra and chorus. Performances are Tuesday, November 21 and Wednesday, November 22 at 10:00 AM, Friday, November 24, and Saturday, November 25 at 7:30 PM, and Sunday, November 26, at 3:00 PM. This performance marks the 30th Season of Carolina Ballet.
This is the only full-length production of this holiday classic in Columbia that uses full orchestra and chorus. The Columbia Festival Orchestra is conducted by Neil Casey. He is the Assistant Director of orchestras at the University of South Carolina. He is also the Conductor for Opera at USC. He has been guest conductor for orchestras throughout the United States and with the Karelian Philharmonic Orchestra in Petrazovodsk, Russia. The children’s choir for the production is the Capella Pueri of St. Peter’s Catholic School, under the direction of Andrew Kotylo. “The Nutcracker,” one of a series of ballet masterpieces by Russian Composer Pytor Ilyich Tschaikovsky, has become a tradition heralding the holiday season throughout the Western world.
The ballet is a magical story of a magnificent Christmas party, elegant and mysterious guests, toy soldiers, dancing dolls, mischievous boys and a young girl’s dream. Clara, the young girl, helps an enchanted nutcracker defeat the evil Rat King. The victory transforms the nutcracker into a handsome prince who shows his gratitude by leading the heroine through a snowstorm of crystal snowflakes to the Kingdom of Sweets. There she meets the Sugar Plum Fairy who crowns her a true princess. An array of rare confections dances for her enjoyment.