by Lawrence White
SARATOGA SPRINGS – {Editor’s Note}
Halt!
Now Listen…
Me and my Nutcracking friends want to inform you that this is an event that will sell out.
It always does. It’s just a question of how fast.
Therefore, we wish you to know that tickets for the Nutcracker Tea will go on sale this Friday, October 26 at 10 a.m. and will be available at spac.org or by calling 518-584-9330 ext.101.
You may now proceed. – AG
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Dreams of dancing sugar plum fairies, toy soldiers and villainous mice will come to life at SPAC’s popular “Nutcracker Tea,” a beloved, Capital Region holiday tradition for two performances on Sunday, November 18 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Both performances, held at the Hall of Springs, will feature excerpts from The Nutcracker by Northeast Ballet Company, a traditional English Christmas Tea, American Girl doll giveaways, and more. Tickets are $75 for adults and $35 for children 15 and under. Proceeds benefit arts education programs at SPAC.
“The Nutcracker Tea is an engaging afternoon for families and a great way to connect our community with the arts in a fun, accessible way. This year, on the heels of Disney’s new movie release, we expect interest in the event to reach an all-time high,” said Elizabeth Sobol, President and CEO of SPAC. “A special thanks to American Girl Place, who will raffle this year’s doll Luciana, an aspiring astronaut, and our Action Council members for making this inventive and festive fundraiser a reality.”
At both seatings, American Girl Place of New York City will host a raffle for a Luciana doll. Luciana is the American Girl Doll of the Year, a limited edition doll who is an aspiring astronaut. Additional activities include boutique shopping and a visit from Santa Claus.
“SPAC’s Action Council is delighted to kick off the holiday season with the Nutcracker Tea, performed by the Northeast Ballet Company. The Nutcracker Tea is a magical event for everyone who attends. In addition to the ballet, there is boutique shopping, a traditional English tea and a special visit from Santa Claus. This is an extremely popular event, and will sell out quickly – we recommend reserving your spots as soon as possible,” said event co-chair and Action Council member, Colleen Raczkowski.
The Nutcracker, composed in 1891 by Tchaikovsky, is a fairy tale ballet that tells the story of a little girl’s journey through a fantasy world of fairies, princes, toy soldiers and an army of mice. First performed in 1892 in St. Petersburg, Russia, it has become an American classic since choreographer George Balanchine introduced his production in 1954 in New York City.
Features of the event include:
• Ballet excerpts from The Nutcracker performed by Northeast Ballet Company;
• A raffle for American Girl Doll of the Year Luciana;
• Tea, mini sandwiches, cookies and light edibles;
• A visit from Santa Claus, and more.
Tickets for the Nutcracker Tea will go on sale on October 26 at 10 a.m. and are available at spac.org or by calling 518-584-9330 ext.101. Questions can be directed to Seth Buono at sbuono@spac.org
