Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker will bring its festive charm to the West Virginia University Creative Arts Center stage on Thursday, Dec. 12. Showtime is set for 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at the Mountainlair and Creative Arts Center box offices, online at ticketmaster.com, or by calling 304-293-SHOW and 800-745-3000.

Internationally renowned for its exquisite showmanship and commitment to the rich tradition of Russian classical dance, the Moscow Ballet adds a new level to the 150-year-old tradition of the Nutcracker. The Great Russian Nutcracker tells the fantastical story of a young girl enchanted by a wooden nutcracker brought to life alongside her other Christmas trinkets. The famed Tchaikovsky score has immortalized the ballet with such instantly recognizable songs as “The Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies” and “Waltz of the Flowers.”

This awe-inspiring ballet has been captivating families around the globe with its whimsical holiday magic since its first performance in 1892. The simple mention of The Great Russian Nutcracker brings to mind the celebratory spirit of the holiday season at any time of year. The Moscow Ballet’s rendition of the classic presents more than 40 performers trained in the art of Russian dance, alongside stunning visual effects and high-tension drama. The production features 200 lavish costumes, larger-than-life Russian puppets, nine hand-painted backdrops that are embellished with 3D effects and a soaring dove with a 20-foot wingspan. The dove is portrayed by two dancers, each wearing one 10-foot long wing. The pair balances, dives and flies as one great white dove.

The Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker has been touring North America for two decades, averaging 100 performances in November and December. In the 2013 tour, the Vaganova-trained dancers incorporate Broadway-style moves into the production. Broadway director James Warwick and American Shakespearean designer Arthur Oliver have teamed up to add this new touch to the performance. Audiences will also enjoy the addition of Uncle Drosselmeyer’s “Magic Table,” a 5-foot tower of “teetering presents” and two six-foot Matrushka Dolls.

Don’t miss this timeless classic that will make memories the entire family will cherish for a lifetime. Showtime is set for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12. Tickets are on sale now from $46 to $69, depending on seat location and availability. WVU students may purchase tickets for only $28 with a valid WVU ID at the campus box offices (one ticket per valid ID).

Tickets are available at the Mountainlair and Creative Arts Center box offices, online at ticketmaster.com, or by calling 304-293-SHOW and 800-745-3000.

The University Arts Series is produced by WVU Arts & Entertainment. For additional event information, call 304-293-SHOW, or visit events.wvu.edu. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/wvuevents and follow us on Twitter at @wvuevents for the most up-to-date show information.

-WVU-

CONTACT: David Ryan, Arts & Entertainment
304-293-8222, David.Ryan@mail.wvu.edu

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