Connecticut Ballet Expands 'Nutcracker' Season and Announces Major Guest Stars

STAMFORD, Conn., Dec. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Artistic Director Brett Raphael has announced the expansion of the company's "Nutcracker" run from one weekend to two at the Stamford Center for the Arts, 61 Atlantic Street, Stamford, during the upcoming holiday season and appearances by four of the ballet world's most celebrated international stars. "Connecticut Ballet's production is an annual holiday tradition in downtown Stamford and we are delighted to bring even more star power to this most loved of ballets," stated Raphael. 

Performances are December 17 at 1:00pm & 5:00 pm, December 18 at 2:00 pm, and December 23 at 7:30 pm. Dancing the roles of Sugar Plum Fairy and Her Cavalier will be Julie Kent and David Hallberg and Gillian Murphy and Jose Manuel Carreno. Ms. Kent and Mr. Hallberg will dance all performances on the weekend of December 17-18 and Ms. Murphy and Mr. Carreno will appear one night only on Friday, December 23rd. All but one are currently principal dancers with American Ballet Theatre (Carreno retired from ABT last June). David Hallberg was recently named the first-ever foreign-born dancer to join the renowned Bolshoi Ballet as a principal dancer and is known as one of America's greatest classical ballet stylists. 

A special "Nutcracker Tea 'n Sweets Holiday Party" will be held between the two matinees on Saturday, December 17th. Sponsored by RBS, the event will benefit Connecticut Ballet's educational outreach and production programs. Party-goers ages four and up will have a chance to meet the Sugar Plum Fairy, dine on delectable holiday sweets, and receive a stocking stuffed with quality holiday gifts. Attendees will meet the Sugar Plum Fairy (guest star Julie Kent of American Ballet Theatre), dine on fresh crepes and ice cream sundaes prepared by Darlene's Heavenly Sweets of Old Greenwich, and take home a holiday gift bag. Tickets for the Tea 'n Sweets event are $50/person ($100.00 with the center orchestra ticket).

In celebration of the ballet's annual Nutcracker season in downtown Stamford, several popular restaurants will offer a special 20% discount to patrons choosing to have lunch or dinner at their establishments. Upon presentation of a performance ticket stub, the following restaurants will provide a one-time dinner discount: Pellicci's, Great Wall Restaurant, SBC Downtown Restaurant and Brewery, Tappo Restaurant and California Pizza Kitchen. 

For Tea 'n Sweets tickets, call Connecticut Ballet at 203-964-1211 or visit http://www.connecticutballet.com. For performance tickets only, visit http://www.scalive.org or call the box office at 203-325-4466.

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SOURCE Connecticut Ballet