‘The Nutcracker’ dances into PCPA Dec. 12 and 13

The Southern California Ballet will once again be filling the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road, with the Christmas magic of “The Nutcracker” at 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12 and 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13.

Tickets range from $20 to $38 for adults, $16 to $32 for students, seniors and military, and are available at the PCPA box office, as well as by calling 858-748-0505 or online at www.southerncaliforniaballet.org.

Starring in the show will be members of the Southern California Ballet’s company, as well as their families. “Southern California Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” is a family tradition for audiences and performers alike,” said Kate Hirsh, executive director, in a press release. “Barry Long, a patron, former board member and father of an SCB graduate, arranges his overseas work schedule to portray Herr Drosselmeyer and the Mouse King. Board (Vice President) Danielle Murphy’s parents play the grandparents in a key scene during the first act, while her son James is Fritz. Her daughter, Lydia, dances in many roles in both acts.”

The feature role of Clara will be performed by Madeline Franz and Lily Hofstetter, with Zach Ong and James Murphy playing Fritz.

The show also features young company members Megan Teeter, Alyssa Baker, Nadya Pussard, Claire Fiorino, Kalena Tano, Sarah McDowell, Calista Cartwright, Amecie Lublin, Sanae Kanenobu, Kayla Kressin and Kelsy Paraoan, as well as apprentice company member Kanaha Takeda.

The SCB will be joined by alumnae and international ballet star Martha Leebolt as the Sugar Plum Fairy. This is Leebolt’s second year performing in “The Nutcracker” with her former dance company.

“Her Sugar Plum Fairy performance is not to be missed,” said Sylvia Palmer, founder and artistic director of the Southern California Ballet. “We are very fortunate that she is able to return and perform for us.”

“To come back and (perform in “The Nutcracker”) as a professional so many years later is fun,” said Leebolt, who graduated from Rancho Bernardo High School in 2000. “I like to perform with the girls and see how they’ve grown. It takes me back to a special time in my life, when I danced here. The most exciting time for us was preparing for ‘The Nutcracker,’ sharing that time with friends.”

Leebolt, who has danced with the Northern Ballet in England for 15 years, also returned to her old company a couple of months ago to teach a couple of classes for the young dancers of the Southern California Ballet, as well as coaching some of the older dancers in the company.

This is only the second year Leebolt has been able to come back to perform in “The Nutcracler” with the Southern California Ballet. “I hoped I would be able to come back (for “The Nutcracker”) this year, but in England we have 52-week contracts, so I have very little time off. When the opportunity came up, I jumped on it, because time off is so few and far between,” said Leebolt.

Leebolt said the stars of the show are the Southern California Ballet dancers. “This is their show. They’ve been working on it since probably September, slowly getting better. It’s their show and I’m fitting into it, so it’s very special for me (to be a part of it),” said Leebolt.