Holiday Arts Briefs | Islanders perform in the Nutcracker
Published 4:30 pm Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Islanders perform in the Nutcracker
Pacific Northwest Ballet is celebrating the last year of its one-of-a-kind Stowell & Sendak Nutcracker that has been entertaining Northwest audiences for the past 31 years. Five Islanders are performing this year. All are dancers who attend the Pacific Northwest Ballet School.
• Flora Cruzen is playing the role of Small Servant
• Ana Ko Glass is playing the role of Chinese Attendant
• Jessica Li is playing the role of Scrim Mouse
• Elizabeth Park is playing the role of Tall Servant
• Aidan Rosenbaum is playing the role of Cavalry
For more information and to purchase tickets to the final Stowell & Sendak Nutcracker, go to pnb.org.
Emerald Ballet Nutcracker
The Nutcracker also returns to the Northshore Performing Arts Center on December 6, 7, 13 and 14 at 2 p.m. at the Emerald Ballet Theatre. Now in its
Eighth season, EBT’s full-length production features a live orchestra, gorgeous costumes, lavish sets with exquisite choreography in the Russian tradition.
Island resident Kaylee Morris will play the part of “Little Clara” on Dec. 13 and 14 in the production with the Rainier Symphony Ballet Orchestra.
For information, tickets and special offers, visit npacf.org.
YTN presents ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’
Youth Theatre Northwest ushers in the holiday season with a yuletide classic. Our production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever will take families on a hysterical journey where the most unlikely children perform the lead roles in their community’s annual Christmas Pageant. Will this revered holiday tradition be ruined? Will it be cancelled? Will the wise men run off with the baby Jesus? Or maybe, just maybe this will be the Best Christmas Pageant Ever!
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever performs from December 5 – 21 in the sanctuary of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Mercer Island. Based on the book by Barbara Robinson, the show is directed by Matt Giles and features the performing talents of children from across the region.
For tickets and more information about Youth Theatre programs and our school season, visit YouthTheatre.org.
Island Sound performances set
It is not the holidays on Mercer Island without performances by Island Girls Choir and Preparatory Choir.
The Island Sound Choir will present “Candy Cane Café,” this weekend. Islanders and friends are invited to join a magical tour to the North Pole to hear the latest and greatest musical songs for the holiday season. Seventy local middle school and high school girls are transformed into musical elves who sing and dance through December.
Mercer Island’s own Graham Smyth is the disc jockey for KFREEZE and guides us on the adventure. Tickets are available at the door for $15, $10 with a student ASB card. Performances are at 7 p.m., Saturday, December 6 and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7, all at Mercer Island High School.
Island Sound Preparatory Choir will present “Candy Cane Lane” at 7 p.m., Saturday Dec. 13 and Sunday Dec. 14th at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Tickets: $15 available at door all at Mercer Island High School.
For more information Heather at 206-232-8007 or heatherburgess.ice@gmail.com.
‘Wreaths across America’ needs extra hands to honor veterans
Volunteers are needed to lay wreaths at Sunset Hill Memorial Park in Bellevue on Dec. 13.
There are over 2,200 veterans buried at Sunset Hills Memorial Park in Bellevue. But this isn’t a Bellevue event, it is an Eastside event for anyone who wants to honor a veteran. You do not have to have a family member buried at Sunset Hills to attend. Many people attend to honor veterans in general or a family member buried in another part of the United States.
It is a simple way of saying “We remember.”
The group needs help in placing wreaths on veterans’ graves. If you and your family would like to help place wreaths on the graves of veterans at Sunset Memorial Park in Bellevue, all you need to do is attend the Wreaths Across America ceremony. No sign ups are required It will begin at 10 a.m. on December 13. After a short ceremony, those present are invited to place wreaths on veterans’ graves.
Learn more by watching the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC6BtKwKaUY.
Other help is needed for the event.
“We haven’t raised enough funds for all their graves, but we are extremely pleased to have raised funds for over 1,200 wreaths,” a spokesman said.
Anyone can sponsor a wreath for Sunset Hills or any other cemetery in the program by going to http://give.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
