Ron Friesen, of Marysville, is directing the Everett Symphony for the Olympic Ballet Theatres traditional performance of The Nutcracker at the Everett Civic Auditorium this weekend, 7 p.m. Dec. 9 and 2 p.m. Dec. 10.
The Edmonds-based dancers shine with the Everett Symphony Orchestra, which is reaching new heights in recognition and laurels from exceptional touring engagements. The orchestra enjoyed a triumphant engagement at Carnegie Hall last summer, playing to a packed house and receiving a standing ovation with three curtain calls.
A long established Snohomish County arts organization, OBTs production is a lively, family-oriented ballet that is special for the holiday season.
OBTs The Nutcracker features unique and creative choreography by John and Helen Wilkins with special scenes like the Waltz of the Flowers, Chinese Tea, Waltz of the Snowflakes, and the lively Party Scene, where the magic comes alive in Claras home.
New and innovative choreography by Daniel Wilkins includes a great sword fight and a daring Arabian.
This years performances will include guest artists from Wilkins own company danielandsomesuperfriends, New York City Ballet, Spectrum Dance Theater, and Evergreen City Ballet.
Two guest artists, Whitney Simler and Corbin Popp, are directly from Broadways Movin Out and its first national tour.
Whitney Simler-Popp began her training at Eastern Washington State College with the Tri-Cities Academy of Ballet. She performed with Mid-Columbia Ballet under the direction of Debra Rogo. Simler joined the Pacific Northwest Ballet under the wing of Patricia Barker soon leaving for Northern California where she was a principal dancer with the Sacramento Ballet performing classic works of Balanchine to contemporary pieces of Alan Hineline and Dwight Rhoden.
Her love of contemporary ballet pulled her to New York, where she was discovered by Twyla Tharp and later received honorable reviews for works such as The Fugue and Surfer at the River Styx.
In 2004 Simler was most recently seen dancing roles of Judy and Brenda on the 1st National Tour of Movin Out.
Corbin Popp was born in Black Rock City, Nev. and began dancing in Nebraska with Lincoln Midwest Ballet Company, pausing to pursue a bachelor of science in biochemistry with a minor in physics from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1999. In 2000, he was a Fulbright scholar in Dortmond, Germany for biochemistry. Popp began his professional dance training in his final years at the University of Nebraska and has since gone on to dance professionally with the Omaha Theater Company, Sacramento Ballet, Complexions, and Billy Joels Movin Out on Broadway and its first national tour.
Tickets range from $12 to $32 depending upon venue. For tickets to the Everett performances, contact the Everett Symphony at 425-258-1605 or purchase them on-line at www.everettsymphony.org.
The production returns to the new Edmonds Center for the Arts next weekend, with show times 7 p.m. Dec. 16 and 2 p.m. Dec. 17.
Tickets for the Edmonds performances can be purchased by calling Olympic Ballet at 425-774-7570, Ticketmaster at 206-292-ARTS or at Ticketmaster.com.
For information about Olympic Ballet Theatres additional one-hour special discounted performances for school groups call (425) 774-7570.
To learn more about Olympic Ballet Theatre and Everett Symphony Orchestra visit www.olympicballet.com or www.everettsymphony.org.