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HATTIESBURG -- After a tumultuous chain of events
since Hurricane Katrina, the University of Southern Mississippi
Symphony Orchestra has reworked its production of Tchaikovsky’s
Nutcracker into The Not-Cracker and will present two
performances Dec. 16-17 at the Mannoni Performing Arts Center.
The orchestra’s 85th season originally
included a full holiday staging of the classic ballet in
collaboration with the La Studio Academy of Dance of Hattiesburg.
The dance studio sustained major roof damage from the storm and
pulled from the production.
Symphony music director Jay Dean then asked two other
professional dance companies to join the show, but another chain of
events related to the storm aftermath kept the companies from
committing.
“We were determined to keep our season intact,” Dean
said. “Finally, an idea came about to present a variety style show
with a comic twist and call it ‘The Not-Cracker.’”
Fortunately, Lori Roseberry and her La Studio Academy
of Dance have rejoined the Southern Miss production, as well as
members of Ballet Mississippi. Roseberry and Ana Consuelo Gomez
will choreograph.
The show includes the most familiar dances of the
classic ballet, interspersed with holiday favorites and some
side-splitting antics. The show also features vocalists Maryann
Kyle, Heather Clancy Allen and the Holidays on Broadway cast.
“This is a wonderful holiday story of the
little-orchestra-that-could,” said Michael Lopinto, the show’s
concept and script developer. “The multitalented forces of local
dancers, a professional ballet company, soloists and the wonderful
musicians of the Symphony have come together to give this gift to
our community.”
The Not-Cracker opens at
7:30 p.m. on Friday, with a special family matinee at 11 a.m. on
Saturday. Tickets are available at the Southern Miss Ticket Office
at 601.266.5418 or 1.800.844.8425. Order tickets online at
www.usm.edu/tickets.
About The
University of Southern Mississippi
The University
of Southern Mississippi, founded in 1910, is a comprehensive
doctoral and research-extensive university fulfilling its mission of
being a leading university in engaging and empowering individuals to
transform lives and communities. In a tradition of leadership for
student development, Southern Miss is educating a 21st
century work force providing intellectual capital, cultural
enrichment and innovation to Mississippi and the world. Southern
Miss is located in Hattiesburg, Miss., with an additional campus and
teaching and research sites on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; further
information is found at
www.usm.edu.
For more
information, contact Angela Kilcrease at 601.266.4988 or visit the
Web at
www.usm.edu/symphony.
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Last updated:
01/06/06 |
