Nutcracker Ballet

By Shawn Jett

This is the 25th anniversary for the Bay Area Houston Ballet and Theatre's "Nutcracker" performance. Evening performances of the ballet will be held in the Bayou Theater at 7:30 p.m, Dec. 3, 4 and 10. Matinee performances will be held at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Dec 4, 5, 11 and 12. Tickets, which range in price from $17 to $25 with a student discount, are available at Ticketmaster or through the Bay Area Houston Ballet and Theatre. They also offer senior and group discounts. The Bay Area Houston Ballet and Theatre, formerly the Clear Lake Metropolitan Ballet, is performing the "Nutcracker" for the 21st straight year at the UH-Clear Lake Bayou Theater. They used to perform at San Jacinto College Central Campus until Hurricane Alicia wiped out their theater. They then moved to the Bayou Theater where they remain. "We love performing at UHCL," said Kathie Abotteen, who volunteers as the managing budget director of the Bay Area Houston Ballet and Theatre. "It is a nice intimate theater where everyone can easily see the dancers on stage, no matter where they are sitting." This year's performance will include a mixture of professional dancers, students and volunteers. "We have students and great artists from around the world," said Diana Willett, administrative assistant. "We even have a Russian dancer, Gabor Kapin, who is a professional from the Carolina Ballet." Another performer, who will be playing multiple roles in the "Nutcracker," is Mitchell Chrisenberry. He has been in all 24 performances so far. He will be accompanied by John Ruth, who has been in the "Nutcracker" for more than 13 years. "We are fortunate to have both dancers with us," Abotteen said. "They have been with us a long time and are wonderful dancers." The "Nutcracker" performances in the past have proved so successful that more performances were scheduled this year. "We had to expand to two weekends with more times because we have been selling out each year," Abotteen said. "We would rather put on more shows than move to a larger theater though." The Bay Area Houston Ballet and Theatre is a non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance cultural awareness through performing arts and to develop aspiring performers with diversified performing skills. With the money generated through their various performances, they develop outreach programs, give lectures and demonstrations in schools, provide cultural arts awareness information, and help provide scholarships to aspiring artists. The Bay Area Houston Ballet and Theatre will also be performing "On Edge" in February and "Coppelia"in April. "Coppelia" is the tale of a young couple and a toy maker who brings one of his dolls to life. For tickets and additional information, call the Bay Area Houston Ballet and Theatre at (281) 480-1617.