Whidbey Island Dance Theater announces the 22nd Season of The Nutcracker, which will run Friday, Dec. 12 through Sunday, Dec. 21 this year. Performance times will be at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings and at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday afternoons  at South Whidbey High School Performing Arts Center, 5675 Maxwelton Rd. in Langley.

Ticket costs are: General – $18; Seniors (65+), Military and Children under 17 – $16; All Tickets at the Door – $20. Tickets costs for the Character Brunch are: Youth under 12 – $10 and Adults – $15. Tickets can be obtained from BrownPaperTickets: widtnutcracker2014.brownpapertickets.com. ALL TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE!

Box Office (360) 341-2221
Website: www.widtonline.org
Artistic Director: Char Brown
Assistant Artistic Director: Danielle Wilkins
Guest Artists: Brittany Falso, Dade Glaser, Lars Larson, Graham Vanderwood, and Laura Kay Young

Special Pricing & Events
GROUP DISCOUNTS: $15 per ticket for groups of 8 or more. Tickets must be purchased together in order to receive discounted price. If purchased at the door, all tickets are $20.
OPENING NIGHT: Dec. 12 at 7:30 All tickets are $16!

NEWCOMER’S NIGHT! SATURDAY, DEC. 13 at 7:30 p.m.
We would like to invite all who have never seen our production of The Nutcracker to come on Saturday, Dec. 13 to our “Newcomer’s Night.” For all those who are seeing our production for the first time, tickets are only $16! If you are going to purchase your tickets at the door for this evening’s performance, be sure to mention that this is your first time coming to see our Nutcracker and you will receive this discounted price. We can’t wait to meet you!

“UGLY” CHRISTMAS SWEATER NIGHT! SATURDAY, DEC. 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Join us Saturday Dec. 20 for “Ugly Christmas Sweater Night.” If you do NOT pre-order your tickets for this performance, worry not, just wear your “ugly” Christmas sweater and you will receive the pre-order price, Already pre-ordered your tickets? That’s okay; we want to see the “ugliest” (or most adorable) Christmas sweater you own!

Whidbey Island Dance Theatre presents our 22nd annual Nutcracker production:
Whidbey Island Dance Theatre delights and surprises our community each holiday season with our enchanted production of the Nutcracker. With a cast of over 100 dancers, moving sets and handcrafted costumes showcasing the Island’s beautiful dancers and creative production teams.

Even if you’ve seen a Nutcracker production in the past, whether it’s on Whidbey or off-island, we encourage you to come to the show this year. “Our version is certainly different from the traditional Nutcracker storyline, and we think that’s what makes it so special!”

DANCERS
Dancing the beloved role of Clara this year is the young and talented prodigy and WIDT Company member, Tessa Sherman; she will be joined by the new young Prince Zane Vanderwood. Professional dancer and Whidbey native Graham Vanderwood, will be playing the role of Drosselmeyer’s assistant, the Nutcracker and the Snow King. Guest Artist Laura Kay Young who formerly danced with Alabama Ballet, Ballet Bellevue, and Evergreen City Ballet will be making her debut as the Snow Queen. Audience favorite Lars Larson is back once again in his revered role as Clara’s Godfather Drosselmeyer. Ariana Abrahams, SWHS senior, Co-Dance Captain of WIDT and a member of Island Dance Competition Team, returns in the role of the evil Rat King. Dade Glaser, professional dancer from Seattle, will be advancing to Forest King. Glaser will be partnered with WIDT Alumna Brittany Falso as the Faerie Queen. The Flower Queen will be danced by SWHS Junior, and WIDT’s Co-Dance Captain, Faith O’Brochta (who danced the role of Clara last year). Vanderwood, Glaser, and Falso are all professional dancers in the Seattle area, and are currently members of DASSDance.

NUTCRACKER CHARACTER BRUNCH
A special character brunch will be held before the Sunday matinee of the first weekend, Dec.14 at 12:30 p.m. Tickets on sale now!

Brunch is hosted by the acclaimed chef and WIDT Vice-President Christyn Johnson. For one performance only, on Sunday December 14th enjoy a delightful holiday brunch at the show prior to attending the Performance. Clara, the Nutcracker and other whimsical dancers will be available for pictures as you enjoy a delicious hot brunch lovingly prepared
by Chef Christyn Johnson, Executive Chef of the Whidbey Institute and www.RawIndulgence.kitchen

The entire Nutcracker Character brunch has been donated so your full purchase price becomes a donation to Whidbey Island Dance Theater. Bring the whole family and make it a magical day. Limited seats are available so buy your tickets now before the brunch sells out!

DIRECTORS

The company’s founder and Artistic Director Charlene Brown continues her 20+ years tenure as a strong leader with high standards for professionalism and artistry. Charlene began her dance studio, Island Dance, on South Whidbey in 1987. In 1991, her on-going commitment to high quality dance led to the formation of a performing company – Whidbey Dance Theatre (WDT). Two years later, in 1993, community friends and family who valued Char’s mission helped the young company obtain non-profit status. WIDT has continued to present a broad range of dance genres including classical, contemporary, character and cultural forms of dance. Community support has been overwhelming, and the company has thrived for over two decades.

This year the company hired a new Assistant Artistic Director, Danielle Wilkins. Danielle has been teaching at Island Dance for over a decade and has choreographed and danced for several productions presented by WIDT. She has worked professionally in New York with Rebecca Kelly Ballet, Mary Seidman and Dancers, Mimi Garrard Dance Company, and Steven Koplowitz, and in Seattle with Spectrum Dance Theater where she performed in PNB’s Celebrate Seattle Festival at McCaw Hall, in New York City at Dance Theater Workshop, and at the Spoleto Festival in Italy. Danielle also appeared in the 5th Avenue Theater’s production of West Side Story and The Seattle Opera’s production of The Pearl Fisher’s. Danielle danced with her husband’s company, DASSdance for eleven seasons, performing both in NYC and Seattle.

Whidbey Island Dance Theatre
714 Camano Ave
Langley, WA 98260
Mailing: PO Box 1474, Langley, WA 98260
Phone: (360) 341-2221
Email: info@widtonline.org.